Make an iPhone video work: HEVC to H.264

Short answer: the video noise remover accepts MP4 files with H.264 video and AAC audio. Many iPhone clips are saved as HEVC (H.265) or MOV, which are not supported yet.

Why an iPhone video is rejected

By default, recent iPhones record with a format called High Efficiency. It stores video as HEVC (also called H.265) inside a MOV file. The files are small and look good, but many websites, browsers and editing tools cannot read them. The noise remover checks the file on your device before anything uploads, and it stops early if the video is HEVC, so you do not wait for an upload that would fail.

The check reads the file's codec, not its name. Renaming a .mov file to .mp4 does not change the codec inside, so the file is still rejected.

Record in a compatible format

On the iPhone, open Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. New videos are recorded as H.264 instead of HEVC. This applies to clips you record after changing it.

Two things to know about this setting:

1. Clips are larger. H.264 needs more space than HEVC for the same quality, so a long recording can take up noticeably more storage.
2. Some high frame rate and 4K options are only offered in High Efficiency. If you need those, keep High Efficiency and convert the clips afterwards, as described below.

Already recorded in HEVC

Convert the clip to an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, then choose the converted file. Any video converter that lets you pick the codec will work. Choose these settings:

• Container: MP4
• Video codec: H.264 (also called AVC)
• Audio codec: AAC
• Keep the original resolution and frame rate, since only the audio is processed

If you do not need the picture cleaned in one file, there is a shorter route. Export just the audio from the clip as an M4A or WAV file and clean it as audio. You can then put the cleaned audio back under the video in any editor.

How to check a file before you upload

On a Mac, select the clip in Finder and press Command-I. Under More Info, the codec line shows the format. If it says HEVC or H.265, convert it first. If it says H.264 or AVC, and the container is MP4, it is ready.

Limits to keep in mind

• Video: MP4, up to 500 MB and 30 minutes.
• Audio: MP3, WAV, M4A or AAC, up to 100 MB and 30 minutes.
• Only the audio is uploaded. Your picture stays on your device.

The full list is on the support page. When the file is ready, try the video noise remover with the free 30-second preview. If your recording has wind in it, the guide to removing wind noise explains what can and cannot be fixed.