5 Ways to Convert ISO to MP4 on Mac or Windows with Original Quality

As ISO contains the full contents of a disc, including all menu, audio, and video files, the file size is usually large. Plus, ISO files can only be played using software or devices that support decoding ISO files. To save space on your hard drive and play ISO files conveniently, one of the best ways is to convert them to MP4. In this article, we will explore 5 ways on how to convert ISO to MP4 on Mac or Windows.

 Cisdem Video Converter

The Best ISO to MP4 Converter

• Convert ISO to MP4, MKV, MOV, MP3, FLAC, iTunes, iPhone, PSP, Xbox, etc.
• Convert ISO of multiple titles into separate files or merge them into a single MP4
• Batch convert ISO files to MP4
• Preserve original quality
• Change ISO file codec, bitrate, sample rate, resolution, etc. before exporting it
• Rip protected DVD and Blu-ray discs and folders
• Edit ISO files by trimming, cropping, adding subtitles/watermarks, adjusting volume, etc.
• Download online videos with URLs from 1000 websites including YouTube
• Safe, simple, and fast
• Compatible with Mac and Windows PC

Free Download macOS 10.13 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7

Provide Further Details on Why Convert ISO to MP4

• Reduce the file size

Different types of ISO files are created for operating systems, software packages, games, and movies or videos. The first three are disc image files containing installation programs and resource files, which can't be directly converted to MP4. Only movie and video ISO files, similar to video DVD discs, can be changed to MP4. An ISO movie lasting 90 minutes usually takes 4 GB to 8 GB of space. By converting ISO to MP4, the movie can be compressed by 50% to 80%.

• Easier to play and share

Even though VLC, Mac's built-in DVD Player, etc., support playing ISO, most media players, mobile phones, and other devices can't. Due to MP4's widespread usage, you won't have compatibility issues when turning ISO into MP4.

Can iTunes convert ISO to MP4?

No. iTunes does not allow ISO import and MP4 export. M4V is the only video export format supported, which is for converting videos for iPod, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. You can convert ISO to MP4 first and then import the MP4 file to your iTunes library.

The Best Way to Convert ISO to MP4 on Mac or Windows 10/11

Cisdem Video Converter is an easy-to-use ISO to MP4 converter for Mac and Windows. It allows you to convert ISO, DVD discs, and DVD folders to any video and audio format without loss of quality. In just a few clicks, you can view all the video content in your ISO file and convert them to MP4 at an impressive speed.

Another advantage is that it can remove all types of DVD protections, including CSS, region codes, Sony ARccOS, RipGuard, user operation prohibitions, or anything else. Whether the ISO contains homemade movie or a commercial DVD video, you can convert it without any hassle.

1. Download Cisdem ISO to MP4 Converter and install it.

Free Download macOS 10.13 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7

2. Start up the software and import the ISO.
   Simply drag and drop your ISO file to the software interface. On Mac, you can also go to File on the top menu bar. Then, click Add ISO, and choose the ISO file you want to convert > "Open".
3. Set MP4 as the output format.
   Click the "Convert all tasks to" box to open the format pull-down list. Choose Video > MP4 (encoded with H.264) or "HEVC MP4" (encoded with H.265). H.264 is the most compatible codec. You can also choose available subtitle or audio track for the ISO if available. If necessary, click the "gearwheel" button next to the format to adjust the video parameters.
4. (Optional) Click the icon that resembles a pencil to access the editing window, tailor your ISO video with editing options.
5. Click on the Start button positioned in the bottom-right corner of the interface to begin ISO to MP4 conversion process. You can enable the "Merge" option if you want to combine several titles/episodes into a single video.

How to Convert ISO to MP4 with HandBrake

HandBrake offers the ability to both transcode videos and rip ISO/DVDs. It lets you convert ISO to MP4 on Mac, Windows, and cross-platform devices. However, HandBrake can't convert encrypted ISO files smoothly. Just like with DVD discs, you will receive the message "No valid source or titles found" if you try to rip copy-protected ISO files. To solve this issue, install the libdvdcss library for Handbrake. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to convert an ISO to MP4 using HandBrake.

1. Open Handbrake. Add the ISO source file and wait for scanning.
   On Windows, click File to add a single ISO file or click Folder to add a folder with more than one ISO file. On Mac, Handbrake will display a dialog box asking you to select the source file. Browse your Mac and import the ISO.
2. Select MP4 as the output format under the Summary tab. You can configure other settings like video quality, FPS, audio codec, and subtitles to your liking in other tabs.
3. Click Browse to enter the name of the output MP4 file and choose where it will be stored.
4. On Windows, click Start Encode. On Mac, click Start.

Tip for batch processing:

If there are multiple titles in the ISO file, you can add them to the queue and convert them all at once.

On Windows, click the "Tools" menu > Preferences > Output Files, tick "Automatically name output files" and set the Default Path and File Format. On Mac, go to the "HandBrake" menu > Settings > General, and enable the automatic file naming as well. Then go back to the main window, click the down arrow next to "Add to Queue" and select "Add All". Then you can start converting batch of titles in the ISO file to MP4.

How to Convert ISO to MP4 via VLC Media Player

In addition to playing videos, VLC can also convert them to other formats. To find out whether it can convert ISO to MP4, we made a test. A 28-minute ISO file with four titles and a menu and another ISO file with one track and no menu are used for this test. The results are not ideal - VLC either converts only the menu without video content or the video loops many times. The workaround here is to convert the VOB video files inside the ISO archive, instead of converting ISO file directly.

Here is how it works:

1. Extract VOB files from ISO.

First, mount the ISO file by right-clicking it and selecting Open with > Windows Explorer (on Windows) or DiskImageMounter (on Mac) from the menu, and you will get VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders.

Next, open the VIDEO_TS folder and find several .VOB files inside. You can play them with VLC to check the video content.

2. Launch VLC and access its convert feature.

On Windows, choose Media > Convert / Save, click "+Add" to upload your file. Then, go to the Convert interface.

On Mac, select File > Convert / Stream, click "Open Media" to add the VOB file.

3. In the Profile section, pick "Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" format.
4. Click Browse (Windows) or Save as File > Browse (Mac), choose a destination folder and name your file as "xxx.mp4". (VLC on Mac may still produce an M4V video, don't worry, you can simply change the suffix from ".m4v" to ".mp4" after the conversion.)
5. Click Start on Windows or Save on Mac to start the conversion.

How to Convert ISO File to MP4 Online Free

Converters online make converting ISO to MP4 easy without the need for installation. But most online tools limit the file size, or fail to handle ISO with multiple episodes. Below are two online ISO to MP4 converters you may try, but note that uploading files to the websites can take some time, and don't convert private important ISO files online due to the risk of security breaches.

#video-converter.com

This video converter site supports converting ISO file to MP4 and other popular video or audio formats. It also provides optional settings to adjust video & audio codec, resolution and even control the output MP4 file size. It allows you to upload ISO files up to 4 GB in size, and it will combine the menu and all titles into one video file.

1. Go to https://video-converter.com/ from any web browser.
2. Click "Open file" to upload an ISO file to the site.
3. MP4 should be the default output format. Click the "Settings" button to change the video parameters if you need.
4. Click "Convert" to start the conversion.
5. When complete, download the MP4 file to your device or save to Google Drive or Dropbox with one click.

#iso-to-mp4.file-converter-online.com

This one doesn't limit file size and is able to convert ISO to MP4, MP3, AVI, MPEG, M4A, MOV, and FLV. It converts only the video track in the ISO without the menu.

1. Visit the site https://iso-to-mp4.file-converter-online.com/ in your browser.
2. Click "Choose File", browse for an ISO file, and press "Open".
3. From the filetype dropdown list, select "mp4".
4. Click "Start Converting!". An automatic download of the MP4 video will be initiated after the conversion is completed.

How to Convert ISO to MP4 with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a handy command-line tool for decoding and encoding media files. Changing an ISO file to MP4 is possible with two methods - re-encoding or remuxing. The former is slower, but still more recommended as it will produce an MP4 file encoded with H.264 like the above methods, smaller file size with better compatibility. While remuxing only changes the video container to MP4, the video codec is still MPEG-2 - the DVD video format that's not compatible with most players.

Here is how to convert ISO to MP4 using FFmpeg:

1. Go to https://ffmpeg.org/download.html and install ffmpeg.
2. Initiate the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac).
3. Type the command:

To re-encode ISO to MP4 H.264, use the command ffmpeg –i input.iso output.mp4.

To remux ISO to MP4, use the command ffmpeg -i input.iso -c copy output.mp4.

Replace input.iso with the directory where your ISO file is located.

4. Press "Enter" to run it.

Conclusion

This article discusses how to convert ISO to MP4 on Mac or Windows. Among the 5 methods, Cisdem Video Converter and HandBrake are dedicated tools of great help. VLC and online tools are viable choices with limitations. And FFmpeg is probably the hardest one to master if you're a noob to command line tools.

Whether you opt for user-friendly software like Cisdem or explore other utilities, the conversion from ISO to MP4 can make your ISO file content more accessible and versatile across all devices and platforms.