3GP (3GPP File Format) is a multimedia container format primarily supported in 3G mobile phones to reduce bandwidth, disk space, and data usage. The 3GP format is less popular compared to the MP4 format, and some media players and mobile devices may have problems playing 3GP files.
To share the 3GP movies with others on Windows PC or Mac, you’d better change 3GP files to MP4 or any other popular media format.
In this article, we look at how to convert 3GP to MP4 without quality loss.
- TalkHelper Video Converter (Recommended)
- VLC Media Player
- FFmpeg
- Zamzar
3GP vs. MP4: Difference between 3GP and MP4
| File Extension |
 .3gp |
File Extension |
 .mp4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Name |
3GPP file format |
Full Name |
MPEG-4 Part 14 |
|
Developer |
Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) |
Developer |
The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) |
|
MIME Type |
video/3gpp |
MIME Type |
video/mp4 |
|
Video Codecs |
MPEG-H HEVC/H.265, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MVC, MPEG-4 Visual, H.263 |
Video Codecs |
MPEG-H HEVC/H.265, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, AV1, VP9, VP8, MPEG-1 Video, MPEG-2 Video, MPEG-4 Visual, VC-1, H.263, M-JPEG, MJ2 |
|
Audio Codecs |
AAC, AMR |
Audio Codecs |
AAC, MP3, AC-3, E-AC-3, DTS, Opus, MP2, MP1, ALAC, DTS-HD |
|
Pros |
Small file size |
Pros |
Compatible with all media players, OS and devices |
|
Cons |
Low resolution Low frame rate Poor compatibility |
Cons |
|
The Best Way to Convert Multiple 3GP Files to MP4 on Windows
TalkHelper Video Converter provides you with an easy way to convert multiple 3GP files to MP4 in a short period of time. It also allows you to convert batches of videos and audios among 1000+ formats including 4K and HD for all your conversion needs. You can convert 3GP videos to MP4, MKV, AVI, WMV or specific formats for iPhone/Android/Xbox devices.
Steps to convert 3GP to MP4 with TalkHelper Video Converter:
Step 1. Load 3GP files, even if they exceed 1GB
Drag-and-drop the source files into TalkHelper, if the 3GP files are located in the same folder, you can import the entire folder to the software.
Step 2. Set up the output format – MP4
Click the format button to open the output format dialog box. Select “MP4” > “MP4 H264 – 4K Ultra “, “MP4 HD Video”, or “MP4 HEVC/H265”.
Also, you can choose any specific format for mobile devices in the “Device” tab.
Step 3. Convert multiple 3GP files to MP4 on Windows
Click the “Start Convert” button to start video conversion. It won’t take too long for the conversion to finish.
How to convert 3GP to MP4 with Freeware
#1. VLC Media Player
VideoLAN’s VLC Media Player is a fully-fledged media player tool that offers 3GP to MP4 conversion capabilities on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. It is free to use, boasts many conversion preset profiles, allows for video trimming, offers subtitle options, supports online 3GP file sources, allows you to customize various parameters, and export high-quality MP4 files.
Limitations:
- Lacks video editing options
- Lacks batch processing capabilities
Steps to turn 3GP into MP4 for free using VLC:
Step 1: Download, install and launch VLC Media Player on your computer.
Step 2: Open the “Media” menu and select the “Convert/Save…” option.
Step 3: Click the “Add…” button to import the 3GP file and hit “Convert/Save”.
Step 4: Pick an “MP4” profile, set output parameters, and click the “Start” button.
#2. FFmpeg
FFmpeg is a free and open-source 3GP to MP4 converter that supports all popular platforms similar to VLC Media Player. It boasts portability and vast support for all media formats. However, this is a converter tool for advanced users as it works from the command line. Luckily, this subsequent section teaches you how to use FFmpeg to convert 3GP to MP4.
Limitations
- No graphical user interface
- Batch conversion is a hassle
- May pose a steep learning curve
Steps to change 3GP to MP4 using FFmpeg:
Step 1: Download and extract FFmpeg executable files from https://www.ffmpeg.org/download.html
Step 2: Copy the 3GP video file into the directory containing the extracted FFmpeg executables.
Step 3: Open a command window in the executables’ folder.
Step 4: Type the command below and hit the Enter key. Ensure to substitute the input and output names accordingly.
fmpeg.exe -i input.3gp output.mp4
Best Online 3GP to MP4 Converter
Zamzar is your go-to online tool to help you convert 3GP files into MP4 while on the go, without platform dependency. You can swiftly change 3GP to MP4 and retain the original quality in three steps. There is no need to set up complex software, and you can perform batch 3GP to MP4 processing at the click of a button.
Limitations
- The free version limits you to 50MB max file size
- Requires a stable internet connection
Steps to convert a 3GP file to MP4 file using Zamzar:
Step 1: Open Zamzar 3GP Converter on https://www.zamzar.com/converters/video/3gp/.
Step 2: Click the “Add Files…” button to upload the 3GP video file.
Step 3: Set MP4 as the “Convert To” output format and hit “Convert Now”.
Step 4: Click the “Download” button to save the converted MP4 file on your computer.
3GP to MP4: FAQ
For a convenient method of converting 3GP files to MP4 on Windows PC, TalkHelper Video Converter is the most suitable program. Here is the step-by-step guide to follow;
Step 1: Download, install and start TalkHelper Video Converter.
Step 2: Open the “Add Media” menu > “Add Video File…” to import the 3GP video.
Step 3: Expand the “Output Format” menu > “Popular” > “MP4”.
Step 4: Select your preferred sub-format and hit the “Start Convert” button.
A 3GP file is a video container format, developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), used on 3G mobile phones but can also be played on some 2G and 4G phones.
The 3GP file format utilizes video codecs such as MPEG-4 Part 2, H.263, or MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264) and audio codecs like AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AMR-WB+, AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1, or Enhanced aacPlus (HE-AAC v2).
VideoLAN’s VLC Media Player is an avid media player tool that supports all platforms and is free. Follow this guide to learn how to play any 3GP file using VLC;
Step 1: Download and set up VLC Media Player.
Step 2: Open the “Media” menu and click “Open File…”.
Step 3: Navigate to the folder containing the 3GP file.
Step 4: Double-click the 3GP video to start playback.
