Convert DAV to MP4
Turn Dahua .dav recordings into MP4 files that play on any phone or computer. It runs in your browser, so your footage is never uploaded and the quality stays exactly the same.
Drop .dav files here to convert them to MP4
How to convert DAV to MP4
Add your recordings
Drag one or more .dav files onto the screen above, or choose them from your computer. Files exported from a Dahua DVR, NVR or SmartPSS all work.
Wait a few seconds
Each file is rewrapped into MP4 on your device. A 200 MB recording usually takes a few seconds, because the video is copied rather than re-encoded.
Download the MP4
Play the result right on the page, then download it. The MP4 plays in Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android and messaging apps.
Details
- Input
- .dav (Dahua DHAV), including recorders sold under other brands
- Output
- .mp4 with the original H.264 or H.265 video
- Quality
- Unchanged; the video stream is copied, not re-encoded
- Audio
- Kept; G.711 audio is converted to AAC so MP4 players can play it
- Upload
- None; files are processed in your browser
- Several files
- Yes, add as many as you like
- Price
- Free
Questions
What is a DAV file?
DAV is the video format Dahua security recorders use for their recordings and exports. It wraps H.264 or H.265 video, and often audio, in a Dahua-specific container that most media players can't open. Converting it to MP4 keeps the same video inside a standard container.
Are my recordings uploaded anywhere?
No. The converter downloads once to your browser and then runs on your device. Your files are read locally and the MP4 is created locally, so the footage never leaves your computer or phone.
Does converting DAV to MP4 lower the quality?
No. The video stream is copied into the MP4 container without re-encoding, so every frame stays identical to the original recording. Only G.711 audio is re-encoded, because MP4 players don't support it.
Why won't my DAV file open in Windows Media Player or QuickTime?
DAV is a proprietary Dahua format, and standard players don't understand its container. Dahua's own Smart Player can open it, but the clip still can't be shared easily. Converting to MP4 fixes both problems.
The MP4 plays without picture. What can I do?
Your recorder probably saved the video as H.265 (HEVC). The MP4 still contains it, but some players need HEVC support. It plays on macOS and iPhone, in Chrome and Edge on most recent computers, and on Windows after installing the HEVC Video Extensions. VLC plays it everywhere.
Can I convert several DAV files at once?
Yes. Drop or choose as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in current versions of Safari and Chrome. Very large files can run out of memory on phones, so for recordings over about 1 GB a computer is more reliable.
Guides
- What is a DAV file and how do you open it?DAV is the recording format of Dahua CCTV recorders. Here's what's inside a .dav file, why normal players can't open it, and three ways to watch it.