DAV to MP4 Converter - Free Desktop App
Convert .dav files from your CCTV or DVR into MP4 that plays anywhere. 100% offline — footage never leaves your computer. Works on Mac & Windows.
How it works
- 1 Download FileHop Free · 144 MB · Mac & Windows
- 2 Open the folder with your files It opens like Finder or File Explorer.
- 3 Right-click your file Pick the tool you need — it runs instantly, on your device.
100% offline — sensitive surveillance footage is never uploaded to a server.
Just 144 MB
Why Desktop Tools Beat Online Tools
| Feature | Online Tools | FileHop Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Upload Required | ❌ Required | 🎯 Never |
| File Size Limit | ❌ 50MB max | ♾️ Unlimited |
| Speed | ⏳ Slow (upload/download) | ⚡ Instant |
| Batch Processing | ❌ 1 file | ✅ 1000s |
| Privacy | ⚠️ Risky (cloud upload) | 🔒 100% Local |
| No Watermark | ⚠️ Sometimes added | ✅ Never |
| Offline | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free ✅ |
Why Choose FileHop Desktop?
Privacy First
Files never leave your computer. No cloud upload, no data collection, 100% local.
Lightning Fast
Process files 10x faster than online tools. No upload wait, no download wait.
No Limits
Convert unlimited files of any size. Batch process thousands in one click.
Batch Processing
Convert, compress, or edit hundreds of files at once — a whole folder in one go.
Works Offline
No internet required. Perfect for flights, secure environments.
Free to Use
No trial limits, no watermarks, no credit card required.
When You Need This
Real scenarios where this conversion solves a specific problem.
CCTV footage that won't open
Your DVR exported a .dav file but no normal player will touch it. Convert it to MP4 so it plays in any player, browser, or phone.
Learn more →Sensitive footage you can't upload
Surveillance video can be evidence or contain identifiable people. Convert it on your own machine — nothing is ever uploaded to a server.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .dav file?
DAV is the recording format used by Dahua DVRs and NVRs, and by the many camera brands built on Dahua hardware. Inside the .dav wrapper, the video is normally an H.264 or H.265 stream — FileHop reads that stream and rewraps it as a standard MP4.
Why won't my .dav file play in a normal video player?
DAV is a proprietary container, so standard players and browsers don't recognize the extension and refuse to open it. Converting to MP4 — the universal video standard — makes the footage play in QuickTime, VLC, Windows, phones, and any browser.
Which cameras and DVRs produce .dav files?
Dahua systems and the many rebranded Dahua OEM products: Amcrest, Lorex, and several Honeywell, Q-See, and similar security systems. If your DVR's backup or export produced a .dav file, FileHop can convert it.
Does converting .dav to MP4 reduce the video quality?
When the camera recorded in H.264 (the most common case), FileHop copies the video stream straight into the MP4 with no re-encoding — so there's zero quality loss and it's nearly instant. H.265 footage is re-encoded to H.264 for universal playback at a visually identical quality.
Is it safe to convert surveillance footage this way?
Yes. FileHop runs entirely on your computer and uploads nothing. That matters for CCTV footage, which may be legal evidence or contain identifiable people — online converters send your video to a third-party server, FileHop never does.
My .dav file won't open even in FileHop. Why?
Some DVRs export encrypted or proprietary-encoded .dav that only the manufacturer's player (such as Dahua SmartPlayer or SmartPSS) can read. For those, export the clip to a standard file from within the manufacturer software first, then convert that with FileHop. Standard .dav exports open directly.
Can I batch convert a whole folder of .dav clips?
Yes. DVRs often export footage as many short .dav segments. Drag the whole folder into FileHop and convert them all to MP4 at once — there is no file limit.
Will the timestamp and camera overlay still show after conversion?
Yes. The on-screen date, time, and channel label are burned into the video frames by the camera itself, so they are preserved exactly in the converted MP4.
Can I use the converted MP4 as evidence or share it with police or insurance?
Yes. MP4 is the universal format every system accepts. Because the conversion is a direct stream copy for H.264 footage, the video isn't altered beyond its container. It's good practice to keep your original .dav files as well.
Does the .dav file include audio?
If your camera recorded audio, FileHop keeps the audio track in the MP4. Many CCTV cameras record video only, in which case the converted MP4 will also be video-only.
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Learn More
Understand video formats, compression, and how FileHop compares to alternatives