A quick guide on how to export videos in MP4 format using Blender.
Introduction
By default, Blender exports videos as a sequence of PNG images.
Since I wasn’t sure how to export in MP4 format, I took some notes.
# Work environment Blender 4.2.0
Note: This article was translated from my original post.
Exporting Videos in MP4 in Blender
Steps:
- Set the output format to "FFmpeg Video".
- Set the encoding to "MPEG-4".
- Adjust the codec settings as needed.
Let's go through them one by one.
1. Set the Output Format to "FFmpeg Video"
From the Properties Area at the bottom right of the Blender screen, go to:
"Output Properties (printer icon)" > "Output" > "File Format"
Then select "FFmpeg Video".
2. Set the Encoding to "MPEG-4"
Still within Output Properties (printer icon), under the "Output" section:
Go to "Encoding" > "Container" and select "MPEG-4".
3. Adjust the Codec Settings
Under "Encoding" > "Video", adjust the output quality settings as needed.
In most cases, the default codec H.264 works fine.
That’s all for the settings.
Now, go to the top menu in Blender and click:
"Render" > "Render Animation"
This will export the video in MP4 format.
Conclusion
This was a simple guide on exporting MP4 videos from Blender.
Exporting as a PNG sequence is useful for rendering heavy scenes since each frame is saved individually. On the other hand, exporting directly to MP4 has a downside—if rendering stops midway, the entire video is lost.
That said, for small scenes, exporting as MP4 is often the quickest solution.
I hope this guide is helpful to someone.
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