Guide to Encoding Videos for iOS Devices with HandBrake

Originally written in the previous iteration of this blog in April 2011.
 Updated: April 4, 2025

When it comes to converting videos for iOS devices, HandBrake has long been a go-to tool due to its ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, and powerful encoding capabilities. Back in 2011, many users struggled with converting various video file types (like MKV, AVI, and OGM) into formats compatible with iPhones, iPads, and iPods. While there were other options on the market, HandBrake stood out because it was free, open-source, and worked across multiple operating systems, including macOS, Linux, and Windows. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to properly encode videos for iOS devices using HandBrake.

Step 1: Preparing Your Tools

Before you begin encoding your videos, make sure you’ve completed the following:

  1. Install VideoLAN Player – You’ll need this to handle different video formats.
  2. Install HandBrake – Download and install HandBrake from the official website.

Once both are installed, you’re ready to start encoding!

Step 2: Select Your Source File or Folder

  1. Launch HandBrake – You’ll see the default interface with most buttons greyed out.
  2. Open the Source – Click the “Source” button to select your video file or folder. If you choose a folder, HandBrake will process the contents and allow you to choose individual files from the “Title” dropdown menu.

Step 3: Choose the Right Preset for iOS Devices

  1. Select the Preset – In the HandBrake window, click on the “Presets” list. If it’s not visible, click the “Toggle Presets” button.
  2. Pick the Device Preset – Select the preset that matches your iOS device. Options include:
    • Playstation
    • Android
    • Chromecastr
    • Apple

These presets optimize the video format for specific devices, saving you the hassle of adjusting settings manually.

Step 4: Customize Your Preset (Optional)

If you’d like to make adjustments, you can customize the preset:

  1. Select Your Video Codec – HandBrake offers several codecs which are accessible from the Video tab such as H.264 (x264) or H.265 (x265).

  2. Audio Settings – Click the “Audio” tab to choose the desired audio track (if there are multiple tracks).

  3. Subtitles – The default iOS video player doesn’t support embedded subtitles (like those in MKV files). If your video contains subtitles, you’ll need to burn them into the video:

    • Go to the Subtitles tab and double click on the subtitle track.
    • Check the box for “Burn In” to ensure subtitles appear in the encoded video.

Step 5: Adjust Picture Settings

Before encoding, you’ll likely need to adjust the resolution to ensure the video is optimized for your device.

  1. Resolution – Click the “Picture” tab to open a dialog where you can adjust the width and height of the video.
  2. Adjust Aspect Ratio – If needed, make adjustments to the aspect ratio to ensure the video looks correct on your device.

Step 6: Start Encoding

Once all settings are configured to your liking, you’re ready to encode the video:

  1. Click “Start” – Press the “Start” button in HandBrake to begin the encoding process.

HandBrake will now convert your video into the desired format. Depending on the length and complexity of the video, and most importantly your hardware, the encoding process may take anywhere from several minutes to a longer period.

Conclusion

This guide provided a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use HandBrake to convert videos into formats compatible with iOS devices. Since 2011, HandBrake has continued to improve with faster processing speeds, better codec support, and an even more user-friendly interface, making it one of the best video encoding tools available today.

If you encounter any issues or need help, feel free to leave a comment!

This guide was originally written in 2011 when the iPhone 4 was the latest, greatest iPhone, quite a bit has changed, but the process is similar

Since this guide was first written, several key updates have made HandBrake even more efficient and feature-rich for encoding videos:

  1. Support for More Devices – HandBrake now supports a broader range of devices and formats, including Android, newer iOS models, and streaming services like Netflix.
  2. Enhanced Codec Options – H.265/HEVC support has been added, allowing for higher compression and better quality at smaller file sizes.
  3. Faster Encoding – Thanks to hardware acceleration and more optimized algorithms, HandBrake now encodes videos much faster than in 2011.
  4. Better Subtitles Handling – HandBrake has improved its subtitle support, including better handling of subtitle tracks and formats.

There is one feature which appears to not be available, which is Custom Presets, by default it does not appear as a readily available in the app.