---
title: "Video: Formats That Play Everywhere"
lang: en
canonical_url: https://www.peony.ink/docs/file-types/video
description: "Which video formats to upload to a Peony data room so they play in every visitor's browser, how to check and convert a video's codec, and how watermarks and downloads work for video."
---

Video streams inside the room's viewer with the dynamic watermark over it. Uploading video requires the **Business** plan or above. The one thing that decides whether a video plays for everyone is its **codec** — how the picture is encoded inside the file.

## Recommended Format

**MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio.** It plays in every modern browser — Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, on desktop and mobile. Most screen recorders and video tools export it by default.

| Format                                                         | Plays for every visitor?                       |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| MP4, H.264 video                                               | Yes — recommended                              |
| MP4 or MOV, HEVC / H.265 (common from iPhones and recent Macs) | Only in some browsers — convert to H.264       |
| MP4 or AVI, older codecs (MPEG-4 Part 2, DivX, Xvid)           | Often sound with no picture — convert to H.264 |
| WebM (VP9)                                                     | Most browsers — MP4 H.264 is safer             |

## Check a Video's Codec

- **Mac:** select the file in Finder, choose **File → Get Info**, and look at **Codecs** under More Info.
- **Windows:** right-click the file → **Properties → Details**, and look at the video section.
- **Any computer:** open it in the free VLC player, then **Tools → Codec Information** (Mac: **Window → Media Information**).

If it says **H.264** or **AVC**, it's ready to upload.

## Convert a Video to H.264

**With HandBrake (free, Mac and Windows):**

1. Open the video in [HandBrake](https://handbrake.fr).
2. Pick the **Fast 1080p30** preset (or **Fast 720p30** for smaller files).
3. Check the format is **MP4** and the video encoder is **H.264 (x264)**.
4. Click **Start**, then upload the new file.

**With ffmpeg (command line):**

```bash
ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac output.mp4
```

To swap the new file in without changing the link, use [Upload a new version](https://www.peony.ink/docs/getting-started/upload-a-new-version).

## Watermarks and Downloads

- The **dynamic watermark** is drawn over the video while it plays.
- The player's own download control and right-click menu are removed.
- Visitors can download the file only if their group has **Download** permission. A downloaded video is your original file, without the watermark. See [Which files carry the watermark](https://www.peony.ink/docs/features/security/dynamic-watermarks#which-files-carry-the-watermark).

## Large Videos

- Stay on the page until the upload finishes.
- Very long recordings upload faster as a few shorter clips.
- See [Storage limits by plan (no per-file size limit)](https://www.peony.ink/docs/troubleshooting/file-could-not-be-uploaded#1-your-plans-storage-or-document-allowance-is-full), and [A video won't upload or play](https://www.peony.ink/docs/troubleshooting/video-upload-or-playback-fails) if an upload fails.

## Common Questions

#### Which video format should I upload?

MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. It plays in every modern browser on desktop and mobile.

#### My video uploaded but plays sound with no picture, or won't play. Why?

The video uses a codec some browsers can't play, such as older MPEG-4 Part 2 or HEVC/H.265. Convert it to MP4 (H.264) and upload it again.

#### It plays for me but not for an investor. Why?

Your browser can decode the codec and theirs can't — typical with HEVC/H.265 from an iPhone or Mac. Converting to H.264 fixes it for everyone.

#### Can visitors download my video?

Only if their group has Download permission. The player's own download control is removed either way.

## Related

- [Supported file types](https://www.peony.ink/docs/concepts/supported-file-formats)
- [Upload failed: 1 file could not be uploaded](https://www.peony.ink/docs/troubleshooting/file-could-not-be-uploaded)
- [Dynamic watermarks](https://www.peony.ink/docs/features/security/dynamic-watermarks)

---

_Markdown version of [https://www.peony.ink/docs/file-types/video](https://www.peony.ink/docs/file-types/video.md) for AI agents and LLMs; canonical HTML: https://www.peony.ink/docs/file-types/video. Every page on peony.ink is available as markdown — append `.md` to the URL or request it with `Accept: text/markdown`. More: [llms.txt](https://www.peony.ink/llms.txt)._