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Video Conversion

Convert RM to Android Video — Free Online Converter

Convert RealMedia (.rm) to Android Video (.android-video) online for free. Fast, secure video conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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Works Everywhere

Any browser, any device

How to Convert

1

Upload your .rm file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .mp4 file when it's ready.

About RM to Android Video Conversion

RM (RealMedia) is a proprietary streaming format developed by RealNetworks in 1997, designed for dial-up internet delivery. RM files use constant bitrate RealVideo codecs (RV10, RV20, RV30) and RealAudio (Cook codec) at extremely low bitrates — typically 100-300 kbps total — optimized for 56 kbps modem connections. The Android Video device preset produces H.264 Baseline Profile video with AAC-LC audio, optimized for hardware-accelerated playback on Android smartphones and tablets.

RealMedia represented the first generation of internet streaming video, and millions of RM files remain in personal and institutional archives from the RealPlayer era (1997-2005). Converting to Android format rescues this content for modern mobile viewing.

Why Convert RM to Android Video?

Android has zero support for RealMedia — no Android media player includes RealVideo decoders. Even VLC for Android has inconsistent RM support, particularly for the oldest RV10/RV20 codec versions. The Android preset converts to H.264 Baseline MP4 that every Android device decodes in hardware without compatibility issues.

RM files were already small and low-resolution by design (176x144 to 320x240 at 100-300 kbps). The Android conversion preserves these compact dimensions, producing tiny MP4 files that consume negligible storage on modern phones. The codec upgrade from RealVideo to H.264 can actually improve visual quality at the same bitrate.

Common Use Cases

  • Rescuing early internet video clips from RM archives for viewing on Android phones
  • Converting RealPlayer library files from the dial-up era for modern mobile playback
  • Making 1990s webcam recordings and streaming captures accessible on Android
  • Preserving early streaming media from university and corporate RM archives on Android devices
  • Converting nostalgic internet video content from RM to Android-compatible format

How It Works

FFmpeg demuxes the RM container and decodes the RealVideo stream using legacy RV10/RV20/RV30 decoders. The decoded video is re-encoded to H.264 Baseline Profile at the source resolution (typically 176x144 to 320x240). Audio is decoded from RealAudio Cook codec and re-encoded to AAC-LC at 64-96 kbps. Video bitrate targets 200-500 kbps — appropriate for the low source resolution. The MP4 container includes faststart for Android compatibility.

Quality & Performance

RM source files were encoded at 100-300 kbps for dial-up streaming — the quality is inherently poor by any modern standard. Converting to H.264 at matching or slightly higher bitrate can produce marginally cleaner output due to the superior codec, but the fundamental limitation is the low-quality source material. On a phone screen, the content is watchable for its historical value. Files are tiny — 5-20 MB for a 5-minute clip.

FFMPEG EngineModerateMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceRMAndroid Video
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Recommended Settings by Platform

YouTube

Resolution: 1920x1080

Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps

H.264 recommended for fast processing

Instagram

Resolution: 1080x1080

Bitrate: 3.5 Mbps

Square or 9:16 for Reels

TikTok

Resolution: 1080x1920

Bitrate: 4 Mbps

9:16 vertical, under 60s ideal

Twitter/X

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 5 Mbps

Under 140s, 512MB max

WhatsApp

Resolution: 960x540

Bitrate: 2 Mbps

16MB limit for standard, 64MB for document

Discord

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 4 Mbps

8MB free, 50MB Nitro

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Preserve the original RM resolution — upscaling dial-up-era content just enlarges artifacts
  • 2Use 200-400 kbps H.264 for RM sources — the low resolution does not benefit from higher bitrates
  • 3Preview RM files in VLC before batch converting to verify they decode properly
  • 4Batch-convert entire RealPlayer library folders to rescue archives efficiently
  • 5Label output files descriptively since RM files rarely contain useful metadata

RM to Android Video conversion rescues early internet streaming content for modern mobile viewing, converting files from the RealPlayer era into a format every Android device supports natively.

Frequently Asked Questions

RM files were encoded for 56 kbps dial-up connections. The poor quality is inherent to the source, not the conversion. The converter preserves the best possible quality from the original encoding.
Extremely small. RM clips were typically 2-10 MB and convert to similar or smaller MP4 files. Even hours of RM content occupy negligible phone storage.
Marginally. RealAudio Cook codec at 32-64 kbps produces narrow-band audio. AAC at 64-96 kbps preserves the full decoded quality but cannot recover what the original encoding discarded.
Inconsistently. VLC can handle some RM variants but fails on others, particularly RV10/RV20. Converting to MP4 ensures reliable playback without guessing.
No. Upscaling 176x144 or 320x240 content adds no detail and just enlarges the compression artifacts. Let the phone's display scaler handle it.

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