diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 3d274c4..b180cc4 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -176,6 +176,17 @@ def local_video_delete():
     }
     return jsonify(summary), status_codes.get(summary["status"], 409)
 
+@app.route('/api/local-video/convert', methods=['POST'])
+def local_video_convert():
+    body = request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+    path = body.get("path", "")
+    if not path:
+        return jsonify({"status": "invalid_path", "message": "No path provided."}), 400
+    queued = app_video.queue_convert(path, force=True)
+    if queued is False:
+        return jsonify({"status": "busy", "message": "Already converting."}), 409
+    return jsonify({"status": "started"})
+
 @app.route('/api/upload/status')
 def upload_status():
     return jsonify(app_upload.get_status())
diff --git a/modules/app_video.py b/modules/app_video.py
index e6ba2c5..4ced921 100644
--- a/modules/app_video.py
+++ b/modules/app_video.py
@@ -25,20 +25,21 @@ def is_convert_enabled():
     return app_sql.get_setting(CONVERT_SETTING, "0") == "1"
 
 
-def queue_convert(relative_path):
-    """Spawn a background greenlet to re-encode relative_path to web-ready MP4.
-    No-op if conversion is disabled, already running, or file is already MP4."""
-    if not is_convert_enabled():
-        return
+def queue_convert(relative_path, force=False):
+    """Spawn a background thread to re-encode relative_path to web-ready MP4.
+    Returns True if queued, False if already converting, None if skipped (disabled/MP4).
+    Set force=True to bypass the is_convert_enabled() check (manual trigger)."""
+    if not force and not is_convert_enabled():
+        return None
     if relative_path.lower().endswith(".mp4"):
-        return
+        return None
     with _converting_lock:
         if relative_path in _converting:
-            return
+            return False
         _converting.add(relative_path)
-    gevent.sleep(0)  # yield before spawning thread
     t = threading.Thread(target=_convert_bg, args=(relative_path,), daemon=True)
     t.start()
+    return True
 
 
 def _convert_bg(relative_path):
diff --git a/static/js/local-videos.js b/static/js/local-videos.js
index 0c1198a..a1f9ad8 100644
--- a/static/js/local-videos.js
+++ b/static/js/local-videos.js
@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@
             playButton.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-play"></i><span class="btn-label"> Play</span>';
             actionsDiv.appendChild(playButton);
 
+            // Convert button — only for non-MP4 files not already converting
+            if (!file.converting && !file.path.toLowerCase().endsWith(".mp4")) {
+                const convertButton = document.createElement("button");
+                convertButton.type = "button";
+                convertButton.className = "btn btn-sm btn-outline-secondary btn-icon-mobile";
+                convertButton.dataset.convertPath = file.path;
+                convertButton.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-exchange-alt"></i><span class="btn-label"> Convert</span>';
+                actionsDiv.appendChild(convertButton);
+            }
+
             const deleteButton = document.createElement("button");
             deleteButton.type = "button";
             deleteButton.className = "btn btn-sm btn-outline-danger btn-icon-mobile";
@@ -238,6 +248,22 @@
             deleteVideo(deleteButton.dataset.deleteLocalPath).finally(function () {
                 deleteButton.disabled = false;
             });
+            return;
+        }
+        const convertButton = event.target.closest("[data-convert-path]");
+        if (convertButton) {
+            convertButton.disabled = true;
+            convertButton.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin"></i>';
+            fetch("/api/local-video/convert", {
+                method: "POST",
+                headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+                body: JSON.stringify({ path: convertButton.dataset.convertPath }),
+            }).then(function () {
+                setTimeout(refreshFiles, 1000);
+            }).catch(function (err) {
+                summary.textContent = `Convert failed: ${err.message}`;
+                convertButton.disabled = false;
+            });
         }
     });