How to Convert MKV to MP4 without Losing Quality
Follow these steps to convert MKV to MP4:
Import your MKV files into Movavi Video Converter.
Set MP4 as the output format.
Choose the appropriate preset.
Convert your files.
How to convert MKV to MP4 [10 best ways]
Managing video formats and compatibilities can sometimes be a chore. Different programs use different formats and file extensions, and some will be difficult to playback using some software. A common issue users encounter is to convert MKV files to MP4 files.
Matroska (MKV) and MPEG-4 (MP4) files are both video files capable of storing HD video. MKV stores subtitle, audio, and video all in one large file and is typically how Blu-rays and DVDs store data for their videos. MP4s also store information in one file, but looking at MKVs vs. MP4s, the latter are significantly smaller in file size, without diminishing the video quality, and tend to be compatible with more media players. Finding a Matroska (MKV) video format player narrows down options a lot, so many people opt to convert to MP4 so that they can view videos on other devices.
MP4 vs. MKV: which one wins? Many devices will play an MP4 file but not an MKV file. Though an MKV is commonly created from a Blu-ray or DVD image, the MP4 format is much smaller and compatible with more software. Can Windows Media Player play MKV files? Yes, but it'll take something else to play MKV files on Android. Even if someone prefers to save video files as MKVs, they will need a fast and easy way ready to go to convert .mkv to .mp4. In this article, we'll look at 11 ways to convert MKV files into a more versatile MP4.
How to convert MKV to MP4 with Movavi Video Converter
With Movavi Video Converter, you can transfer MKV to MP4 without losing quality using the revolutionary SuperSpeed mode. The program supports batch processing that makes conversion even faster.
You can also use this smart software to convert MP4 to MKV. Movavi Video Converter provides one of the easiest ways to do fast conversion between more than 180 multimedia formats. So if you’re looking for an MKV-to-MP4 converter, download Movavi Video Converter and forget about format compatibility limits forever.
Step 1. Install the program on your Windows PC or Mac
Download the installation file for Movavi Video Converter to your hard drive, open it when the download is complete, and install the program.
Step 2. Open files for conversion
First, add the files you want to encode into a different format: click Add Media in the upper-left corner and select Add Video.
Step 3. Select the output format
Open the Video tab to access the list of supported formats and choose the required format – MP4 or MKV – depending on your goals. Each format has a list of ready-made presets, offering a choice of resolutions. Select the one that best meets your needs.
Step 4. Start converting MKV to MP4 or vice versa
By default, all output files are stored in the Movavi Library folder. If you want to use a different folder, click the Save to button and locate the required folder on your computer. Need to batch-convert MKV to MP4? No problem, Movavi Video Converter can process a huge number of files at a time. To start processing your media files, just click the Convert button. Since the Movavi software supports the latest video-processing technologies, conversion takes almost no time. Whether you switch your MKV files to MP4 or MP4 to MKV, the results will always be perfect!
10 best tools to convert MKV to MP4 – free desktop and online
Both online and desktop tools are good for converting MKV to MP4, though each of them has specific strengths. While MKV-to-MP4 converters online can be convenient for simple MKV to MP4 conversion, you can do significantly more with free programs for desktops. An MKV-to-MP4 converter download eliminates the slower speed of the cloud and is the clear option if you want to batch convert MKV to MP4. Often, downloaded MKV-to-MP4 video converter programs will have added functionality and efficiency over their online counterparts. Using an online MKV converter to MP4 can be a straightforward way to get a quick conversion done simply. All of these services to convert MKV to MP4 online are usable on any OS that can access a web browser. Just choose one of these video converters for MKV to MP4 according to your needs.
Supported OS: Windows 7/8/10. Mac OS X 10.10 or higher
This powerful Movavi MKV-to-MP4 converter supports over 180 more video formats and also has specific presets for device manufacturers to optimize playback and compatibility. Batch conversion allows you to convert multiple videos from multiple devices into one format simultaneously. It has a simple interface without sacrificing functionality. Importantly, apart from conversion, the program also contains many useful video processing features: trimming, cropping, and adjusting the video during conversion.
To use Movavi Video Converter to convert .mkv to .mp4, follow the steps below:
Pros:
SuperSpeed mode converts files quickly
Convert multiple files at once in batches
Edit your files before converting
Cons:
Cannot convert a video directly from the web
2. HandBrake
Supported OS: Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 (64-bit only). Mac OS 10.11 and later. Linux.
The pros of HandBrake are pretty numerous. It has many features, from optimization for specific devices to video filters and nearly limitless batch queuing. The range of devices that HandBrake can optimize for means maybe you can finally get that MKV to your PS4 or watch an MKV on your iPhone. Also, as it's community-driven and open-source, there's no pay version for features to be gated behind.
The cons of HandBrake, unfortunately, come alongside its many features. It is a powerful way of converting MKV to MP4, but there are so many features, it can be confusing for some users. Open-source freeware tends to be complicated and caters more to the type of people who develop it, and Handbrake is no exception.
Here’s how to use Handbrake:
Download the program free through their website.
Once it's installed, under the Source tab, select the file you want to convert.
Under the Output tab, select MP4 and choose any option you would like. There are many additional tabs of options, but these can be circumvented by choosing a preset for quick use.
Convert your files.
Pros:
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers
Queue multiple files for batch conversion
Open-source, so all features available for free
Cons:
Complexity can make this app confusing for beginners
3. VLC
Supported OS: Pretty much all (Windows, iOS, Mac OS X, Linux, Android)
There are a lot of pros to VLC. First, as a media player that is regularly updated with the latest FFMPEG codec, you'll always have the most updated output files. It's a mainstay of media players for a reason and is itself one of the few answers to how to open an MKV file. Why use VLC for the MKV-to-MP4 conversion, though if you can have VLC play MKV? Though you can play MKV on VLC, you may need a way to convert when you find that your PS4 is not playing MKVs.
VLC has some cons, mostly because it's a media player and library first and converter second. Though it can convert MKV to MP4 and be the answer to how to play MKV files on PS4, some users report video corruption when using it. Often recurring errors have popped up, like the infamous bug where VLC would convert MKV to MP4 with no audio.
This is how you use VLC to convert MKV to MP4:
Get VLC from the official VideoLAN website.
In the Media menu, click Convert/Save.
Click the Add button and import your MKV file. Hit Convert/Save again.
In the Profile drop-down menu, select MP4 for the output.
Hit Save and Start.
Pros:
Available on almost any OS, including mobile operating systems
Regularly updated
Cons:
Designed as a media player first, meaning converted files can sometimes be corrupted or lack audio
4. NCH Prism
Supported OS: Windows, Mac OS X
The pros of Prism are many, as it boasts some very powerful tools to convert with specific device profiles to make it easier to learn how to play your MKV files on iPhone or find ways to play MKV files on Android. It boasts a powerful tool to convert from MKV to MP4 directly from DVD as well.
The con of Prism is one reason in chief. The software is free-trial only, and after the trial period ends, the product is not very well-reviewed.
To convert files to MP4 with NCH Prism, follow these steps:
Download the program from the official website.
Import your files by clicking on the Add Files button.
Select the output folder.
Set MP4 as the output format.
Convert your files.
Pros:
Device profiles help you convert to a correct file for a desired device
Convert files directly from DVDs
Cons:
After the free trial, payment required
What makes Online Video Converter standout for use as an MKV to MP4 converter is its high conversion speeds, and its interface is easy to use and learn. You'll be converting files seconds after arriving at the web page without digging through help files. Its browser-based, minimalist design provides easy to use access to many video format conversions at very high speeds and can easily convert MKV files to MP4.
The downsides of this .mkv-to-.mp4 converter are that file size is limited to 100MB for the freeware version, and their browser edition is unable to batch convert MKV to MP4. For a quick use tool for smaller files, this is an excellent tool to convert MKV to MP4 free.
To transcode files with Online Video Converter, do the following:
Pros:
No app download required
Can get started converting files quickly
Simple design makes it easy to learn and use
Cons:
Can only convert one file at a time
6. CloudConvert
There are a lot of pros to CloudConvert. Its easy options to alter video settings during conversion are handy tools to have available. Like the other online MKV to MP4 converters on this list, it's accessed through a browser, so it can be used on any device that can access websites. In addition to being able to change MKV to MP4, it can handle many other file formats as well as pictures, documents, and audio.
CloudConvert is an excellent MKV-to-MP4 video converter but does have some drawbacks. With its many options come a bit more of a confusing interface. Its browser-based menus are relatively simple, but unless you're pretty video savvy, you may have to look up a few options to convert MKV to MP4 online. Casual users should be able to figure out how to convert .mkv to .mp4 reasonably quickly, but an advanced user will get far more out of this converter.
Converting with CloudConvert is easy:
Go to the CloudConvert website.
Click Select File and import your media.
Make sure that the Convert to field says MP4.
Click Convert, then click Download.
Pros:
Adjust settings during conversion of video files
Entirely browser-based
Cons:
User interface is a little confusing and aimed more at advanced users
7. Zamzar
Zamzar is also a great option to convert MKV to MP4 for free online. The pros of using Zamzar as an MKV converter to MP4 are definitely its simple interface and its adaptability. Being able to convert nearly any file type comes in handy, as you can easily use it as an MKV to MP4 converter for free, then if you ever need any other video conversion, this same tool will work for many different file formats. The tool’s simplicity means that even the most technologically illiterate users should have no problem figuring out how to convert MKV to MP4.
The cons of this video converter for MKV to MP4 are quite a few, however. Free users are limited to 2 conversions per day, and with a 50MB size limit, many larger MKV files will be off-limits on this converter. Conversion times can be slower than other online converters, as well.
Here’s how to convert with Zamzar.
Go to the Zamzar website.
Click Choose files or simply drag and drop your media into the conversion area.
Make sure that the Convert To field is set to MP4.
Click Convert Now.
Pros:
Can convert almost any file type
Convert files for free
Cons:
Converting more than two files in a single day requires payment
Unable to convert files larger than 50 MB
Online-Convert is a great tool to use as a converter for MKV to MP4 transcode. On the positive side, Online-Convert is incredibly powerful in how many file types and extensions it can work with. The addition of a Firefox extension for ease of use is a very nice option for chronic converters, and the availability of apps made it much easier to convert MKV to MP4 on Android or iPhone.
There are, however, some negatives to Online-Convert. The site works very well and is among the fastest of the free MKV to MP4 converters online. Their site, however, is full of ads and pop-ups. The browser extension and apps would solve this problem, but users have found these do not work nearly as well as the browser service itself, commonly delivering errors and themselves being rife with ads.
Follow these steps to use Online-Convert:
Go to the Online-Convert website.
Import your media by clicking the Choose File button.
The output format is already set to MP4, but you can tweak some advanced settings below the conversion area.
As soon as the file is uploaded, click Start.
The converted file will be automatically downloaded to your computer.
Pros:
Comes with a Firefox extension
Mobile apps available
Cons:
Using the site requires viewing ads, including pop-up ads
Extension and apps also have ads
9. ConvertFiles
ConvertFiles is a reliable converter for MKV to MP4 for free online. The pros for ConvertFiles are its easy-to-use interface, its versatility, and its accessibility. The browser site is simple to use; users can simply browse for a file on their device and easily use its MKV-to-MP4 converter online. It can convert nearly any type of file, and if your file takes a bit to convert, ConvertFiles will even email you with a download link for your file when it's complete.
The cons of ConvertFiles are definitely its size limitations. Free users of ConvertFiles are only allowed to convert files up to 250MB, which severely limits its abilities as MKVs tend to be huge files.
Do the following to convert with ConvertFiles:
Visit the ConvertFiles website.
Click Browse and import your MKV file.
For the Output format field, select MPEG-4 Video file (.mp4).
Tick the Send a download link to my email option if necessary.
Hit the Convert button.
Pros:
Automatically emails user link to download a converted file, meaning you can do other tasks while waiting for conversion
Simple user interface suitable for beginners
Cons:
Converting files larger than 250 MB requires payment
10. Convertio
Convertio is a long time standby as an MKV converter to MP4 online and has many positives. The interface is simple. Source files to be converted can be linked directly from a web URL, from a local device, or a cloud service. It's fast and delivers a reliable result. It can convert thousands of different file extensions, yet its browser interface is simple enough that nearly any user will easily be able to learn how to change MKV to MP4.
The cons of Convertio are mostly that many of the features are gated behind the paid version of their service. Free users are limited to 100MB file size, and the number of conversions per day is limited. This service may not be sufficient for someone who wants to convert MKV to MP4 online with big files.
To convert files with Convertio, follow these steps:
Go to the Convertio website.
Click Choose Files and import your media.
Make sure that the output format field says MP4.
Tweak the conversion settings if necessary.
Click Convert, then click Download.
Pros:
Convert files from multiple sources, including a cloud storage or local device
Able to process thousands of different file types
Cons:
Extensive list of features only available in the paid version
Summary: Which MKV to MP4 converter is the best
All of these online and desktop converters are great ways to convert MKV to MP4. If you're looking for a simple way to convert an MKV file without downloading any additional apps or programs, online services may be the answer to how to convert MKV files to MP4. Desktop tools are perfect for converting larger files and can perform sophisticated operations like batch conversion. Depending on which features are essential to you, you're bound to find something that works perfectly for what you need in a tool to convert MKV to MP4 for free.
MKV vs. MP4 comparison
MKV (Matroska Video) is a free container format that lets you combine multiple audio, video, and subtitle streams – which is why it became so popular for movie storage. One file can keep audio tracks in all languages and many subtitle streams that can be switched on the fly. MP4 is currently the most popular container format for storing media content: video, audio, subtitles, and even images (for example, photos of movie intros). Even though there is an MPEG-4 video codec, files with an MP4 extension can contain videos encoded by other codecs – for example, H.264 or H.265. Due to a good ratio of quality and size, this format has gained immense popularity and is supported by the largest number of devices and platforms, including iOS and Android.
Here’s what Movavi’s team does to provide you with verified information:
When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
All the products covered in this article have been tested by our team.
When testing, we compare key characteristics, including supported input and output formats, quality loss when converting, and other significant features.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.
Frequently asked questions
Movavi Video Converter
The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!
See other useful how-to guides
How to convert MP3 audio files to the M4A format
How to convert your DVD to the MPEG format
How to convert TS to MP4
How to convert AVCHD video files to MP4
How to convert MKV to DVD
How to convert MOV to WMV on Windows & Mac
How to compress videos for WhatsApp [PC/online/mobile]
How to send large files via email
How to put a DVD on an iPhone [5 easy steps]
AVCHD vs. MP4: What's the Difference? – Movavi Converter
Have questions?
If you can’t find the answer to your question, please feel free to contact our Support Team.
Join for how-to guides, speсial offers, and app tips!
1.5М+ users already subscribed to our newsletter