MKV to MP4 Converter

Fix playback issues by converting MKV files to universal MP4.

4.9/5 - 3,421 votes

Drag & Drop MKV files here

or click to browse from your device

How to Convert MKV to MP4?

The easy way to make your MKV videos compatible with everything.

1

Add MKV File

Drag and drop your .mkv file. We support Matroska Video files of any resolution.

2

Start Conversion

Click convert. We'll repackage the video streams into the widely supported MP4 format.

3

Download MP4

Save your new file. It's now ready to play on your phone, tablet, or upload to social media.

Why use MP4 over MKV?

MKV is great for storage, but terrible for playback on non-PC devices. MP4 is the industry standard for compatibility across all screens.

Engineering Philosophy

From Complex Container to
Universal Playback.

MKV (Matroska) is an incredible format for archivists because it can hold unlimited audio, video, and subtitle tracks. But that complexity is exactly why your TV or smartphone often says "File not supported".

RiseConvert's MKV to MP4 Processor strips away the complexity. We intelligently select the main video and audio tracks, then re-box them into the ISO Base Media File Format (MP4).

This process ensures that your high-quality movie rips and downloads play flawlessly on iPhone, Android, PlayStation, and Smart TVs without needing VLC.

Simplified for modern devices

Smart TV Ready

Fixes "unsupported audio" errors on TVs.

Stream Optimizing

Moves metadata to front for fast web buffering.

Universal Standard

Play anywhere, anytime

Understanding MKV vs. MP4

MKV (Matroska) is an open-standard container format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture, or subtitle tracks in one file. It is intended to serve as a universal format for storing common multimedia content, like movies or TV shows.

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is also a container format but is much more strictly defined. This strictness is a feature, not a bug—it means hardware manufacturers (like Apple, Samsung, Sony) can easily build chips that decode MP4 efficiently.

Converting to MP4 is essentially "finalizing" your video for distribution and playback, ensuring the highest likelihood that it will just work when you press play.

Container Comparison

Feature
MKV (Matroska)
MP4 (MPEG-4)
Compatibility
Low (Mostly PC)
Universal (All Devices)
Subtitle Support
Advanced (Soft subs)
Basic
Web Streaming
Poor
Native (HTML5)
File Structure
Flexible
Standardized
Typical Use
Archiving/Rips
Playback/Sharing

What about Subtitles?

MKV files often contain "soft" subtitles (text streams) like SSA/ASS formats which are common in anime and foreign films.

  • The Challenge: MP4 has limited support for these advanced subtitle formats.
  • Our Approach: When converting, we prioritize the video and audio streams to ensure they play smoothly. While complex soft subtitles might be dropped to ensure compatibility, the visual integrity of the video remains perfect.

Tech Glossary

Matroska (.mkv)

Named after Russian Matryoshka dolls. An open source container that can hold anything.

Muxing

Multiplexing. The process of combining video, audio, and subtitle streams into a single container file.

Codec

The method used to compress the actual video data (e.g., H.264) inside the container.

AAC

Advanced Audio Coding. The standard audio format for MP4, replacing older MP3 or AC3 formats.

Common Issues & Solutions

No Sound on TV?

MKV often uses DTS audio which many TVs don't support. Our tool converts this to AAC so sound works everywhere.

Subtitles Missing?

Soft subtitles are sometimes incompatible with MP4. You might need to "burn" them in using a dedicated editor if they are critical.

Quality Loss?

Minimal. We use CRF encoding which targets a specific quality level rather than an arbitrary file size.

Tool Specs
Input.MKV (Matroska)
Output.MP4 (H.264)
Primary UseCompatibility
Privacy Encrypted

Secure Processing

Files are processed in a secure environment and automatically deleted after 2 hours.

User Feedback

"My TV wouldn't play any of my anime files. This fixed it instantly. Audio works perfectly now."

A
Alex R.
Anime Fan

"Used it to convert OBS recordings from MKV to MP4 so I could edit them in Premiere Pro."

C
Chris P.
Gamer

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert MKV to MP4?
To play videos on devices that don't support MKV, like iPhones, iPads, and many Smart TVs or gaming consoles.
Is the conversion lossless?
It can be nearly lossless. If the video codec inside MKV is already H.264, we often just copy the stream. If re-encoding is needed, we use high-quality settings.
What happens to multiple audio tracks?
The converter selects the default audio track (usually the first one) and converts it to AAC stereo for maximum compatibility.
Is there a file size limit?
Currently, the web tool supports files up to 2GB depending on your connection, but for free users, typical limits apply.