How to Convert MKV to MP4 without Losing Quality [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.

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:

1. Download the program.
2. Import your media files into the program.
3. On the Video tab, select MP4 as the output format (several presets are available).
4. Click Convert.

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:

1. Download the program free through their website.

2. Once it's installed, under the Source tab, select the file you want to convert.

3. 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.

4. Convert your files.

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:

1. Get VLC from the official VideoLAN website.

2. In the Media menu, click Convert/Save.

3. Click the Add button and import your MKV file. Hit Convert/Save again.

4. In the Profile drop-down menu, select MP4 for the output.

5. Hit Save and Start.

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:

1. Download the program from the official website.

2. Import your files by clicking on the Add Files button.

3. Select the output folder.

4. Set MP4 as the output format.

5. Convert your files.

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:

1. Go to the Online Video Converter website.

2. Click Add Your Media and import the file you’d like to convert.

3. Make sure that the output format is set as MP4.

4. If necessary, adjust additional settings by clicking the cogwheel icon.

5. Click Convert.

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:

1. Go to the CloudConvert website.

2. Click Select File and import your media.

3. Make sure that the Convert to field says MP4.

4. Click Convert, then click Download.

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.

1. Go to the Zamzar website.

2. Click Choose files or simply drag and drop your media into the conversion area.

3. Make sure that the Convert To field is set to MP4.

4. Click Convert Now.

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:

1. Go to the Online-Convert website.

2. Import your media by clicking the Choose File button.

3. The output format is already set to MP4, but you can tweak some advanced settings below the conversion area.

4. As soon as the file is uploaded, click Start.

5. The converted file will be automatically downloaded to your computer.

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:

1. Visit the ConvertFiles website.

2. Click Browse and import your MKV file.

3. For the Output format field, select MPEG-4 Video file (.mp4).

4. Tick the Send a download link to my email option if necessary.

5. Hit the Convert button.