What advantages does MKV have over MP4?

MKV supports more audio and subtitle tracks, chapter markers, and a wider range of codecs. It is an open-source format with no licensing restrictions.

Can I play MKV files on my TV?

Most modern smart TVs support MKV playback natively. Older TVs may need a media player like Roku, Fire Stick, or Chromecast for MKV support.

Will converting to MKV change the video quality?

No. The conversion remuxes the video and audio streams into the MKV container without re-encoding, so quality remains identical.

Is MKV good for archiving videos?

Yes. MKV is one of the best archival formats because it is open-source, supports lossless codecs, and can store all related tracks in a single file.

Can I add subtitles to the MKV file later?

Yes. MKV is designed to hold multiple subtitle tracks. You can mux additional subtitle files into the container using tools like MKVToolNix.

MP4 to MKV Converter

MKV (Matroska) is an open-source container that supports virtually unlimited audio, video, and subtitle tracks in a single file. Converting MP4 to MKV is ideal when you need advanced features like chapter markers, multiple audio languages, or soft subtitles that viewers can toggle on and off.

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Convert MKV to MP4 instead

MP4 to MKV conversion is a lossless remuxing process. Both containers support the same codecs (H.264, H.265, AAC), so your video and audio data is simply repackaged without any transcoding or quality degradation.

How to Convert MP4 to MKV

1
Drop your MP4 file into the upload area or select it from your device.
2
Select MKV as the desired output format.
3
Hit Convert and download your MKV file once the process finishes.

MP4 vs MKV — Format Comparison

Feature	MP4	MKV
Full Name	MPEG-4 Part 14	Matroska Video
Type	Video	Video
Codec	H.264 / H.265 / AV1	H.264 / H.265 / VP9 / AV1
Lossless	No	No
Extension	.mp4	.mkv
Best For	Online video streaming	High-quality video archival

MP4 Strengths

Universal device and browser support
Excellent compression-to-quality ratio
Supports subtitles, chapters, and metadata

MKV Strengths

Open standard with no licensing fees
Supports unlimited tracks (audio, subtitles, video)
Excellent for high-quality video with multiple languages

Frequently Asked Questions

When to Convert MP4 to MKV

Archiving video collections with multiple audio and subtitle tracks
Preparing media files for Plex, Kodi, or Jellyfin media servers
Bundling chapter markers and metadata into a single video file
Storing high-quality video with lossless audio tracks

Related Conversions

MP4MOV MP4AVI MP4WebM MP4MP3 MOVMKV AVIMKV WebMMKV