How to convert MKV to MP4
- Click Choose files or drop your MKV video into the box above.
- Keep the default quality, or choose a target size, resolution or frame rate.
- Click Convert and download the MP4 when it is ready.
MKV vs MP4
| MKV | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual codecs | Almost anything: H.264, HEVC, AV1, VP9 video; AAC, AC-3, DTS, Opus, FLAC audio; multiple subtitle and audio tracks | H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC) or AV1 video with AAC audio |
| Plays on | VLC, Plex, Kodi and most PCs; not supported by iPhone, iPad, QuickTime, many video editors and most websites | Everything: every phone, computer, smart TV, browser and social network |
| Best for | Movies and TV episodes with several audio and subtitle tracks | Sharing, uploading and playing video anywhere |
| Introduced | 2002 by the Matroska open-source project | 2001 by the MPEG group (ISO standard based on Apple QuickTime) |
About MKV and MP4
What is MKV?
MKV is a flexible open container that can hold almost any video and audio codec, several audio languages, subtitles and chapters in one file. That makes it popular for movies, but iPhones, QuickTime, iMovie, many editors and most websites do not accept MKV — converting to MP4 makes it play everywhere.
- Holds any codec
- Multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters
- Open and royalty-free
- Not supported on Apple devices, many TVs and editors
- Rejected by most upload sites
What is MP4?
MP4 is the universal video format. With H.264 video and AAC audio it plays on practically every device made in the last 15 years and is accepted by YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and every editor. If you are not sure which format you need, you need MP4.
- Plays everywhere
- Good quality at small sizes
- Accepted by every platform
- Usually only one audio track and limited subtitle support
Why GlideConvert?
- Private by design. Your files are converted on your own device by your browser — they are never uploaded to a server. That keeps them private, avoids upload waits and means there is no queue.
- Fast. Images convert in a fraction of a second; video uses your device’s hardware encoder and is often simply repackaged without re-encoding.
- Free. No sign-up, no watermark. 10 images, 5 audio files or one video at a time — Pro lifts the limits and removes ads.
Frequently asked questions
Will converting MKV to MP4 lose quality?
Often not at all. If the MKV file already contains video and audio that MP4 supports (H.264 video and AAC audio are the most common), they are copied as-is: no quality loss, and even a large file converts in seconds. Otherwise the video is re-encoded at high quality — choose a quality level or a target file size in the options.
How long does converting MKV to MP4 take?
Usually much less than the length of the video: modern browsers encode video with your device’s hardware. Older formats such as WMV, FLV and AVI use a slower universal decoder.
Are subtitles and extra audio tracks kept?
The main video and audio track are converted. Subtitles and additional audio languages inside the MKV are not carried over to MP4.
Is there a file size limit?
On the free plan each video or audio file can be up to 500 MB and each image up to 100 MB. With Pro the limit is 4 GB per file. Because everything happens on your device, the practical limit for very large files is your device’s memory.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. GlideConvert runs entirely in your browser: images are processed with the browser’s built-in codecs and WebAssembly, video and audio with hardware-accelerated WebCodecs (or a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg for older formats). Nothing is sent anywhere — you can even disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded.
Does it work on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows?
Yes. It works in any up-to-date browser — Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox or Samsung Internet — on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install. Long or 4K videos convert faster on a computer than on a phone.