Want to convert your MKV files to MP4 format for easier playback on mobile devices or whatever? Follow this article to learn how to convert MKV to MP4 on Mac.
MKV is incompatible with majority of the modern mobile devices and platforms, alongside with its comparatively large file size. So, when you trying to open a MKV file on your MacBook or iMac with the default player QuickTime, it ends up with an error message 'There is no application set to open mkv' or mkv no sound in QuickTime.
To make MKV playable on most devices and platforms, you need to convert them to MP4 format, as MP4 is compatible well with almost all the players, devices and platforms. In this tutorial, we will share 3 simple yet effective methods to do the job, including some professional MKV video converter that recommended by lots of Mac users.
Either way, congrats, you just converted an MKV video file to an MP4 video file and you didn’t have to buy anything, just download a copy of the open source VLC program. Pro Tip: I’ve been writing about the Mac system for years and have a massive library of Mac help and tips for you to explore. Jul 12, 2021 How to convert MKV to MP4 on a Mac. MKV, also known as Matroska, is a commonly used video file format, but it won't run on all devices or with all programs. So you may need to make use of a converter to convert MKV to MP4 on your Mac. In this article, we'll look at a few different ways you can convert MKV files quickly and easily.
Download BEST Free MKV Video Converter for Mac
MacX Video Converter features 370 video/audio codecs to convert MKV to MP4 (H264, MPEG-4 or HEVC), MOV, M4V, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iMovie, QT, etc. 420+ profiles with visually no quality degradation. 'Auto Copy' mode gives you 1:1 original quality to remux MKV to MP4 without codec conversion. 5X faster speed, NO input size limit & No watermark/logo!
Top 5 Mac Video Converters for MKV to MP4 Conversion
| Name | Best for | Overall Rating | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacX Video Converter | Bulk free convert multi-track MKV to MP4, H264, HEVC, MOV, M4V, etc. 420+ output profiles, up to 4K/8K. Hi-def quality & fast speed! | ||
| VLC | Free MKV video converter and MKV video player. | ||
| HandBrake | Free open source video transcoder to change MKV to MP4 at Apple VideoToolBox HW encoding speed. | ||
| Finder | Mac built-in video encoder to free re-encode MKV to MP4 up to 1080p on macOS. | ||
| Freemake Video Converter | Free convert MKV video footages to MP4, alongside with basic video editing features. |
How to Convert MKV to MP4 on Mac with MacX Video Converter Pro
MacX Video Converter Prois your best mate, letting you freely decode and encode multi-track MKV videos to MP4, MOV, H.264, HEVC, and any other video and audio formats at the highest performance, no input size limit, no watermark/logo!
- Convert MKV videos to MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, M4V, H264, H265, iPhone iPad, iMovie, QT... up to 4K/8K resolution.
- Let you free choose subtitle track, video/audio track from multi-track MKV file before conversion.
- 'Auto Copy' mode ensures you 1:1 quality ratio after MKV to MP4 conversion without changing the underlying codec.
- Boost conversion speed to 5X faster than counterparts thanks to GPU acceleration (hardware decoding & encoding).
- Various editing features available for you to trim, cut, crop, rotate, add subtitles, add effects, and more.
GPU hardware decoding & encoding, lighting speed.
Support 4K/8K video.
Includes video recorder, downloader, and editor.
Unique 'Auto Copy' to produce 1:1 untouched quality.
Unable to convert audio files on Mac.
Now follow the steps below and learn how to encode MKV videos to MP4 on your Macbook or iMac.
Step 1: Import MKV file by clicking 'Add File'.
Free download the MKV to MP4 converter on Mac, or your Windows PCs ( MacX HD Video Converter Pro for Windows). Then click 'Add File' button to load the MKV files. You can load multiple MKV files for batch conversion. First, select the video track, audio and subtitle you want to keep in the output MP4 file by clicking the up and down arrow icon behind the source video. You can select multiple audio tracks and subtitle tracks at the same time.
Step 2: Choose the Output Video Format.
After the input MKV video importing, you can see video formats options at the bottom of the window. It allows to freely convert MOV to MP4, WMV/WebM to MP4, MKV to H.264, and even transcode MP4 to MP3, MOV, MKV, and more like a piece of cake. Select MP4 format in HEVC, H.264, MPEG4 as you like, or simply choose preset profiles of iPhone iPad Android.
How to change the MKV format to MP4 without decoding & re-encoding? Choose 'Auto Copy' mode. As its name implies, it will 1:1 copy MKV input video/audio, subtitle tracks to MP4 without re-encoding as long as the same codec is detected. Zero quality loss and 10X faster than transcoding!
Step 3: Edit MKV Video (Optional).
Meanwhile, you can also see some icons of editing like cut, crop, subtitle, effect, rotate below the video information. If you need to cut off certain parts from MKV video, free set up video Start Time and End Time, add fans made funny subtitled to MKV or rotate MKV video 90 or 180 degrees, you can click the corresponding icon to edit MKV video before conversion.
As for multi-track MKV footage, locate at the video info section on the home screen, where you can click the triangle icon to open the drop-down list of multiple subtitle tracks or audio tracks and opt for desired one out of them.
Step 4: Start to Convert MKV to MP4 Free on Mac.
Hit Folder button to select a destination folder. Followed by a click on 'RUN' button, which gives an order to this top video processing tool for Mac to begin to transcode MKV video to MP4 on macOS. Only seconds and you will get the output MP4 files with lossless quality (High Quality Engine tech built-in).
How to Change MKV Files to MP4 on Mac with VLC
VLC media player is the free cross-platform media player software that is available for Windows and Mac. It can help play most multimedia files as well as discs, devices, and network streaming protocols. Beyond that, it's also used to free transcode video in almost whatever video format. MKV is not an exception. Converting video footage from MKV to MP4 has never been a rocket science to this feature-filled media player.
Output formats are expansive.
Bitrate, resolution, frame rate are adjustable.
VLC Mac hardware decoding (VDA) is accessible.
Editing metadata isn't straightforward.
GPU hardware encoding not supported.
Free Mkv File Converter
And below are the steps to change MKV files to MP4 on Mac via VLC:
- Step 1. Download and Install 'VLC media player' from its official website.
- Step 2. Run 'VLC media player' on your Mac.
- Step 3. Click on 'File' in the top left-hand corner then choose 'Convert/Stream' option.
- Step 4. Click on 'Open Media' to select and load MKV file.
- Step 5. In the 'Choose Profile' section, select 'Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)' as the format.
Note: to make MKV to MP4 conversion faster on MacBook/iMac, enable GPU hardware decoding on VLC for Mac. Find the Preferences option in VLC menu > locate to Input/Codecs tab > find Hardware-acceleration > select Automatic or Video Decoding Acceleration (VDA) based on your macOS computer configurations. Currently, only H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) is supported while HEVC (x265) codec is still in its infancy.
- Step 6. Tap 'Customize' button if you want to edit the selected MKV file.
- Step 7. Hit 'Save as File' button in the 'Choose Destination' section.
- Step 8. Click 'Browse' button and select a folder to save your MP4 file.
- Step 9. Finally, click on the 'Save' button to start the conversion process.
How to Convert MKV Files with Handbrake
Handbrake is a famous converter for both MKV and MP4. It supports macOS 10.7 and later. This free MKV converter remains popular mainly for its fast speed and good output quality in 2021. Plus, it has some advanced features to let users adjust the bit rate, resolutions, video codecs, quality, other video parameters, add subtitles etc. It will also convert videos to various ready presets for mobiles directly. Therefore, it's another good choice when you need to convert MKV videos computers.
A boatload of pre-programmed profiled offered.
Built-in settings to improve quality and conversion speed.
Cross-platform, with macOS, Windows & Linux supported.
The interface is non-intuitive and old-fashioned.
No video editing features.
HandBrake Mac only has hardware encoder, no HW decoder.
- Step 1. Download Handbrake from it's official site.
- Step 2. Launch it and click Source > Open File to load the MKV file.
- Step 3. Select MP4 in the Output Setting.
- Step 4. Then customize the video settings if necessary.
- Step 5. In the destination section, set an output folder.
- Step 6. Then click Start on the top bar to begin MKV conversion process.
Note:
1. If your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or iMac supports Apple VideoToolBox, then handbrake for macOS will auto show up the hardware encoder under 'Video Encoder' section (shown on the above picture). Just choose H264 (VideoToolBox) or HEVC (VideoToolBox) to activate GPU hardware encoder for faster re-encoding on macOS.
2. Tap 'Subtitles' to select your desired subtitle track if your MKV has multiple subtitle tracks.
See Also: Encounter Errors While Converting MKV with Handbrake? Here's How to Fix It >>
How to Use Finder to Free Convert MKV Video to MP4
Finder is no doubt the most simple way for you to convert MKV video footage to MP4 format. Unlike the afore-mentioned professional video converters, video conversion is just a minor function of Finder. But it does good and does in a manner that is most simple and painless.
Simple, fast, no other plugins needed.
A wide range of input formats are accepted.
No advanced settings adjustment.
Output format is limited.
Needless to download or install anything on macOS, just follow the below instructions to re-format MKV to MP4:
- Step 1. Launch Finder and right click on a video file inside of Finder.
- Step 2. Choose 'Encode Selected Video Files'.
- Step 3. Select the output video settings, resolution, greater compatibility or higher quality.
- Step 4. Tap 'Continue' to convert the MKV file you choose.
Note: Finder's limitation on output resolution is up to 1080p. If you wanna keep 4K 2160p Ultra HD resolution for your MKV video, Finder is not your ultimate solution. The other MKV video transcoders mentioned in this post can address your need.
How to Transcode Video MKV to MP4 with Freemake
Freemake video converter acquits itself brilliantly in video conversion world. Google almost any keyword related video and you'll be greeted with freemake webpage on SERP. Thus, majority of users won't feel unfamiliar with this product. Free convert MKV to MP4, H264, HEVC, MOV, FLV, AVI, as well as gadgets like Apple iPhone, iPad, Google Android, Sony PSP, Xbox, Samsung, Nokia, Huawei. That's where its major duty lies. Moreover, it also provides you with additional nice touches, including basic video editing, slideshow maker, etc. Get closer to freemake and find more surprises yourself!
Input and output formats are a page long.
Basic editing features (join, cut, rotate) are available.
No advanced GPU hardware decoder & encoder.
Freemake logo on output video for free version.
Recently involved in DMCA complaints.
Let's dive right in:
- Step 1. Fire up Freemake video converter and tap Video to load your MKV file.
- Step 2. Choose MP4 from the bottom output format banner on the main interface.
- Step 3. Choose a location folder for your converted MP4 files. You can save MP4 to any folder on your computer or a cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Step 4. Hit Convert button to begin converting MKV to MP4 on Mac. Please noted that the free version of freemake will place freemake logo on your videos. To remove the unwanted logo and enjoy more advanced features like 4X faster speed, subtitle editor, etc., you need to pay for its Mega pack.
Part 5: FAQ on MKV to MP4 Conversion on Mac
Q1:I want to convert a mkv file to mp4 format without re-encoding to keep the same file size and video quality. I need a program that allows me to just drag my 720P MKV video file onto, set it to mp4 and get the file with no quality loss.
A1: In MacX Video Converter Pro, tick on the box of Auto Copy. It convert MKV to MP4 without changing the underlying codec. Also, it can copy a large high-definite MKV few hundred times faster than re-encoding.
Q2:I have a MKV file with subtitle muxed, now i want to convert it to mp4 without losing the subtitle. I already tried the other softwares like Handbrake, rebox.NET and VLC to convert it but the subtitles didn't carry over.
A2: It will depend on the type of subtitles. If the subtitle is in XSUB, SAMI, MPSub, SubRip or others, you can't pass-through the subtitle into MP4. To keep the subtitles, you can either extract MKv subtitles and convert them to SRT or burn subtitle to the video permanently.
Q3:I'm trying to convert an MKV container to MP4/M4V with the existing video and audio codecs (HEVC x265 and AAC audio). I used the 'Convert/Stream' function and selected the 'keep original video track' and 'keep original audio track' checkboxes. But the M4V output file contains only the audio track; the video is missing.
A3: The highest possible reason why you fail to convert .mkv to .mp4 on Mac with HEVC x265 is that x264 works fine in MP4 file container while x265 is not supported in an MP4 container, at least not in VLC.
Q4: I have a lot of HD MKV files that I wish to convert for iTunes. I want a converter, but need to keep the same good quality!! (the videos/movies are 720 and 1080p) Any suggestions please?
A4: iTunes supports video formats including MP4, MOV, M4V, limited types. You can change MKV format to MP4 iTunes acceptable format or directly convert MKV codec to iTunes profile. In case you are a layman and don't know much about iTunes suitable video parameter settings, you'd better resort to the MKV to iTunes conversion with most ideal profile offered.
Q5: Hi anyone know who is best .mkv to .mp4 video converter with high quality video and audio and low Mb size so if its possible. Now I'm using Handbake to convert a 4K MKV file but it takes much mb size (10 mins for 1.5GB). Which will give me the smallest output size with best possible quality?
A5: First of all, file size = bitrate * running time, and bit rate will influence the video quality. If you don't nitpick the video quality, lower the bitrate and resolution to one level below will result in smaller size with acceptable quality. Beyond that, editing features like cropping and trimming will also help. Put aside the objective factors, software design will lead to difference in output size.
Still have any problem on how to change MKV to MP4 on macOS, just Email us >>
How to Remux MKV to MP4?
Many people may encounter a problem that when they are trying to convert a certain video into another format (mkv to mp4, for example), the process may take too much time and the quality of the video converted may not be agreeable as expected. It is a thankless job, isn't it?
So, are there any feasible methods that may solve such problems? There are, certainly. The method is called - Remux.
What is Remux
Remux means lossless extraction of video and audio data from a certain format. Then the extraction is encapsulated into another format that we are familiar with. If you still have no idea about what it is, we will present you a more concrete example. Take mkv for example, mkv is served as a kind of encapsulation format, you can imagine it as a 'container'. Remux functions taking the 'contents' out from the mkv 'container', then put it into another 'container', let's say mp4. In the process of remux, no re-encoding occurs, which makes the whole process very fast.
VideoProc Converter - is armed with function called auto copy (remux) which is able to help you with remuxing mkv to mp4.
4 Methods to Remux MKV to MP4
Remux MKV to MP4 with VideoProc Converter
VideoProc Converter is one powerful video processing software that enables you to edit & process your video in a trouble-free manner. With over 420 kinds of output file formats, it is a feature-rich video converter for windows and Mac. Here are the step-by-step tutorial on how to remux MKV to MP4 with VideoProc Converter.
Step 1: Download and Install VideoProc Converter on your Windows or Mac computer.
Step 2: Then open it and choose the Video option.
Step 3: Click +Video to add the MKV file which you want to remux to MP4; If you have lots of files to remux, you can just choose the +Video Folder to import them all, and batch remux them at one go. Then choose the target format with MP4 (h.264). The most important action is to check the Auto Copy feature on its right panel, only by which, remux without re-encoding can be realized actually.
After that, you can just hit the RUN button to initiate the whole conversion process.
Features and Functions of VideoProc Converter
VideoProc Converter, characterized by its concise interface, user-friendly operation, and multiple functions, is a powerful video editing software that supports conversion and export of videos, even those of DVD formats. The target formats supporting conversion are various, such as MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, etc. Conversion into audio format or GIF motion pictures is available as well. Simple video editing can also be done in the process of conversion, such as addition of letters, rotation, watermarking and so on.
VideoProc Converter also takes advantage of GPU acceleration for video processing, especially when dealing with high-quality 4K video. Besides, VideoProc Converter is equipped with an exclusive function - auto copy as we have mentioned before. It provides fast conversion of video and will not cause quality loss. Apart from video conversion, VideoProc Converter supports downloading video, video recording and other functions that you may ever use on a video editing software.
Remux MKV to MP4 with HandBrake
You can't batch remux MKV to MP4 in HandBrake in one go, but to deal with the file one by one with 5 steps. Here we have HandBrake for Windows version, and offer you these detailed steps to remux MKV to MP4.
Step 1. First download and install HandBrake on your Windows or Mac. Then launch it.
Step 2. Import MKV file in it: File > Open Source > Folder / File (you can drag and drop a file in the center panel).
Step 3: Choose the MP4 as your output format, and you are allowed to adjust video codec, frame rate, bitrate under the Video tab. You may skip those steps if you want to keep its default settings.
Step 4: Set the destination path for the output MP4 file.
Step 5: Press on the Start Encode button on the top menu bar to start the MKV to MP4 conversion.
Remux MKV to MP4 with VLC
To remux MKV to MP4 with VLC, you can follow 5 steps below:
Step 1. Download and install VLC, then open the application.
Step 2. Choose Media in the top menu area > Convert / Save (Ctrl+R) in the drop-down menu list > add the local file (s) by clicking the Add button > Press the Convert / Save button in the bottom right area.
Step 3: After you have finished those process in step 2, a new window named Convert will pop up, then do as follows: in the Profile tab, choose the outputformat - MP4 in the drop-down tab list.
Best Free Mkv To Mp4 Converter
Step 4: Select one output file folder for your destination file: click the Browse button and choose the route for your output MP4 file.
Convert Mkv On Mac
Step 5: Hit the Start button in the bottom area and wait for the conversion process to end.
Remux MKV to MP4 with FFmpeg
Convert Mkv To Mp4 Mac Os X Freeware
FFmpeg enables you to decode, encode, demux, remux data freely. Although it is powerful to some extent, many users are complaining its complexity to use. To remux MKV to MP4 with FFmpeg, you can copy the existing video and audio streams and put them into a new container. If you want to bath process several NKV files, you can first switch the directory which contains MKV files. Here we have offered you a step-by-step tutorial on how to remux MKV to MP4 with FFmpeg.
Final Words
Remux is simply the container changing, no re-encoding, so the whole process would be quite fast. And to make it better, you can also check the Hardware Acceleration menu on VideoProc Converter to make the video process even faster.