We have previously explored some of the best MKV players on the market and taken a closer look at the format's characteristics. However, there is always the possibility that some device won't know what to do with that type of content. For compatibility reasons, one of your best options is to convert MKV to MP4, and the good news is that you don't need anything out of the ordinary to do it. In fact, a copy of VLC Player should be enough...

Just when you think you know it all, something new appears... or why not, something old. For example, many televisions a few years old can play movies stored on a USB drive or memory card, but they are quite picky about supported formats. Obviously, that's not the case with the latest generation Smart TVs that can open anything, but I've noticed some resistance to the MKV format.

A good alternative is to convert MKV to MP4. Yes, both formats are containers and generally do the same job, however, MP4 tends to play the compatibility card a little better. I imagine a simple firmware update could enable MKV playback on many devices… but we already know how some manufacturers are with updates (read: 'they don't offer any'). There are many ways to convert MKV files to MP4, but today we're going to share one of the fastest and easiest, which is using VLC Player.

How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
MKV to MP4

How to Quickly Convert MKV to MP4

How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
Press Ctrl+R or use the Convert option to start
  • Download the latest version of VLC Player. The 32-bit portable edition works perfectly, but feel free to try others.
  • Open VLC Player, and press Ctrl+R or go to Media -> Convert.
  • Click the Add button and browse for the MKV to convert. Once selected, click Convert / Save again.
How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
You can convert more than one video at a time...
  • Keep the Convert option selected and the standard profile Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4), but click the wrench to edit its parameters.
  • Basically, you must confirm that the encapsulation active is MP4/MOV. Then go to the Video Codec tab and confirm that both options, Video and Keep original video track, are selected. Finally, repeat the same process in the Audio Codec tab. Both Audio and Keep original audio track must be checked.
How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
A click on the wrench...
How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
The idea is to keep the original tracks and not 'reconvert' anything. This works well in most cases, but it can cause problems with isolated videos.
  • Click Save, and specify the destination for the new video on a different drive or folder from the source. Also, verify that the destination file extension is .mp4 (otherwise, you'll need to change it manually later), and finally confirm with Start.
How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
For a moment it seems to hang. Let it work!
  • Let VLC Player do its job. Don't rush. At times it will seem like VLC Player is frozen, but the progress bar will keep moving. When the activity indicators disappear, the MKV to MP4 conversion is finished, but it all depends on how fast your drives are. Patience, patience, patience.
  • Test the video with a player other than VLC Player. MPC-HC is an excellent candidate for this. If everything works fine, repeat the test on the device that will handle playback.
How to Convert MKV to MP4 with VLC Player
It worked very well on our end, but we know the process is not infallible

In Summary: Not Perfect, But It Works

Using VLC Player to convert MKV to MP4 is not a trouble-free process. Some users have reported that the final file has audio but no video (and vice versa), and there are also warnings about frame loss, something we have indeed experienced on our end with an isolated video.

However, the rest of the conversions showed no anomalies. If you want to prioritize speed, you should definitely give VLC Player a try first, but if you prefer more advanced control over the conversion process, then you should take a look at Handbrake. It does an excellent job ripping DVDs, and it will help you with this too. Good luck!