How to use the MKV to AVI converter
- Choose your MKV video or drop it on the box.
- Check the settings. "Same as original" resolution is fastest. Lower it to 720p for a smaller file.
- Click "Convert to AVI". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your AVI.
Why convert MKV to AVI?
MKV is unsupported on many older TVs and DVD players that do play AVI (XviD). MKV to AVI gets films playing on that hardware.
- MKV: not supported by Apple devices or many editors.
- AVI: very widely supported on Windows.
- AVI: simple and well-understood format.
Only the first audio track is kept, and subtitles are dropped because AVI handles them poorly.
MKV vs AVI
| MKV | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matroska Video | Audio Video Interleave |
| Type | Video | Video |
| Created by | the Matroska open-source project (2002) | Microsoft (1992) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Typical codecs | H.264, HEVC or VP9 + AAC, AC3, DTS or Opus | MPEG-4 Part 2 (DivX/XviD) + MP3 |
| Best for | Movies with several languages or subtitles, OBS recordings and archiving | Older camera clips, legacy video archives and Windows software |
| Plays on | VLC, MPV, Kodi, Plex and most smart TVs; iPhone, iPad, QuickTime and many video editors do not open MKV | Windows Media Player, VLC and most desktop players; phones and browsers often refuse AVI |
Does converting MKV to AVI lose quality?
MKV (H.264, HEVC or VP9) has to be re-encoded to AVI (MPEG-4 Part 2 (DivX/XviD)). At "Balanced" quality the difference is very hard to see; choose "High" for footage you will edit again.
How long does it take?
Re-encoding video uses your device's processor. A short clip takes seconds; a 10-minute 1080p video can take several minutes. Choosing 720p makes it 2–3 times faster.
What is an MKV file?
MKV (Matroska) is a free, open container that can hold almost any video, audio and subtitle format in one file, including many audio languages and subtitle tracks. That flexibility makes it popular for movie and series files and for screen recorders like OBS.
What is an AVI file?
AVI is one of the oldest video containers, introduced by Microsoft with Windows 3.1 in 1992. Older digital cameras, DVD rips and many 2000s downloads are AVI files, usually with DivX or XviD video and MP3 sound.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay or sign up to use the MKV to AVI converter?
No. There is no account, no payment and no watermark. The only limit is 1 GB per file, set by what browsers can handle.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. The converter runs inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to us or anyone else.
Will the AVI sound and look as good as the MKV?
MKV (H.264, HEVC or VP9) has to be re-encoded to AVI (MPEG-4 Part 2 (DivX/XviD)). At "Balanced" quality the difference is very hard to see; choose "High" for footage you will edit again.
Can I convert AVI back to MKV?
Yes, use the MKV Converter and choose MKV as the output.
An MKV will not play on iPhone or in iMovie. What should I do?
Convert it to MP4. If the video is H.264 or HEVC, the conversion is a fast copy with no quality loss.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser and choose a file. Phones have less memory than computers, so very large files are better converted on a laptop or desktop.