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Convert MKV to MP4 on Windows 10

Edited by Jay, Maria Quinney, Onespy

3 Parts:

Download and Install Handbrake on Windows 10

Convert MKV to MP4 in Windows 10

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Matroska (MKV) is an open source multimedia container that is quite popular and is capable of holding an unlimited number of video, audio, picture, and subtitle tracks in a single file. MKV files make an excellent alternative to say, AVI files because they can support all known video and audio compression formats. Because audio and video compression has come a long way, AVI which is an integral part of VfW (Video for Windows), can't support a lot of the advanced features found in modern A/V compression.

MP4 (MPEG-4) is another highly used multimedia container and is often used for streaming over the internet. MPEG-4 is pretty much identical to the QuickTime file format, which was developed by Apple INC. A significant difference between the two is that MP4 offers more support as it is an international standard.

Both MKV and MP4 Have their advantages. MKV is an excellent option for compressing high-quality video (HD and Blue-ray) without losing much in quality. MP4 files are more suitable for playback on portable players and devices, such as iPods/iPads and PS3/4s. Choosing which container to use depends on the user's objectives. If compatibility is more of a concern rather than quality, MP4 would probably suffice. On the other hand, if playback quality is more of an interest, MKV might be the better choice.

The focus of this VisiHow tutorial is to show how to convert an MKV file into an MP4 file. We'll be using free open source software called Handbrake, which is widely used by multimedia enthusiasts all over the world. For this guide, we used a Clevo laptop running Windows 10 Professional.

**Please Note** Because Handbrake is a transcoder, your system's CPU will be heavily used, which could result in higher CPU temperatures. If possible, you should use a desktop with adequate cooling or, a high-end laptop (gaming, workstation, etc.).

Download and Install Handbrake on Windows 10

1
Open a web browser and visit the link. Once the Handbrake download page loads, click the Windows installer.

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2
When the open/save pop-up appears, click "Save File".

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3
In your browser, click the button that opens your download folder.
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4
With the Downloads folder open, right-click the Handbrake installer, then select "Run as administrator".

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5
If you're prompted with a UAC window, click "Yes" to continue to the setup wizard.
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6
When the Handbrake setup window appears, click "Next".

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7
Next, read through the License Agreement, then click "I Agree".
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8
For the installation location, either leave the default (C:\Program Files) or click "Browse" to choose a different directory
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With the setup location selected, click "Install".

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9
When the installation is complete, click "Finish" to close the setup wizard.
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Convert MKV to MP4 in Windows 10

1
Now that you've installed Handbrake, it's time to convert your MKV file
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Open Handbrake from either the desktop or Start Menu.

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2
With Handbrake open, click "Open a single video file" in the left pane (Source Selection).
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3
Navigate to your MKV file, select it, then click "Open".
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4
Here on the Summary tab you can select from a variety of presets
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You can see the information on the various tracks contained within your source file.
Please note that you can make changes to presets, they're just a good starting point if you're new to the program.

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5
The next tab is Dimensions
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Here you can crop or change the width and height of your output file. If you want your output to be the same as the source, leave the settings as is.
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6
The next tab is Filters
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Unless you're encoding older TV shows, you can leave this section out. As you become more advanced with Handbrake, you can experiment with different filters.

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7
Next is the Video tab
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Here you can edit; video codec, frame rate, encoding speed, and the quality. For the most part, you can leave this as is but make sure the frame rate isn't higher than the source.
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8
Next is the Audio tab
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Here you can change the codec, bitrate, mix down, etc. To boost the volume of your output file, click "Selection Behavior".

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9
To increase the volume, bump the Gain up in the right bottom corner
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This can be handy for rips that have lower volume.
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10
Finally, Click "Browse" to choose the filename and location of your output file.
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11
Browse to the directory you want your output file saved, type the filename, then click the "Save" button.
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12
With everything ready to go, click the "Start Encode" button from the top toolbar.
The encode may take several minutes depending on the length of your source file, as well as the performance of your computer.
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13
Once the encoding is complete, navigate to the location you chose to save the output file
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Open your MP4 video in your favorite media player and test it out.
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