Convert AVI to MKV

AVI to MKV converter that runs entirely in your browser. 100% free, no signup, no upload — your files never leave your device. One-click batch conversion.

Conversions

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All file types supported

About formats

AVI

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is one of the oldest and most recognized multimedia container formats, introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. Built on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) structure, AVI interleaves audio and video data in alternating chunks, allowing synchronized playback without requiring sophisticated stream management. The format is codec-agnostic, meaning it can hold video compressed with virtually any codec, from early Cinepak and Indeo to modern DivX, Xvid, and H.264 streams. This flexibility contributed to widespread adoption across personal computers throughout the 1990s and 2000s. AVI supports multiple audio streams, enabling multilingual content within a single file. Despite being decades old, AVI remains one of the most universally recognized multimedia formats and is still widely supported by media players and editing tools across all major operating systems.

Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: November 10, 1992
Compression: Lossy
Color depth: up to 10-bit
Transparency: No
Animation: Yes

Best for

Archiving legacy video footage
Editing in older video software
Storing multiple audio tracks
Playback on classic media players
Cross-codec video container use

Pros

+Codec-agnostic — accepts nearly any video codec
+Supports multiple audio streams for multilingual content
+Universally recognized by media players and editors
+Simple RIFF chunk structure easy to parse

Cons

−No modern streaming or chapter metadata support
−Files tend to be large with inefficient codecs
−No built-in subtitle standard
−Lacks DRM and modern container features

MKV

MKV (Matroska Video) is an open standard, royalty-free multimedia container that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, subtitle and metadata tracks in a single file. Matroska is popular for high-definition content, anime, and movie archives because it preserves multiple language tracks and subtitle streams. MKV is supported by VLC, MPC-HC and most modern smart TVs.

Developer: Matroska Org
Initial release: 2002
Compression: Lossy or lossless
Color depth: up to 12-bit HDR
Transparency: No
Animation: Yes

Best for

Archiving HD movies with multiple tracks
Storing multiple subtitle languages
Anime and foreign film distribution
Preserving multiple audio streams
High-quality video libraries

Pros

+Open standard and royalty-free
+Holds unlimited video, audio, and subtitle tracks
+Supports lossless and lossy codecs
+Wide support in VLC and smart TVs

Cons

−Not universally supported on mobile devices
−Slightly larger overhead than streamlined containers
−Less ideal for web streaming than MP4

How to convert AVI to MKV

1
Select AVI files from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, a URL, or by dragging them onto the page.
2
Choose mkv — or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported).
3
Let the file convert, then download your mkv file right away.

AVI vs MKV

Property	AVI	MKV
Compression	Lossy	Lossy or lossless
Color depth	up to 10-bit	up to 12-bit HDR
Multi-track	Yes	Yes
DRM support	No	No
Open format	No	Yes

When to use AVI vs MKV

AVI

Archiving legacy video footage
Editing in older video software
Storing multiple audio tracks
Playback on classic media players
Cross-codec video container use

MKV

Archiving HD movies with multiple tracks
Storing multiple subtitle languages
Anime and foreign film distribution
Preserving multiple audio streams
High-quality video libraries

Use cases for AVI → MKV

Archiving legacy video footage
Editing in older video software
Storing multiple audio tracks
Playback on classic media players
Cross-codec video container use
Archiving HD movies with multiple tracks
Storing multiple subtitle languages
Anime and foreign film distribution
Preserving multiple audio streams
High-quality video libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

Is converting AVI to MKV free?

Yes. This AVI → MKV converter runs entirely in your browser and is completely free — no account, no credits, no watermark.

Which devices and platforms can I use to convert AVI to MKV?

Any modern device with a current web browser: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. There is nothing to install — the conversion happens locally.

Are my AVI files uploaded to a server?

No. Files never leave your device. The entire AVI → MKV conversion runs locally in your browser, so your data stays private.

Can I convert multiple AVI files at once?

Yes — batch conversion is supported. Add as many AVI files as you like and convert them to MKV in one pass, then download the results together.

What is the maximum file size?

There is no fixed server-side limit because the conversion happens in your browser. Practical limits depend on the available memory and CPU of your device.

Will converting AVI to MKV reduce the quality?

Because both formats use lossy compression, the MKV output will not bring back any quality that has already been lost in your AVI file. Avoid repeated re-encoding to keep the best quality.

Does MKV support transparency?

No — MKV has no alpha channel. Transparent areas of your AVI file will be filled with a solid background colour in the converted file.

How will the file size change after converting AVI to MKV?

Both formats use comparable compression, so the MKV output will be similar in size to your AVI file — typically within 10–20% of each other.

Related Conversions

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FREE

100% Free

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SIGNUP

No Signup Required

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PRIVACY

Private & Secure

Your files never leave your device. All processing is completed locally for maximum privacy.

BATCH

Batch Conversion

Convert multiple files simultaneously to save time. Fast and efficient multi-file queue.

LOCAL

Runs in Browser

Utilizes advanced client-side WebAssembly technology to process files directly inside your tab.

FORMATS

200+ Formats

Supports a wide variety of formats including images, documents, audio, video, and more.

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