MKV to AVI
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Drop your .mkv file here
or click to browse
MKV (Matroska) was built to hold whatever a modern video project needs — HEVC or AV1 video, Opus or AC-3 audio, several dubbed audio tracks, several subtitle languages, chapter markers, attached fonts — all in one file, indexed for reliability. AVI is the opposite kind of format: a 1992-era Microsoft container with a fixed, minimal structure that was never updated to understand any of that. It expects one video stream and, in practice, one audio stream, has no standardized way to carry subtitle tracks or chapters, and was designed around codecs like Cinepak, DivX, and early MPEG-4 rather than the HEVC or AV1 video many modern MKV rips and phone exports now use.
That mismatch is exactly why going from MKV to AVI is a step backward in capability even though the file itself can end up smaller in scope. This tool performs a direct stream copy: it takes the default video track and default audio track already inside your MKV and repackages them into an AVI container without decoding or re-encoding a single frame, as long as the codecs involved are ones AVI can legally host — most reliably H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2, or older DivX/Xvid video with MP3, AC-3, or PCM audio. If your MKV uses HEVC, VP9, AV1, or Opus, the remux is likely to fail outright or produce a file that only a small number of lenient players can open, since AVI has no defined way to signal those codecs to a decoder. Extra audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and chapter markers are dropped in the process, since AVI has no equivalent slot to put them in.
FFmpeg reads your MKV file's stream headers to identify the default video and audio codec, then attempts a stream copy (-c copy) that lifts the existing compressed data out of the Matroska container and writes it into a new AVI RIFF structure, rebuilding the index chunk as it goes. Because this is a remux rather than a transcode, it finishes in seconds even for long files — but only when the underlying codecs (commonly H.264 video with AC-3 or MP3 audio) are ones the AVI format can represent. Any secondary audio tracks, subtitle streams, or chapter metadata present in the source MKV are not carried over, since the AVI container has no corresponding structure to hold them.
Upload your MKV file
Drag your .mkv file onto the upload zone or click to browse. The file loads directly into your browser's memory.
Check your MKV's codec if unsure
If you know your file uses HEVC, VP9, AV1, or Opus, expect the AVI remux to fail or misbehave — those codecs are not natively supported by the AVI container.
Let FFmpeg load
On your first conversion, the ~30 MB FFmpeg WebAssembly engine downloads once and stays cached for future use.
Click Convert to AVI
FFmpeg copies the default video and audio streams directly into a new AVI container without re-encoding, when the codecs allow it.
Watch for errors
If the conversion fails immediately, the source codec is likely incompatible with AVI rather than something wrong with your file.
Download the AVI file
Save the finished .avi file to your device. Your original MKV remains untouched and available.
Use it in legacy software
Import the AVI into the older editing tool, signage player, or device that required it in the first place.
Legacy Software Compatibility
Some older video editing tools and media players only support AVI — convert MKV for compatibility.
Older TV & DVD Players
Legacy DVD players and older smart TVs that support AVI but not MKV can now play your files.
Game Console Playback
Some game consoles support AVI over USB but lack MKV support — convert for console media playback.
Archive Compatibility
Convert MKV archives to AVI for systems that require the older, more broadly recognized format.
Editing Software Import
Some budget or older video editors only accept AVI — convert your MKV footage for import.
Set-Top Box Playback
Older set-top boxes and media streamers that predate MKV support can handle AVI format.
Lossless Stream Copy
Video and audio streams are copied directly into the AVI container — no quality loss, near-instant conversion.
100% Browser-Based
FFmpeg WebAssembly processes your MKV locally — no server upload, complete privacy.
No Re-encoding
Stream copy (-c copy) preserves the original bitrate and quality from the MKV source.
No File Size Limits
Local processing means no server-enforced upload restrictions on your MKV files.
Broad Device Support
AVI is one of the oldest and most widely recognized video containers with near-universal support.
Free to Start — Sign Up for More
Use free with no account for files up to 40 MB. Sign up free to raise your limit to 80 MB, or upgrade to Pro for 250 MB per file.
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