Video conversion
Convert MKV to M4V
Updated Jul 2026
MKV (Matroska) is a flexible container that can hold almost any video and audio codec, but it doesn't open in iTunes or play natively on Apple TV. M4V is Apple's own video format for that. To convert, open the MKV in a converter and export it as M4V, and doing that on your own computer means the video never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .mkv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- High-quality video containers
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert MKV to M4V on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MKV to M4V
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MKV file, or a whole folder of them, that you want to convert.
- Choose M4V as the output format.
- Convert. The M4V is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MKV vs M4V: what actually changes
| MKV | M4V | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens in iTunes / Apple TV | No, needs a separate player | Yes, native support |
| File size | Large, varies by codec and bitrate | Smaller after re-encoding, but still sizable for HD |
| Quality | Depends on the original encode, no extra loss just from being MKV | Lossy, re-encoded on export with some quality loss |
| Subtitle and chapter tracks | Can hold many subtitle tracks and chapters | Supports a smaller, fixed set |
| Codec flexibility | Holds almost any video and audio codec | Limited to codecs Apple devices support |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MKV to M4V when you want to watch a video in iTunes, sync it to an Apple TV, or keep it in your Apple device library without installing a separate player.
Keep the MKV original if it carries multiple subtitle tracks, chapter markers, or an unusual codec you care about, since M4V supports less of that and the export re-encodes the video.
Why not just use an online converter?
MKV files are often large, downloaded videos, recordings, or footage you'd rather not send to a stranger's server just to change the container. An online converter uploads the whole file, queues it, and sends it back. Converting on your own computer keeps the video, and whatever it shows, on your machine the entire time.
Questions
Does converting MKV to M4V lose quality?
Yes, a little. M4V re-encodes the video on export, so there's some quality loss depending on the settings you pick. For everyday viewing it's usually not noticeable, but it isn't a lossless transfer.
Will the M4V keep all the subtitles and chapters from my MKV?
Not always. MKV can hold many subtitle tracks and chapter markers, while M4V supports a more limited set, so you may need to choose which ones to keep before converting.
Why won't my MKV play in iTunes or on Apple TV?
MKV is common everywhere else, but Apple's apps never adopted it. Converting to M4V gives you a format those apps and devices already recognize.
Can I convert MKV to M4V without uploading the video anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the video never has to travel over the internet, even a large one.
Morphjet converts MKV, M4V, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.