Video conversion
Convert MKV to MPEG
Updated Jul 2026
MKV is a flexible container built to hold high-quality video along with multiple audio tracks and subtitles, while MPEG is an older, simpler format that DVD authoring tools and broadcast equipment still expect. To convert, open the MKV in a converter and export it as MPEG. Doing this on your own computer keeps the video file off any outside server.
- Extension
- .mkv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- High-quality video containers
- Extension
- .mpeg
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Broadcast, DVD
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert MKV to MPEG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MKV to MPEG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MKV file, or a whole folder of them, that you want to convert.
- Choose MPEG as the output format.
- Convert. The MPEG file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MKV vs MPEG: what actually changes
| MKV | MPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, but stores video efficiently with modern codecs | Similar or larger for the same quality, since the format predates modern compression |
| Quality | High, the container itself adds no compression loss | Lower, converting to MPEG re-encodes the video and loses some detail |
| Compatibility | Limited, needs a modern media player or app | Broad, works with DVD authoring software, broadcast systems, and older players |
| Multiple audio tracks and subtitles | Yes, can hold several languages, subtitles, and chapters | No, typically one video and one audio track |
| Accepted by DVD and broadcast tools | Rarely | Yes, it's the format they're built around |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MKV to MPEG when you need to burn a DVD, feed a file into broadcast or editing equipment that requires it, or hand a video to an older system that can't read MKV.
Keep the MKV if you're archiving the video or still editing it, since converting to MPEG re-encodes the footage and permanently drops some quality along with any extra audio or subtitle tracks.
Why not just use an online converter?
Video files tend to be the largest and most personal files people convert, home movies, downloaded shows, footage you'd rather not hand to a stranger. An online converter means uploading that entire file to a server you don't control and waiting for it to come back. Converting on your own computer keeps the video, start to finish, on your machine.
Questions
Does converting MKV to MPEG lose quality?
Yes, some. MPEG compresses more aggressively than the codecs usually stored in MKV, so you'll notice a drop, especially at lower bitrates. It's fine for DVD or broadcast delivery, but not something to do to a file you might want to convert back later.
Will MPEG keep the multiple audio tracks and subtitles from my MKV?
Probably not. MKV is built to hold several audio tracks, subtitle files, and chapter markers, but MPEG generally supports only one video and one audio stream, so you'll need to pick which track to keep before converting.
Why do DVD and broadcast systems need MPEG instead of MKV?
MPEG has been the standard for video for decades, so DVD authoring software, set-top boxes, and broadcast equipment were built around it. MKV is newer and more flexible, but a lot of that older hardware and software was never updated to read it.
Can I convert MKV to MPEG without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet, even for a large video file.
Morphjet converts MKV, MPEG, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.