Video conversion
Convert MKV to WAV
Updated Jul 2026
MKV is a video container that can hold several audio and subtitle tracks, while WAV is an audio-only format used for recording and editing. To convert MKV to WAV, pull the audio track out of the video and save it as WAV. Doing this on your own computer keeps the video file off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .mkv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- High-quality video containers
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
Convert MKV to WAV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MKV to WAV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MKV file or a whole folder of them.
- Choose WAV as the output format. Morphjet extracts the audio track from the video automatically.
- Convert. The WAV file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MKV vs WAV: what actually changes
| MKV | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains video | Yes, plus audio and subtitle tracks | No, audio only |
| File size | Large, video dominates the size | Large for its length, uncompressed audio takes real space |
| Quality | Lossless video and often lossless or high-bitrate audio | Lossless, an exact copy of the audio samples |
| Compatibility | Good on modern players, poor on older or simpler devices | Opens in essentially every audio app and editor |
| Typical use | Watching or archiving video | Recording, editing, and audio production |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MKV to WAV when you need just the audio from a video, for example to edit a podcast clip, sample dialogue, or drop a soundtrack into an audio editor that expects WAV.
Keep the MKV if you still want the picture, since converting to WAV throws the video away entirely and there's no getting it back from the WAV alone.
Why not just use an online converter?
MKV files are often full recordings, whether that's a screen capture, a downloaded show, or footage you'd rather not hand to a stranger. An online converter means uploading that entire video file to someone else's server just to get the audio out of it. Converting on your own computer means the video, and whatever it shows, never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting MKV to WAV lose audio quality?
No. WAV stores audio samples without compression, so if the audio track in the MKV was already lossless or high quality, the WAV keeps that quality intact. You're not losing anything in the audio itself.
What happens to the video when I convert MKV to WAV?
It's discarded. WAV is audio only, so the conversion pulls the audio track out and drops the video entirely. If you might need the picture later, keep the original MKV around.
Will it keep all the audio tracks from the MKV?
An MKV can contain multiple audio tracks, like different languages or a commentary track. Morphjet converts the track you select, so pick the one you actually want before converting.
Why would I want WAV instead of a compressed audio format?
WAV is the standard for recording and editing because it's uncompressed and every audio tool reads it without hesitation. If you're just listening back, a smaller compressed format is usually enough.
Can I convert MKV to WAV without uploading the video?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet extracts the audio on your own computer, so the video file never travels over the internet. It works the same with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts MKV, WAV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.