Why should I convert AVI files to MKV?

Converting AVI to MKV provides modern container features like multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters, attachments, and richer metadata, improving compatibility and archival quality.

Does converting from AVI to MKV reduce video quality?

If the conversion uses muxing rather than re-encoding, the original video and audio streams are preserved, so there is no quality loss.

Will MKV files play on all devices?

Playback depends on the codecs contained in the MKV file. Some hardware devices and platforms may not support certain codecs, affecting playback compatibility.

Convert Your Video from AVI to MKV Format Easily

Learn how to convert your AVI video files to the modern MKV format. Discover the benefits, key features, and step-by-step guidance to remux your videos efficiently without quality loss.

Upload Your File | Maximum Size Upto 25MB

Quick Access To 38 AVI File Conversion Pairs

What Is This Tool?

This tool allows you to convert video files from AVI format to MKV format. AVI is an older Microsoft container format widely used for legacy videos, while MKV is a modern, flexible multimedia container supporting multiple audio, video, and subtitle tracks with advanced metadata capabilities. The conversion enhances compatibility, metadata support, and archival quality.

How to Use This Tool?

Upload your AVI video file to the converter interface.
Optionally, add subtitle files, audio tracks, or chapters if desired for MKV packaging.
Choose MKV as the output container format for your video conversion.
Start the conversion process and wait for the tool to remux the video without re-encoding.
Download the resulting MKV file, ready for playback or distribution on modern platforms.

Key Features

Converts video files from AVI to MKV format without losing original stream quality through muxing.
Supports addition of multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters, and attachments like fonts in MKV.
Preserves original video and audio streams without re-encoding for efficient, high-quality output.
Offers wide playback support on modern software players with advanced subtitle and metadata handling.
Enables archival and distribution of videos with richer metadata, chapters, and selectable tracks.

Examples

Remux a camcorder AVI recording into MKV to embed external subtitles and font attachments.
Combine multiple AVI video files into one MKV file with chapters and multiple language audio tracks.
Create review copies by packaging alternate audio commentaries and selectable subtitles in MKV from AVI sources.

Common Use Cases

Migrating legacy AVI videos from old Windows exports or camcorder footage into MKV for enhanced metadata support.
Distributing high-quality video releases with multiple audio languages and subtitle tracks in a single MKV file.
Archiving home videos and screen captures with lossless or high-bitrate streams using MKV's flexible container features.

Tips & Best Practices

Use MKV format to preserve original video and audio quality by muxing instead of re-encoding.
Add subtitles and attachments like fonts in MKV to improve playback experience and compatibility.
Check codec compatibility of your MKV files with target devices since playback depends on contained codecs.
Be aware of limitations in older AVI files, such as file size restrictions, before conversion.
Test your MKV files on intended players especially if using advanced features like uncommon subtitle formats or attachments.

Limitations

Playback compatibility for MKV depends on the codecs used inside the container, not MKV itself.
Some hardware devices and streaming platforms may lack native support for MKV files.
Re-encoding during conversion affects quality and file size based on chosen codec settings.
Older AVI files have a 4 GB size limit that may impact conversion processes.
Some professional editing and streaming tools provide limited or inconsistent support for MKV advanced features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I convert AVI files to MKV?: Converting AVI to MKV provides modern container features like multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters, attachments, and richer metadata, improving compatibility and archival quality.
Does converting from AVI to MKV reduce video quality?: If the conversion uses muxing rather than re-encoding, the original video and audio streams are preserved, so there is no quality loss.
Will MKV files play on all devices?: Playback depends on the codecs contained in the MKV file. Some hardware devices and platforms may not support certain codecs, affecting playback compatibility.

Key Terminology

AVI: A Microsoft multimedia container format storing interleaved audio and video streams, widely used for legacy video files.
MKV: An open, flexible multimedia container format that holds multiple audio, video, subtitle tracks, and metadata in one file.
Muxing: The process of combining audio, video, and other streams into one container without re-encoding the original streams.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is a major advantage of MKV over AVI?

Supports only one audio track

Allows multiple audio, subtitle tracks and attachments

Has a 4 GB size limit

What happens if you convert AVI to MKV using muxing?

Video is re-encoded and quality is lost

Original streams are preserved without re-encoding

File size is always reduced automatically

What is a common file size limitation of original AVI files?

Unlimited file size

4 GB file-size or chunk-size limit

100 MB maximum