FormatDrop
How-To Guide

How to Convert MOV to MKV

MKV (Matroska) is the preferred container for home media servers like Plex, Kodi, and Jellyfin because it supports unlimited audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and chapter markers. Converting MOV to MKV via remuxing is lossless — the H.264 stream from your MOV moves into MKV without re-encoding.

Open MOV to MKV Converter

Step-by-step instructions

  1. 1

    Upload your MOV file

    Select your .mov file. Files from iPhones, Final Cut, or any QuickTime source convert cleanly.

    Go to converter
  2. 2

    Choose MKV as output and select 'Remux'

    If your converter supports remuxing (no re-encoding), choose MKV with copy/remux mode. This preserves the original H.264 video and AAC audio without quality loss.

  3. 3

    Download and add to your media library

    Drop the MKV into your Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi media folder. The library will pick it up and stream to any device.

Why convert MOV to MKV?

MOV is iPhone's video format; MKV is the home media server's video format. Remuxing between them moves the same content into a more flexible container without any quality loss.

Your files never leave your device

FormatDrop runs the conversion engine entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload. No server. Nothing stored. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching: zero upload requests.

Frequently asked questions

Is MOV to MKV lossless?
Yes, when remuxing. The H.264 video and AAC audio streams are extracted from the MOV container and placed inside the MKV container — no re-encoding, no quality loss. File size is virtually identical (within a few MB for container overhead).
FFmpeg command for MOV to MKV remux?
`ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy output.mkv`. The `-c copy` flag tells FFmpeg to copy streams without re-encoding. Adds metadata, chapter markers, and works for virtually all MOV files.
Why use MKV instead of MP4 for media servers?
MKV supports unlimited streams; MP4 is more limited. MKV handles subtitle tracks (.ass, .srt, PGS) natively; MP4's subtitle support is awkward. Plex and Jellyfin prefer MKV for direct play of complex content.
Convert MOV to MKV Now — Free

No account. No upload. Works in any browser.

Related guides

How to Convert HEIC to JPGHow to Convert PNG to PDFHow to Convert MOV to MP4How to Convert WebP to JPG