The MKV format is one of the most problematic when it comes to playback. Normally, videos in this format have a high quality and are quite light in weight, which is why they are quite popular. So what if we have problems playing MKV videos? You can try to install another multimedia player or even install a codec pack so that the PC can better read this type of file.
However, it is possible that you are using a device that does not allow you to install new codecs, or you simply don’t want to get into such an adventure (bear in mind that the installation of codecs, if not done correctly, can lead to new problems for the device). To avoid major problems, it is often best to simply convert the MKV to another more “friendly” format, such as AVI files.
The biggest problem we run into with video converters is always the same. Finding a free app that does the job well, without watermarks or weird stuff, and offers a wide range of settings (quality/resolution/subtitles etc.).
Convert MKV files to AVI with HD Video Converter Factory without losing quality
One of the converters that has worked best for me in recent years is HD Video Converter Factory. It is free, very complete and converts files at a speed that pleases. It also has an improved paid version, but for day-to-day use. The free version is more than enough. Let’s see how it works.
- The first thing is to download and install the program. You can do it from its official website HERE.
- Open the application and select “ Add Files ” from the top menu. Select the MKV file that you want to convert.
- By default, the application will convert the MKV video to AVI format with the exact resolution, but you can modify it by clicking on the “Settings” button. In this way, you can change the encoder (DivX, Xvid, H264, Smart Fit), the Bit Rate, the Frame Rate, the resolution.
- If you don’t want to make any such changes, look at the language and subtitles. These two values can be adjusted from the main screen (below the name of the video).
- Finally, you only have to choose the path where you want the video to be saved, clicking on “ Output Folder ”.
- Once you have everything to your liking, click on “ Run ”.
If what you want is to convert a video from MKV to any other format, the tool offers a wide selection of formats (AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, MPG, M4V, VOB, ASF, TS, 3GP, H264, H265, VP9 and more) and specific conversions for certain devices or brands (iPhone, PS3, PS4, PSP, various TV brands, HTC, Samsung devices, tablets etc.).
Today, this is the program that I use to convert videos from MKV to AVI and other formats from Windows. The truth is that it has not given me any problems to date.
Convert MKV files to AVI online
You can also convert videos from MKV to AVI without installing any software on your computer. For this, you will use an online converter, which allows you to convert videos to various formats.
These web services are excellent, but they usually have a size limit of around 200 or 250MB per file.
One of the fastest is ConvertFiles. It has an easy to use interface, and you can add both videos stored locally as well as videos located on the web via URL.
There are also other alternatives such as OnlineConvert, but the latter has a size limit of 100MB, which can come in handy for converting short home videos. If you want to convert series or movies, it is best to use a desktop application to use.
Efficient and quality paid alternatives like Leawo Video Converter
Another good solution can also be to obtain a license for a quality converter. If you carry out many conversions regularly from the PC and are looking for the best program to convert files, a good option may be Leawo Video Converter.
A couple of years ago, I got a license for this converter, and I would dare say that it is the most complete paid converter that I have seen to date. If I have to recommend any payment alternative, this would be my first option without a doubt (mainly because I have tried it and I know it works). You can adjust the bitrate, codecs, frame rate, format and all kinds of details for each conversion in an intuitive and easy to use interface.
How to Convert MKV Files to AVI on Mac
In the case of Apple, if you have a Mac, you also have at your disposal some other converter to transform MKVs into AVI.
- MacX Free MKV Video Converter: It is a free desktop application that converts MKV files to MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV and various other formats. It allows you to take screenshots of the videos and extract the audio of the reproductions.
Convert MKV videos to other formats with Handbrake
Most free video converters include some premium model or limited features that you can only unlock with payment. For this reason, they can be a bit annoying to use since they are constantly reminding us that they also have a premium version (always at a perfect price, of course).
A good solution is to install Handbrake, one of the few 100% free and open-source video converters that you can find, available for Windows, Linux and Mac. The only “disadvantage” that Handbrake has is the format. The output of the file can only be MKV, MP4 or WebM.
For the rest, this is a complete program that allows you to make all kinds of adjustments to video, audio, subtitles, dimensions, filters, and qualities of all shapes and colors. It even has preset options to achieve the best results on different devices (Fire TV, Roku, Android, Xbox, Apple).
Handbrake is available for download from its official website.
As you can see, the alternative to transfer videos, movies and series from one format to another is really wide. Which one do you prefer?
