H.264 to MKV Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
MKV is ideal for archiving movies with multiple audio tracks and subtitles intact. If your files are still in H.264 format, this page is the shortcut: H.264 (AVC) raw bitstream is the elementary video stream with no container around it — what surveillance cameras, some editors and FFmpeg tutorials hand you directly. Wrap it into MP4/MKV for players to accept it.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How H.264 compares to MKV
| H.264 | MKV | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | H.264/AVC (lossy) | Any codec inside |
| Best for | Pipeline exchange, remuxing into MP4 | Collections and multi-track video |
How to convert H.264 to MKV
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your H.264 files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to MKV". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted MKV file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the H.264 format
H.264 (also called AVC) is the video codec the entire internet settled on: Blu-ray, YouTube, broadcast TV, every phone camera. A .h264 file is that codec's raw bitstream with no container — no timestamps, no audio, no metadata, just compressed frames back to back. Cameras and capture pipelines emit it because it is the codec's native shape.
Players struggle with raw streams precisely because there is no container to carry timing information. Wrapping H.264 into MP4 or MKV adds timestamps, duration and (optionally) audio tracks — the picture itself is untouched, since remuxing copies the compressed frames as-is.
+Strengths
- ✓The universal codec — plays everywhere once wrapped
- ✓Native output of cameras and capture cards
- ✓Remuxing is lossless (stream copy)
!Limitations
- −No container: no timestamps, no audio, no duration
- −Most players refuse or mis-time raw streams
About the MKV format
MKV (Matroska) is the open container that refuses to say no: virtually any video codec, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle streams, chapters, attachments and menu structure in one file. It became the de facto standard for movie rips, anime releases and personal archives precisely because nothing needs to be thrown away.
The same generosity is its compatibility risk: smart players (VLC, mpv) handle everything, but smart TVs, consoles and car systems choke on exotic codec combinations inside MKV. It is also not a streaming standard, so web delivery runs through its subset, WebM.
+Strengths
- ✓Unlimited tracks: audio, subtitles, chapters, attachments
- ✓Open specification, no licensing
- ✓Ideal archival container — nothing is lost
!Limitations
- −Device playback is hit-or-miss outside smart players
- −Not web/streaming native
Why convert H.264 to MKV?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of MKV meet what H.264 cannot give you. Unlimited tracks: audio, subtitles, chapters, attachments Meanwhile No container: no timestamps, no audio, no duration One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this H.264 to MKV converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for H.264 to MKV?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Will the audio track be kept?
Yes. The audio is carried over and re-encoded to the standard audio codec of MKV, staying in sync with the video. If your H.264 file has multiple audio tracks, the first one is used.
Does converting H.264 to MKV re-encode my video?
Yes. The video is decoded and re-encoded with the settings chosen by the quality slider, which is what allows the format and size to change. For an archival copy, keep higher quality; for sharing, lower quality gives a much smaller file.