Video conversion
Convert MKV to MOV
Updated Jul 2026
MKV is a flexible video container often used for high-quality rips and downloads, and MOV is the format Apple's apps expect, used by iPhone and Mac recordings. To convert MKV to MOV, open the file in a converter and export it as MOV. Doing this on your own computer means the video, which can be a large file, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .mkv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- High-quality video containers
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert MKV to MOV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MKV to MOV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MKV file, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose MOV as the output format.
- Convert. The MOV file is written next to your original, and nothing is uploaded anywhere.
MKV vs MOV: what actually changes
| MKV | MOV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Depends on the codec inside, often efficient for the quality it holds | Similar, though re-encoding an unsupported codec can make the file larger |
| Quality | Excellent, keeps whatever codec the source used | Very good, with a small loss possible if the video has to be re-encoded to fit MOV |
| Opens in Mac apps (QuickTime, iMovie, Final Cut, Photos) | No, not natively | Yes, it's their native format |
| Opens in general video players and Windows | Yes, very widely supported | Yes, though slightly less universal among third-party players |
| Multiple audio tracks and subtitles | Yes, can hold several of each in one file | Limited, fewer tracks carry over cleanly |
| Typical use | High-quality downloads, rips, and archives | iPhone and Mac camera footage, screen recordings |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MKV to MOV when you want to edit the footage in a Mac app like Final Cut or iMovie, add it to Photos, or hand it to someone whose whole workflow expects MOV.
Keep the MKV if it has multiple audio tracks or subtitle files bundled in, since those don't always survive the move to MOV as cleanly.
Why not just use an online converter?
Video files are often large and personal, whether it's a downloaded show or footage you shot yourself. An online converter means uploading that whole file to a server you don't control and waiting for it to come back. Converting on your own computer skips both problems: the file stays put, and there's nothing to wait on but your own machine.
Questions
Does converting MKV to MOV lose quality?
If the video codec inside the MKV is one MOV already supports, the conversion can be close to lossless. If not, the video has to be re-encoded, which introduces a small, one-time quality loss.
Will subtitles and extra audio tracks carry over?
Not reliably. MKV is built to hold several audio tracks and subtitle files at once, but MOV supports far fewer, so anything beyond the main track and one audio stream may not make the trip.
Why won't my Mac open an MKV file directly?
QuickTime, iMovie, Final Cut, and Photos are all built around MOV and a handful of other Apple-friendly formats. MKV was never one of them, which is the whole reason people convert it.
Can I convert a large MKV file without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file using your own computer, so a large video never has to travel over your internet connection in either direction.
Is MOV as widely supported as MKV?
For playback, MKV is actually supported by more general video players. MOV's advantage is narrower but specific: it's the format Apple's own apps are built around.
Morphjet converts MKV, MOV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.