Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:33 am
Some MKV files come with subtitles embedded. This means there isn’t a separate file subtitle file like a .srt or a .sub file included with the video file.
If you directly convert such an MKV file to MP4, you would lose the subtitles in most instances.
So, how then do you convert MKV to MP4 without losing subtitles?
You use a free online MKV to MP4 converter.
It is called Video Online Convert. Out of the five online video converters we tested, this is the only tool that converts MKV to MP4 with subtitles.
But before you head there, let’s get our MKV file prepared.
Verify Your MKV File
Let’s use the VLC Media Player to get our MKV file ready. The first step is to do this by checking whether yoiur source file is .mkv.
Do this by heading to Tools and Media Information.
Under the General tab check to see if your file is a .mkv.
As you can see from the media information, it’s the .mkv format.
Check Your MKV File Subtitles
Next let’s chec,k wehther the video has subtitle tracks. In VLC go to Subtotle menu and choose Sub Track the subtitles will be displayed. You can see from our test video that we have 8 subtitles track.
Please note that only the first subtitle track will be converted and not all of them. So, ideally, have an MKV file with your preferred subtitle language on the first track.
Our first track here is English and that’s what we want when we convert the MKV file to MP4.
Converting MKV to MP4 with Subtitles with Video Online Convert
Before we upload our MKV file to Video Online Convert be reminded that for the free conversion only a maximum file size of 100MB is allowed.
If you’re looking to convert a whole movie, you would have to look elsewhere.
So, let’s head over to Video Online Convert.
From the left menu bar, select Convert to MP4.
Next, proceed to Upload Your MKV file to the Upload section, by manually uploading or dragging and dropping to the green upload area.
You’ll see an upload progress bar.
Before you start conversion, you would want to take a look at your output settings. In most instances you would want to leave the default settings alone.
However, you may want to choose your MP4 codec from the options below. In our case we would just accept the default H264 codec before we hit the Start Conversion button.
You’ll see your conversion in progress.
Once conversion is done, you;ll be provided with a download link for your MP4 file. Click on it and your file will be downloaded.
Opening Your Converted MP4 File
First of all you want to verify whether your converted file is indeed .mp4. Do this by right clicking on the donloaded file and choosing properties.
Next, open your converted MP4 file with VLC.
When your MP4 file plays, there’ll be no sibtitle displayed. Click on Subtitle and choose Track 1 as shown below.
Your MP4 subtitles will be displayed.
That’s how you convert an MKV file to MP4 without losing the subtitles. This trick so far works with Video Online Convert and the VLC Player.
MKV to MP4 Without Losing Subtitles Tested with Android Box
We tested the converted MP4 file with two Android media player apps – VLC Player and MX player.
Both managed to display the subtitles,
