While it’s not as popular as MOV or even FLAC files, you might occasionally encounter an MKV, or Matroska, file. When you’re dealing with subtitles on an audio or video track, an MKV file can come in handy.
When it’s time to convert an MKV file into something your device will support, like an MP4 file, it’s important to make sure you follow these steps to prevent any data loss.
The best way to convert an MKV file to an MP4 file is by using an online service. There are plenty to choose from, but we think CloudConvert is the best. It’s simple and supports a wide variety of file formats. It’s a hosted service, so you’ll have to upload your video files to their server. You may have privacy concerns, and if you do, you can simply use software to edit them on your own device.
Otherwise, you have the choice to immediately delete your file as soon as it converts. Just select the X icon next to the Download button to do so. Be warned that it can take up to 24 hours, but your videos should be deleted from their servers permanently.
Here's how to use CloudConvert:
Step 1: Go to the CloudConvert homepage and click Select file to choose a file from your computer. If you select the Drop-down arrow within the Select file button, you can choose from files you keep in Google Drive, Dropbox, or other storage options.
Step 2: Select the Arrow next to Convert to and then choose MP4 from the video formats list. Select the Convert button to start the process.
Step 3: The conversion doesn’t take too long, and you know the process is done when the option to download appears. (CloudConvert may automatically playback your newly converted video for you, so that you can see if the conversion went well before you download the new file.)
Select the green Download button to download your new video. Once you download your MP4 file, you can use it on any compatible device or platform.
Another online converter option we like is Online-convert.com's MKV to MP4 converter. It's just as easy to use as CloudConvert. Here's how to use it:
Step 1: Open up your web browser and go to the Online-convert.com's MKV to MP4 converter website.
Step 2: Select the Choose file button to pick a file from your PC. Or you can select the Down arrow to the right of Choose file for more upload options, such as: Dropbox, Google Drive, or uploading from a URL.
Step 3: Once your MKV file is uploaded, you can either immediately select the green Start button to begin your conversion or adjust the optional settings below and then select Start.
(These optional settings include picking a preset, changing the screen size, adjusting the bitrate, or even trimming the video.)
Step 4: Once your MKV file is converted to MP4, you'll be presented with the Done page, which features several ways to save your new MP4 file, including uploading your file to a cloud storage service or downloading your file to your PC.
To download your file, select the green Download button. Your new file should immediately appear in your PC's Downloads folder.
Speech-to-text apps have flooded the App Store, making it easier than ever to type on our Macs with just our voice. I have previously covered one such app called TypeWhisper. However, there has been a dearth of good text-to-speech models, and most of the good ones are locked behind a subscription.
Ollama, an open-source app that lets you run local AI models on your computer, wants to change that. It works on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and your prompts are never stored or used for training.
Did you think hitting delete on your AI chatbot conversation actually makes it disappear? Georgia Tech researchers just proved that's not entirely true. They have built a forensic tool called ORISA that can dig deleted conversations from your phone and even rebuild them into a working chatbot session you can keep talking to.
How can ORISA bring deleted AI conversations back?
Touchscreen laptops have been around for years. You can get them in all sizes and shapes. Just not from Apple. For years, the Cupertino giant has treated the idea of a touchscreen MacBook the way I treat a meeting that could have been an email: with open contempt. However, Wednesday looks like the day the company could finally change its mind.
The latest Apple invite puts the “Pro and Tell” showcase in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on October 28, 2026. Instead of a regular live-streamed keynote, it is an invitation-only, hands-on event for a handful of press and creators (similar to what the company did for the MacBook Neo earlier this year).