Convert MKV to MOV – Play on Apple Devices, Edit in Final Cut

MKV Files Won't Work on Your Mac?

You downloaded a video and it's in MKV format. Double-click it on your Mac and nothing happens—QuickTime can't open it. Try importing to Final Cut Pro or iMovie and you get an error. The video plays fine on VLC, but that doesn't help when you need to edit or share it within Apple's ecosystem.

Converting MKV to MOV solves this completely. MOV is Apple's native video format, developed specifically for QuickTime and deeply integrated into macOS, iOS, and all Apple professional software. Once converted, your video works seamlessly across the entire Apple ecosystem.

How to Convert MKV to MOV

1. Upload your MKV file – Drag and drop or click to select your video
2. Confirm MOV as output – MOV is pre-selected for Apple compatibility
3. Download your video – Ready for Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Final Cut Pro

The entire process happens in your browser. No software to install, no account required. In our testing, a typical 500MB MKV file converts in under two minutes.

Why MKV Doesn't Work on Apple Devices

MKV (Matroska Video) is an open-source container format popular for storing movies and TV shows because it supports multiple audio tracks, subtitle streams, and chapter markers in a single file. It's technically excellent—but Apple has never added native support for it.

Here's where MKV fails in the Apple ecosystem:

• QuickTime Player – Cannot open MKV files at all
• Final Cut Pro – Rejects MKV imports with codec errors
• iMovie – Same import restrictions as Final Cut
• iPhone/iPad – Won't play MKV in the native Photos or TV app
• Apple TV – No MKV support without third-party apps
• AirPlay – Cannot stream MKV content to Apple TV

MOV, developed by Apple in 1991, is the opposite story. Every Apple device and application handles MOV natively. If you have an MKV file that needs to work on Apple hardware, MOV is the most reliable target format.

MKV vs MOV: Technical Comparison

Both MKV and MOV are container formats—they hold video, audio, and metadata together. The key differences matter for compatibility:

In our testing, MOV files with H.264 encoding offer the best balance of quality and compatibility across both Apple and non-Apple devices. If you specifically need Windows compatibility, consider MKV to MP4 instead—MP4 is the most universal format.

When to Convert MKV to MOV

Final Cut Pro and iMovie Projects

Professional and consumer Apple video editors don't accept MKV. If you're building a timeline with footage from multiple sources and some clips are MKV, you'll need to convert them first. MOV with H.264 imports cleanly and maintains smooth timeline performance.

iPhone and iPad Playback

Want to watch your videos on the go? iOS doesn't play MKV in the native TV or Photos app. Converting to MOV lets you sync videos via iTunes, Finder, or use AirDrop for quick transfers.

QuickTime Presentations

Presenting at a meeting using your MacBook? QuickTime is the fastest, most reliable way to play a video—but only if it's in a compatible format. MOV eliminates the "codec not found" errors that plague MKV playback attempts.

AirPlay to Apple TV

Streaming to your living room TV through Apple TV requires Apple-compatible formats. MOV files AirPlay flawlessly while MKV files simply won't stream.

Quality Preservation

Your video quality depends on the source file, not the container format. When we convert MKV to MOV, we preserve the original video and audio quality. The container changes but your content stays the same.

In our testing with 4K HDR content, converted MOV files showed no visible degradation compared to the original MKV. Color accuracy, detail, and audio quality remained intact.

For professional workflows requiring ProRes codec output, desktop software like HandBrake offers more control. Our online converter focuses on fast, high-quality H.264/H.265 conversion that works for the vast majority of use cases.

Batch Conversion

Have multiple MKV files from a downloaded series or recorded footage? Upload them all at once. Our converter handles batch processing so you don't waste time converting one file at a time.

This is particularly useful when preparing footage for an editing project. Convert an entire folder of MKV clips to MOV, then import them all into Final Cut Pro in one go.

Alternative Formats to Consider

MOV is ideal for Apple-focused workflows, but it's not always the best choice:

• MKV to MP4 – Best for cross-platform compatibility. MP4 works on Apple, Windows, Android, and web browsers equally well.
• MKV to WEBM – Optimized for web embedding. Smaller files with excellent browser support.
• MKV to AVI – Legacy format for older Windows software or devices.

If your goal is specifically Apple device playback or Final Cut Pro editing, MOV remains the optimal choice.

Works on Any Device

Our MKV to MOV converter runs entirely in your browser:

• macOS (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
• Windows (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
• Linux (Chrome, Firefox)
• iPhone and iPad (Safari)
• Android (Chrome)

No downloads, no installations, no plugins. If your browser supports modern web standards, you can convert videos right now.