What happens when you convert MKV to TS
- If the video inside the MKV is already H.264, the tool first copies the streams straight into the TS. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
- If a copy is not possible, it re-encodes to H.264 video with AAC audio in an MPEG transport stream, which is slow in a browser: expect several times the video's length for HD footage, less at lower resolutions.
- The transport stream plays in VLC, on smart TVs and set-top boxes, and in video editors, and it can be cut or joined at almost any point, which is why broadcasts and streams use it.
How to convert MKV to TS online
- Press "Choose MKV files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: resolution and quality control the size of the result. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to TS". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each TS with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert MKV to TS?
MKV files usually come from films and TV rips, OBS recordings and anime releases. People convert them to TS because a transport stream is what TVs, set-top boxes, IPTV and broadcast tools play, and it survives being cut at almost any point.
In short, MKV is good at what it was made for, and TS is the more practical choice when the file has to play, upload or edit somewhere else. Chrome and Edge play many MKV files; Safari and iPhones do not, while TS does not play in most browsers directly; plays in VLC.
How to convert MKV to TS on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your MKV files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each TS is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert MKV to TS: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the MKV files from Finder onto the drop zone and the TS files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose MKV files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted TS appears in Files, in the Downloads folder; to put it in your photo library, open it there, tap Share and choose Save Video.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose MKV files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The TS is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for MKV to TS
Leave Resolution on Keep original and Quality on Standard if the video only needs to change container: that is what lets the tool copy the H.264 stream straight into the TS, which is fast and loses nothing.
If the file is too big, change either setting and the video is re-encoded with H.264. Quality uses the CRF scale: High is 20, Standard 23 and Smaller file 28. As a rule of thumb each step of about 6 on that scale halves or doubles the size. Dropping from 1080p to 720p usually saves more than lowering the quality, and it also makes the conversion much faster.
MKV vs TS: the differences
| MKV | TS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matroska video | MPEG transport stream |
| Type | video | video |
| Created by | the Matroska project | the Moving Picture Experts Group |
| First released | 2002 | 1995 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | almost any codec, often H.264 or H.265 with several audio and subtitle tracks | H.264 or MPEG-2 video with AAC, AC3 or MP2 audio |
| In a browser | Chrome and Edge play many MKV files; Safari and iPhones do not | does not play in most browsers directly; plays in VLC |
| Common uses | films and TV rips, OBS recordings and anime releases | TV recordings, IPTV streams and HLS video segments |
| MIME type | video/x-matroska | video/mp2t |
About MKV and TS files
What is an MKV file?
MKV can hold unlimited audio tracks, subtitle tracks and chapters in one file, which is why film rips use it. OBS offers MKV recording because a crash part way through does not corrupt the whole file.
What is a TS file?
TS was designed for broadcast, where signal can drop at any moment, so it repeats headers constantly. That makes it robust but larger than MP4, and moving the same streams into MP4 usually needs no re-encoding.
MKV to TS not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- The TS will not play on an old device. Try the other formats offered for MKV, or choose 720p, which older players handle more reliably.
Convert MKV to TS with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent TS with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset veryfast -c:a aac -b:a 128k -f mpegts output.tsReplace input.mkv with the name of your file. For a whole folder of MKV files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
MKV to TS converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting MKV to TS?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding compounds the loss slightly. Keep the default quality or higher and the difference is rarely noticeable.
Why is the TS a different size from the MKV?
It depends on the settings. At the defaults, the TS usually comes out close in size to the MKV; lower the quality for a smaller file.
Are my MKV files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several MKV files to TS at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a TS file?
TS does not play in most browsers directly; plays in VLC. TS is common for TV recordings, IPTV streams and HLS video segments.
Is this MKV to TS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert MKV to TS on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Long HD videos convert more slowly on a phone than on a computer.