How to use the MKV to MP3 converter
- Choose your MKV video or drop it on the box.
- Pick an audio quality. 192 kbps is the usual choice; 320 kbps for music you care about, 128 kbps for speech.
- Click "Convert to MP3". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your MP3 and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert MKV to MP3?
MKV files often hold films, concerts or OBS recordings with high-quality sound. MKV to MP3 keeps just that soundtrack in a file your phone or car can play.
- MKV: not supported by Apple devices or many editors.
- MP3: plays on every device.
- MP3: small files.
MKV files can hold several audio tracks. This tool uses the first one, which is normally the main language or the main mix.
MKV vs MP3
| MKV | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matroska Video | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Video | Audio |
| Created by | the Matroska open-source project (2002) | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Typical codecs | H.264, HEVC or VP9 + AAC, AC3, DTS or Opus | MP3 |
| Best for | Movies with several languages or subtitles, OBS recordings and archiving | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones |
| Plays on | VLC, MPV, Kodi, Plex and most smart TVs; iPhone, iPad, QuickTime and many video editors do not open MKV | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser |
Does converting MKV to MP3 lose quality?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
How long does it take?
Fast. Only the sound is decoded, so even a long video usually converts in well under a minute.
What is an MKV file?
MKV (Matroska) is a free, open container that can hold almost any video, audio and subtitle format in one file, including many audio languages and subtitle tracks. That flexibility makes it popular for movie and series files and for screen recorders like OBS.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MKV to MP3 converter free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Files up to 1 GB each can be converted, and there is no daily limit.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. The converter runs inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to us or anyone else.
Will the MP3 sound as good as the MKV?
Only the sound is kept and re-encoded as MP3. Video soundtracks are usually AAC at 128–256 kbps, so choosing 192 kbps or more keeps the MP3 sounding the same as the video.
Can I convert MP3 back to MKV?
Yes, use the MKV Converter and choose MKV as the output.
An MKV will not play on iPhone or in iMovie. What should I do?
Convert it to MP4. If the video is H.264 or HEVC, the conversion is a fast copy with no quality loss.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser and choose a file. Phones have less memory than computers, so very large files are better converted on a laptop or desktop.