How does the AVI to MKV converter work?

Upload your AVI files and start the conversion. FFmpeg copies the video and audio streams into an MKV, re-encoding the picture only when copying would play frames out of order.

Can I use the converter without signing up?

Yes. You can upload, convert and download without an account. Free use has a daily limit, and a $2.99 or $6.99 pass removes it, with no monthly subscription.

Are there file-size limits?

Each AVI file can be up to 20GB.

Does this work in a mobile browser?

Yes. dragdropdo runs in Safari, Chrome and other mobile browsers on iPhone, iPad and Android, so you can convert AVI files on a phone or tablet without installing an app.

Can I batch convert AVI files?

Yes. Add several AVI files to one job, then download each MKV file on its own or all of them together as a ZIP.

Is the video re-encoded?

Usually not. Most AVIs are copied into the MKV unchanged, so the quality stays the same. AVIs with H.264 B-frames or DivX/Xvid packed B-frames would play frames out of order as a copy, so their picture is re-encoded as H.264 at very high quality (x264 CRF 18) while the sound is still copied.

What happens to multiple audio tracks?

All audio tracks go into the MKV. MP3, AC-3, PCM and ADPCM sound is copied unchanged, even when the picture is re-encoded.

Can I add subtitles to the MKV?

Yes, afterwards. MKV supports subtitle tracks, so you can add .srt files with MKVToolNix or a similar tool.

Why choose MKV over AVI?

MKV handles modern codecs, multiple subtitle and audio tracks, chapters and large files better, and its structure makes seeking more reliable than AVI's index.

Will the MKV be bigger or smaller?

About the same when the streams are copied. AVIs re-encoded to H.264 can change size in either direction.

Does MKV play everywhere?

It plays in VLC, Plex, Kodi, most smart TVs and Android. Apple devices need an app such as VLC or Infuse.

How does the AVI to MKV converter work?

Upload your AVI files and start the conversion. FFmpeg copies the video and audio streams into an MKV, re-encoding the picture only when copying would play frames out of order.

Can I use the converter without signing up?

Yes. You can upload, convert and download without an account. Free use has a daily limit, and a $2.99 or $6.99 pass removes it, with no monthly subscription.

Are there file-size limits?

Each AVI file can be up to 20GB.

Does this work in a mobile browser?

Yes. dragdropdo runs in Safari, Chrome and other mobile browsers on iPhone, iPad and Android, so you can convert AVI files on a phone or tablet without installing an app.

Can I batch convert AVI files?

Yes. Add several AVI files to one job, then download each MKV file on its own or all of them together as a ZIP.

Is the video re-encoded?

Usually not. Most AVIs are copied into the MKV unchanged, so the quality stays the same. AVIs with H.264 B-frames or DivX/Xvid packed B-frames would play frames out of order as a copy, so their picture is re-encoded as H.264 at very high quality (x264 CRF 18) while the sound is still copied.

What happens to multiple audio tracks?

All audio tracks go into the MKV. MP3, AC-3, PCM and ADPCM sound is copied unchanged, even when the picture is re-encoded.

Can I add subtitles to the MKV?

Yes, afterwards. MKV supports subtitle tracks, so you can add .srt files with MKVToolNix or a similar tool.

Why choose MKV over AVI?

MKV handles modern codecs, multiple subtitle and audio tracks, chapters and large files better, and its structure makes seeking more reliable than AVI's index.

Will the MKV be bigger or smaller?

About the same when the streams are copied. AVIs re-encoded to H.264 can change size in either direction.

Does MKV play everywhere?

It plays in VLC, Plex, Kodi, most smart TVs and Android. Apple devices need an app such as VLC or Infuse.

Free AVI to MKV Converter Online

Convert AVI to MKV online, usually without re-encoding, with every audio track kept. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.

Drag & Drop your AVI file here

AVI files, up to 20GB

Files stay private.

Automatically deleted after 24 hours.

Link 20GB upload limit.

4.8/5

Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions

HOW IT WORKS

Convert AVI to MKV in three steps

Three steps, no account, nothing to install.

Upload your AVI files

Drag in .avi files with DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, H.264 or other video.

Convert to MKV

Start the conversion. Video and sound are copied into MKV whenever that plays correctly, and only problem streams are re-encoded.

Download the MKV

Download each MKV, or several together as one ZIP.

AVI

AVI is Microsoft's 1992 video container, common for DivX and Xvid files, old camcorders and webcam recordings.

MKV

MKV is the open Matroska container, able to hold any codec plus many audio and subtitle tracks in one file.

FILE FORMATS

AVI and MKV compared

SOURCE

AVI

Audio Video Interleave was Windows' standard video container through the 1990s and 2000s. AVI files from that era usually hold DivX or Xvid video with MP3 sound, while cameras and webcams wrote Motion JPEG. AVI has no proper support for subtitles or modern codecs, and browsers and phones don't play it.

TARGET

MKV

Matroska started in 2002 as an open, royalty-free container. An MKV can carry almost any video and audio codec, several language tracks, text and picture subtitles, chapters and even attached fonts. That flexibility makes it the favorite for film backups and recorders, though iPhones, Safari and some TVs won't play it.

Feature	AVI	MKV
Developed by	Microsoft	Matroska (open standard)
File extension	.avi	.mkv
Usual video codec	DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, H.264	Any: H.264, HEVC, VP9, AV1
Usual audio codec	MP3, AC-3, PCM	Any: AAC, AC-3, DTS, FLAC, Opus
Subtitles	No (external files)	Yes, many tracks
Best for	Older PCs and DVD players	Movies and multi-track archives
Plays on phones and browsers	Desktop players; not browsers	VLC, most TVs; not iPhone

USE CASES

Use Cases for AVI to MKV

When MKV handles the video better than the old AVI container.

Fix seeking in old DivX and Xvid files

AVI's index is fragile. Moving the streams into MKV makes seeking and scrubbing more reliable.

Keep every audio language together

Dual-audio AVIs move into MKV with all tracks intact.

Add subtitles later

MKV holds subtitle tracks, so you can mux SRT files in afterwards with MKVToolNix.

Play on media servers

Plex, Jellyfin and Kodi handle MKV metadata and tracks well.

Archive old video without quality loss

Most AVIs are copied, not re-encoded, so the archive copy is identical in quality.

Prepare files for MKVToolNix

Edit tracks, chapters and names in MKVToolNix once the video is in MKV.

Fix out-of-order frames in packed B-frame files

DivX and Xvid packed B-frames are re-encoded so frames play in the right order.

Standardize a video library

Bring a mix of old AVI files into one container.

Watch on a smart TV that prefers MKV

Many TVs handle MKV more consistently than AVI.

Move webcam and camcorder AVIs to a modern format

MJPEG and DV AVIs move into MKV for easier playback.

SUPPORTED FILES

Which AVI Files Can I Convert?

AVI files from the DivX era, cameras and capture tools are supported.

DivX and Xvid

Classic MPEG-4 ASP AVIs, with packed B-frames handled correctly.

H.264 in AVI

AVI files holding H.264 video, re-encoded only when B-frames would play out of order.

MJPEG and DV

Camera and capture-card AVIs.

MP3, AC-3, PCM and ADPCM sound

Every audio track is copied unchanged.

A batch

Upload several AVIs and download the MKVs as a ZIP.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MKV Not Playing Right?

These cover most of the surprises with old AVI files.

The MKV is a different size

Most AVIs are copied, so the size barely changes. Files whose picture needed re-encoding as H.264 can come out larger or smaller.

My external subtitles aren't inside

AVI keeps subtitles in separate .srt files. Add them to the MKV with MKVToolNix.

An iPhone won't play the MKV

Apple devices don't support MKV natively. Use VLC or Infuse, or convert to MP4.

Sound is out of sync

Some AVIs had sync problems from the start. Check the original in VLC.

A damaged AVI stops early

A broken AVI is converted as far as it can be read.

Still not working

Make sure the AVI plays in VLC. If it doesn't, the file itself may be damaged.

COMPARISON

dragdropdo vs. Desktop Video Converters

HandBrake, VLC and FFmpeg give you every setting once installed. dragdropdo is built for turning AVI into MKV with sensible settings already chosen, from any device.

What matters	dragdropdo	Desktop Video Converters
Nothing to install	✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser.	~Yes, a download. FFmpeg also needs the command line.
Works on phones and tablets	✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad.	~Mostly desktop only.
Batch conversion	✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP.	~HandBrake has a queue; FFmpeg needs scripts.
Share finished files	✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page.	~You upload and share the files yourself.
Pricing	✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan.	~Free (HandBrake, VLC, FFmpeg).
Quality and size settings	✓Chosen for you for MKV, with nothing to tune.	~Yes. Full control over codecs, bitrate and resolution.

Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.

1.8M+

Files converted

and counting

4.8

Average rating

from our users

~4s

Avg. conversion

per file

Files kept

Auto-delete in 24h

WHY DRAGDROPDO

Built to be quick, safe, and free

Convert AVI to MKV in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.

Private by default

Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.

No install required

Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.

Big files and batches

Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.

Share & download

Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.

MORE AVI TOOLS

Explore our other video operations

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft. It enables the synchronization of audio and video streams effectively, supporting various codecs for diverse media playback. Ideal for high-quality video recording, AVI files deliver impressive visual and audio fidelity, making them a preferred choice for multimedia enthusiasts and professionals alike.

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