How to Convert YouTube to MKV Files [Easy and Up to 4K]

Streaming YouTube videos online can be frustrating under a weak network connection. To have an HD viewing experience, you may opt to download and convert videos from YouTube to MKV beforehand. MKV can offer lossless 4K videos and support reducing the file size while maintaining high-quality videos, which is ideal for video sharing and management.

So do you know how to download YouTube to MKV files? If not, this article will guide you through the entire process, letting you enjoy stunning YouTube videos offline on the go.

How to Convert YouTube to MKV with Desktop Software

Converting YouTube videos to MKV files is a piece of cake if you have the right YouTube downloader. Need a suggestion? TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader is highly recommended for its easy yet professional download services.

This YouTube to MKV converter excels in delivering high-quality videos. With it, you can easily download 4K videos from YouTube, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. Even better, its user-friendly interface features a built-in browser, enabling you to directly search for and download YouTube videos within the software without the need to manually copy and paste video URLs. Therefore, if you’re new to such tools, TuenFab is a great option to start with.

You may now have a general understanding of TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader. Next, let’s move on to learn how to download YouTube to MKV files by using it in detail!

Step 1. Access TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader

To start with, please download and install TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader on your computer. When you launch it, choose “YouTube” from the available options in the main interface.

Step 2. Add YouTube Videos to Download to MKV

In the Website tab, you can directly browse and search for desired videos from YouTube. Then, simply drag and drop them to the floating “+” button on the right. TuneFab will automatically fetch the video information and add it to the converting list.

For YouTube playlists and channels, there will be a popup window asking you to select your needed videos from the list. Then, hit “Add to Queue” to move on.

Step 3. Choose MKV as the Output Format

Move to the Converting tab, and you can see all the YouTube videos waiting to download. Simply click “Convert all files to” and select “MKV” from the dropdown. If you don’t want to save all YouTube to MKV files, you can also customize the output format of each video separately.

Step 4. Download YouTube to MKV

One last thing to do is select the video you want to download, and then, hit the “Convert All” button to initiate the process of YouTube to MKV conversion. After that, you can go to the “Finished” tab and click “View Output File” to access the download folder on your computer.

Undoubtedly, TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader provides a simple and effective way to help you save videos from YouTube to MKV easily. Beyond this, it can handle more tasks like converting YouTube to MOV, extracting YouTube subtitles, or downloading HD videos from Amazon Prime Video/Netflix/Disney Plus, etc. If you want a versatile solution, download it and give it a try.

How to Convert YouTube to MKV with Open-Source Tool

If you prefer to convert YouTube to MKV for free, there are also many open-source tools available on GitHub to help you. Keep in mind, though, it can be challenging.

For example, youtube-dl, a command-line program, is a popular choice. It can convert videos from YouTube to MKV, MP4, MP3, FLV, and more by bypassing DRM protection. However, for those who are not familiar with coding, this method may boast a steep learning curve. Next, let’s take a look at how to use it.

Step 1. Download youtube-dl from GitHub by clicking “Code” > “Download ZIP”.

Step 2. Copy video URLs from YouTube.

Step 3. Open Command Prompt or Terminal on your computer. Then, type the folder location where you downloaded YouTube-dl.

Step 4. To convert YouTube to MKV, enter the command line like: youtube-dl -f mkv video URL. Replace “video URL” with the actual URL you just copied.

Step 5. Press the Enter key to run the command and start the YouTube to MKV conversion. 

How to Convert YouTube to MKV with Browser Plugin

Are you looking for an easier way to convert YouTube videos to MKV format without downloading software or dealing with complicated operations? If so, the browser plug-in Video DownloadHelper is ideal for you! It seamlessly integrates with Safari and Edge browsers, enabling you to save your favorite YouTube videos as MKV files with just a few clicks. However, it’s worth noting that this tool may sometimes fail to detect on-screen videos, leading to a relatively lower download success rate.

Step 1. Download and install Video DownloadHelper on your Safari or Edge. Once it is installed, you will see its icon on the toolbar.

Step 2. Go to the YouTube video you want to download. When the video is detected, the icon of Video DownloadHelper will be colored.

Step 3. Click on the icon to show the dropdown. Then, you can see all available download options.

Step 4. Hit the “Download” button and choose “Download and convert to” > “MKV”. Then, it will start downloading YouTube to MKV files.

FAQs About Converting YouTube to MKV

Q1: Does YouTube Use MKV?

Well, the answer is no. Although YouTube allows you to download videos in the official app and even via the website, it stores the videos in a proprietary encrypted format instead of MKV. This format can only be decoded by YouTube, and thus you can only watch your downloaded YouTube videos in the app or website. If you want to download and store YouTube videos in MKV format, you will need to resort to a third-party tool like TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader which can convert YouTube to MKV, MP4, and MOV.

Q2: Can I Convert YouTube Videos to MKV on Android?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. There is currently no such app available on Android devices that can save YouTube videos as MKV files. However,  you can use alternative solutions like using tools such as TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader to download YouTube videos to your computer and then transfer them to your Android device.

Q3: Can I Convert YouTube Videos to MKV Online?

There are many online YouTube downloaders available, but most of them only support converting YouTube videos to MP4. If you prefer to use online tools, you can first download YouTube videos as MP4 via such tools and then convert them to MKV using other online converters. However, this process may result in video quality loss. To maintain high video quality with simple steps, TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader might be the better option.

Conclusion

This guide explores how to convert YouTube to MKV, along with 3 effective methods. By going through these detailed tutorials, you can easily get things done. Among the options, TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader stands out as the best solution.

It is not only user-friendly for converting YouTube videos to MKV, but it also ensures high output quality, delivering an excellent viewing experience on any device. Plus, it also offers a free trial to let you explore all its features at no cost. Download it now and give it a shot!