Windows 11 · Windows
Remux OBS MKV Recordings to MP4 Without Re-encoding
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Use OBS’s Remux Recordings tool to place an existing MKV recording into an MP4 container without re-encoding it. Keep the original MKV until you have opened and checked the remuxed file.
Keep the original recording
Close any app currently playing the MKV and keep an untouched copy in its original location. Remuxing is not a repair for a corrupted recording and does not change its picture or sound quality.
Open Remux Recordings
In OBS Studio, choose File > Remux Recordings. This opens OBS’s own container-conversion tool; it is different from exporting through a third-party encoder.
Add the MKV file
Select the MKV recording as the source. Check the output location and file name before starting so you do not overwrite a file you need.
Choose the MP4 destination
Use a new MP4 destination when possible. The operation changes the container, so it should finish much faster than a full re-encode of the same video.
Run the remux
Start the remux and wait for OBS to report completion. Do not move or delete the original recording while the operation is in progress.
Check the MP4
Open the MP4 in the player or editor you need and inspect the beginning, a middle section, the end, and the audio. Keep the MKV until playback and import are confirmed.
Verify future recording settings
If you need MP4 for editing, continue recording in MKV and remux after each completed recording. This preserves the interruption-resilience that OBS recommends for recording.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If OBS cannot open the MKV, keep the original and investigate the recording problem; remuxing cannot guarantee recovery of a damaged file.
- If the MP4 plays but an editor rejects it, test the editor’s supported import requirements before re-encoding. A remux does not change codecs.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.