The video is copied, not re-encoded
In our test the MKV held exactly the same compressed video as the TS. The decoded video was identical for an H.264 recording, and every MPEG-2 packet matched for a second recording.
TS to MKV Converter
You get an MKV that holds the same video as your TS recording, usually copied without re-encoding, in a container that seeks and imports more reliably.
To convert ts to mkv, add the TS file, keep MKV as the output and download the result. In our test the video was copied into the MKV without re-encoding, so the picture is identical and the file was 12% to 17% smaller. The converter keeps one video and one audio track, so a recording with several languages loses the others.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the MKV file once before you share it.
FromTSLossy
TS (MPEG transport stream)
A video container, not TypeScript code, defined in ISO/IEC 13818-1 (ITU-T H.222.0) for broadcast. It splits audio and video into fixed 188-byte packets, each starting with a sync byte, so a player can recover after transmission errors. It is used by DVB, ATSC and IPTV recordings, DVR and PVR captures, and HLS segments. One file can hold several programs and audio tracks, usually with MPEG-2 or H.264 video, and many phones and editors will not open it directly.
ToMKVLossy
MKV (Matroska Video)
An open container from the Matroska project that can hold many codecs, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and chapters. It is a common choice for recordings that go into a media library such as Plex or Jellyfin, or into an editor.
Two 10-second test recordings made by us, each with two audio tracks, converted on indox.org
- TS (H.264)recording.ts, the original: H.264 with two AAC tracks (English, French)
- 1.29 MB
- MKV (H.264)MKV from indox, 16.7% smaller: H.264 video copied, English audio kept, French dropped
- 1.08 MB
- TS (MPEG-2)ac3.ts, the original: MPEG-2 with AC-3 stereo (English) and AC-3 5.1 (French)
- 3.21 MB
- MKV (MPEG-2)MKV from indox, 12.0% smaller: MPEG-2 video copied, 5.1 French track kept, stereo dropped
- 2.82 MB
Why use indox to convert TS to MKV?
Broadcast overhead is dropped
A transport stream wraps everything in small fixed packets so it survives transmission errors. A file on your disk does not need that. In our test the MKV was 16.7% smaller for one recording and 12.0% smaller for the other.
Original codecs stay as they are
The test recordings were H.264 with AAC and MPEG-2 with AC-3. Both came out with the same codecs, and the AC-3 5.1 track was not converted to anything else.
Duration and frame size are untouched
Our 10-second clips stayed 10.0 seconds long and the 640 by 360 picture kept its size. The converter does not rescale or change the frame rate unless you ask for it.
What happens to your recording
Stays
- The video, copied without re-encoding in our test
- The audio codec and its quality for the track that is kept
- The length of the clip and the frame size
- Your original TS file, which is not touched
Changes
- The container: TS packets become a Matroska file
- Extra audio tracks are dropped; one is kept
- Subtitle tracks are not guaranteed to be kept
- File size, which was 12% to 17% smaller in our test
How do I convert TS to MKV online?
- 1
Add your TS file
Drop the .ts recording on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original until you have checked the MKV, especially if it holds several audio languages.
- 2
Confirm MKV, then start the conversion
Check that MKV is the output format and start the conversion. In our test a 10-second recording took 4.8 seconds from the click to Completed, and the other took 4.3 seconds.
- 3
Download the MKV and check the tracks
Save the MKV and open it in a player that lists audio tracks, such as VLC. Make sure the language you need is the one that was kept.
What do I get from indox's TS to MKV converter?
You hand over a TS recording and take away an MKV with the original video, without installing anything. The page tells you up front which part of the file is copied and which part is dropped, so you do not find out after you delete the TS.
- An MKV with the original video and no second compression
- Nothing to install on Windows, Mac or Linux
- Results measured on two test recordings
- A plain statement of which tracks are kept and which are lost
What are the limits for TS to MKV?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
TS in, MKV out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- Only one audio track is kept. A recording with an English and a French track gave an MKV with a single audio track in our test. If you need every language, use a tool such as MKVToolNix or FFmpeg with explicit track mapping.
- We did not test subtitles. Our test files had none, because a TS cannot carry the text subtitles we could generate. Do not assume every subtitle track will survive, and check the result before deleting the TS.
- The video is copied when possible, but if copying fails the converter can fall back to re-encoding the video to H.264. We saw a copy in both tests, but we cannot promise it for every file.
- A broken recording stays broken. The converter does not repair transmission errors, dropouts or audio that has drifted out of sync, and interlaced video stays interlaced.
- Some TVs and players do not accept MKV. If the file is meant for a TV or a phone, [TS to MP4](/convert/ts-to-mp4) is usually the safer target.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The page rejects the .ts file | Some browsers report .ts as a text type; Chromium on Linux did in our test | Try another browser or system, or use FFmpeg locally |
| Only one language is in the MKV | The converter keeps one audio track | Keep the TS, or use MKVToolNix to select all tracks |
| The sound drifts from the picture | The recording had dropouts or timing errors | Repair the TS first with a tool made for that, then convert |
| Your TV will not play the MKV | Some TVs do not support MKV | Use TS to MP4 instead |
| You need the sound only | The MKV still holds the picture | Use TS to MP3 on the original |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to TS to MKV?
TS vs MKV: what is the difference?
| Compared on | TS | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Broadcast and recording; made to survive transmission errors | General storage and playback; made to hold many tracks |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 13818-1 (ITU-T H.222.0) | Matroska specification, an open format |
| Tracks | Several programs and audio tracks, with limited indexing | Many audio, subtitle and video tracks, chapters and attachments |
| Seeking | Often slow, because there is no index | Indexed, so players jump to a point quickly |
| Converting between them | The streams can be copied into MKV | In this converter one video and one audio track are kept |
Who can use a TS to MKV converter?
When to use it
- Moving a TV recording from a DVR into a Plex or Jellyfin library.
- Making a TS capture easier to open and seek in a desktop player.
- Saving the original video of a broadcast recording without re-compressing it.
- Preparing a camcorder or capture-card .ts clip for an editor that handles MKV better.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- Automatic stream selectionFFmpeg documentation
- Matroska element specificationMatroska
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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TS to MKV FAQs
How do I convert TS to MKV?
Add the .ts file to the converter in your browser, keep MKV as the output and download the result. Nothing is installed. In our test a 10-second recording took 4.8 seconds from the click to Completed.
Does converting TS to MKV lose quality?
In our test it did not. The video was copied instead of re-encoded, and the decoded video of an H.264 recording was identical to the source. The converter can fall back to re-encoding when copying fails, so check the result.
Is the video copied or re-encoded?
Copied in both of our tests. For the H.264 recording the decoded video matched the source and all 250 video packets were present. For the MPEG-2 recording the video packets matched exactly.
Will all my audio tracks survive?
No. One audio track is kept. In our test a recording with English and French stereo kept the English track, and a recording with stereo and 5.1 kept the 5.1 track and dropped the stereo one. The track with the most channels wins, and the first one wins a tie.
What happens to subtitles?
We did not test them, because our test files could not carry text subtitles. Treat subtitles as possibly lost until you have opened the MKV and checked.
Is TS here the same as TypeScript?
No. TS on this page is a video container, the MPEG transport stream used for broadcast and recordings. TypeScript code files are not video and cannot be converted here.
Why does the page reject my .ts file?
Some browsers label .ts files as a text type instead of video. In our test Chromium on Linux did this and the page rejected the file. If it happens to you, try another browser or system, or use FFmpeg on your own computer.
Is there a file size limit or a quota?
We saw none in four anonymous conversions on 4 November 2026, and we are not promising one. Large recordings take longer, and your connection may be the slowest part.