Whether you need to back up an important MKV file or simply need some MKV videos for a DVD player, converting MKV to DVD is a recommended solution. How to burn MKV video to a DVD for free? Actually, you only need to get some free MKV-to-DVD burners to author a DVD yourself.
Table of Contents
| Essential Functionality & Output | Customization & Advanced Features: | Performance & User Experience: | |||||||||
| OS Compatibility | Direct DVD Burning | Output | Supported Input Formats (Beyond MKV) | Burning Speed | Output Quality | DVD Menu Creation | Subtitle Support | Audio Track Support | Video Editing Features | Ease of Use | |
| WinX DVD Author | Windows 11/10/8 | DVD discs, folders, and ISO files | MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, etc. | Fast (Optimized for MKV conversion) | Good Quality | ||||||
| BurnAware Free | Windows 11/10/8 | DVD | MP4, AVI, FLV, etc. | Fast | Standard Quality | ||||||
| Freemake Video Converter | Windows 11/10/8 | DVD disc, folder , ISO | MP4, MKV, AVI, WMV, etc. | Moderate to Fast | Good Quality | ||||||
| Blu-ray Master DVD Creator | Windows 11/10/8, Mac OS X 10.9 or above | DVD discs, folders, and ISO files | MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, FLV, and more | Fast (GPU acceleration) | Excellent Quality | ||||||
| Office Converter | Online | DVD VOB | MP4, MOV, WMV, etc. | Slow | Standard Quality | ||||||
| Aconverter | Online | DVD VOB | MP4, AVI, WMV, and others | Slow (Online processing) | Standard Quality | ||||||
Part 1. Why Convert MKV to DVD
What is an MKV File
MKV is an open-source Matroska video format that includes video, audio, subtitles, and other metadata in a single file. Unlike other video formats, MKV supports multiple audio tracks and subtitles. Moreover, here are more excellent key features of the MKV file.
- • Support more hard-coded subtitles and soft-coded subtitles.
- • Add a chapter, a menu, and additional metadata.
- • Select different audio and video streams.
- • Playback of the corrupted MKV files with the error recovery feature
Why Convert MKV to DVD
Why do many people try to burn MKV files to DVDs? Here are some common reasons.
Wide Compatibility: MKV files cannot be played natively by many older DVD players, particularly those made before the widespread adoption of contemporary codecs such as H.264 and HEVC. You can make a disc that works with almost any standalone DVD player by converting the MKV to a regular DVD format. For families or individuals who continue to use outdated, non-smart TVs and DVD players, this is a huge benefit.
Archiving and Physical Backup: Your MKV files can be physically backed up offline by storing them on a DVD. Your content is protected against potential digital accidents, including cyberattacks, data corruption, and hard disk failures. Your video is safe on the disc even if the hard drive in your computer fails.
Preserve Media Collections: Burning your MKV files to actual DVDs can be a tidy and efficient way to manage your library if you have a sizable collection. Labeling the DVDs and keeping them on a shelf will make it simple to locate and play the desired content.
MKV Limitations: Some MKV files cannot be burned directly to DVD because they are encoded with unsupported codecs, such as HEVC/H.265, VP9, or DTS audio, while DVDs only support MPEG-2 video and compatible audio formats, such as AC3. This can cause failed burns, missing audio, or playback issues. Fortunately, these can be solved by transcoding with multimedia tools such as HandBrake or FFmpeg.
Part 2. 3 Free Methods to Burn MKV Videos to DVD
If you need to further edit the MKV videos, combine MKV clips, crop the video frame, or apply some video effects, here are 3 recommended free methods to burn MKV videos to a DVD.
Top 1: How to Convert MKV to DVD via WinX DVD Author
WinX DVD Author is a free and versatile MKV-to-DVD creator that can burn most video formats to DVD, including MKV, M2TS, MP4, and more. During our test, the program's most notable feature is its user-friendly interface; however, it has notable shortcomings in terms of conversion mistakes.
Step 1. Once you download and install the program, you can click the "Add File +" button to load the MKV files. You can also adjust the video position, remove videos, add subtitles, and more.
Step 2. After that, you can click the "Title Menu" to create a title menu and a chapter menu. Click the "Chapter Menu" to change the picture of the title menu. Then, the "TT" button is used to add text for the title and chapter menu.
Step 3. Choose the output video file folder and format, then click the "Start" button. The program will automatically convert MKV to DVD with ease. Just wait for a while to get the desired disc.
Pros
- It has a user-friendly interface for burning MKV to DVD.
- It has a menu feature that lets you create DVDs.
- It offers built-in editing features for you to adjust video effects before burning.
Cons
- It is only available for Windows computers.
- Some users have complained about burning mistakes or sporadic problems with specific file types.
Top 2: How to Burn MKV to DVD with BurnAware Free
BurnAware Free is another of the best free DVD-burning programs. Besides converting MKV to DVDs, you can also copy and burn CDs, Blu-ray discs, and data discs. Although our conversion testing produced videos with lower video quality, it still gets the job done, especially for a program designed to be easy to use.
Step 1. Download and install the program and launch the free MKV to DVD converter on your computer. Then click the "DVD-Video" option to start burning your disc.
Step 2. Click on the "Add" button to upload MKV files into the program. You can also drag and drop files from Windows Explorer to the VIDEO_TS folder. The program does not support AVI, MOV, or WMV.
Step 3. When everything is ready, click the "Burn" button to burn MKV videos to a DVD. It might take some time for the whole process before you get a DVD.
Pros
- It is renowned for being lightweight and not demanding your machine's CPU.
- It supports burning MKV to Video DVDs.
- It is free and easy to use, even for beginners.
Cons
- The burning process would damage the video quality.
- It lacks advanced DVD-burning features, such as menu templates and chapter selection.
Top 3: How to Convert MKV to DVD through Freemake Video Converter
If you want to save the MKV to DVD as a backup, Freemake Video Converter is another recommended DVD burner.
Step 1. Download and install the free MKV-to-DVD converter. After that, you can launch the program and click the "Video" blue button to add the MKV videos and others into the program.
Step 2. Choose the "to DVD" format. When there are multiple subtitles and voice tracks, you can keep only the necessary ones for each file. After that, you can insert a writable disc.
Step 3. Set up the DVD parameters, such as NTSC or PAL. Then click the "No menu" option to select the menu type and apply. After that, you can click the "Burn" button to convert MKV to DVD.
Pros
- It supports a wide range of video input formats, including MKV.
- It includes basic editing functions like cutting, merging, and rotating clips.
- It provides many customization options for creating custom menus, adding background music, and doing other things.
Cons
- It would add watermarks to the created DVDs in the free version.
- Its functions are limited in the free version.
Part 3. Best Way to Convert MKV to DVD
You can simply burn an MKV file to DVD using DVD authoring software. As a professional yet easy-to-use DVD burning program, Blu-ray Master DVD Creator can help you burn any video format to DVD, including MKV, MP4, WMV, MOV, 3GP, and more. Aside from its superb MKV-to-DVD conversion, DVD Creator’s high-quality editing features are a notable strength. These editing adjustments are seamlessly applied after the conversion.
- • Edit MKV videos with the desired menu template to make a professional DVD.
- • Edit subtitles and video/audio settings, merge/split chapters for the DVD.
- • Extra editing features like cropping/clipping MKV video, adding effects, and adding a watermark.
- • Convert MKV to DVD quickly with advanced acceleration technology.
Free Download
For Windows
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for macOS
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Step 1. Install and launch DVD Creator
Insert a blank DVD into the DVD drive. Free download, install, and launch DVD Creator on your computer. Select the "DVD Disc" option to create a DVD. Click "Add Media File(s)" on the top bar to load the MKV video you want to burn to a DVD.
Step 2. Add subtitles or audio files to DVD
If you want to edit the MKV video, you can click "Power Tools" and click "Video Edit" to rotate, clip, crop, watermark the MKV video, and add effects. If not, just skip the step.
Step 3. Customise DVD template
Click the "Next" button to go to the menu template window. There are different menu templates, such as Holiday, Family, Wedding, Travel, and more. Choose the proper one for your DVD. Meanwhile, you can tick the "Add Background Music" option at the bottom to add external music to your DVD. Then click the "Burn" button to move on.
Step 4. Convert MKV to DVD
Once the conversion parameters are applied according to your preferences and you select the Burn option, you will be redirected to the conversion window. Then, simply wait for the loading process to finish. For additional practicality, you may open the Action After Done drop-down menu to select what you want to do with the DVD once converted.
Pros
- It can burn MKV files to various DVD types, such as DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.
- It includes editing tools to edit videos, adjust audio tracks, and add subtitles.
- It provides multiple menu templates of different topics for you to choose from.
Cons
- The free trial version is available for a limited time.
- Its fast speed largely depends on the hardware acceleration.
Tips
To avoid common issues such as missing audio tracks and subtitles, make sure to adjust the conversion settings of your MKV video before DVD conversion.
Part 4. 2 Online Methods to Convert MKV to DVD
Is there a method to convert MKV to DVD online? If you do not want to download software to burn a DVD, the online solution might be a great help. Here are the recommended solutions. It also supports burning slideshows to DVDs on Mac.
Before proceeding to these options, keep in mind that both Office Converter and Aconvert are unstable and extremely slow when handling 4 – 8GB MKV files. This is due to their hyper-reliance on internet stability and performance. They are not a top priority if you use desktop-based options.
Top 1: How to Convert MKV to DVD with Office Converter
Actually, Office Converter is an online video converter that burns MKV files onto a DVD. But there are some restrictions on creating DVDs, such as video size.
Step 1. Go to the "MKV to DVD" page in Office Converter. Then click the "Add Files" button to load the MKV files into the online program. You can also add the videos from YouTube or other URLs.
Step 2. Once you upload the videos into the program, you can click the "Option" icon to change optional settings, such as DVD types, video trimming, and more, to achieve satisfactory results.
Step 3. Then click the "Start Convert" button to burn the MKV videos to a DVD. It would take some time for the whole process. The preview feature is not available for the output DVD.
Pros
- It is an online tool that requires no software to be downloaded.
- It can be used on any platform with ease.
- It has a straightforward DVD-burning interface.
Cons
- It lacks advanced DVD burning features.
- There are many ads in its interface.
Top 2: How to Burn MKV to DVD via Aconvert
Aconvert is an online MKV-to-DVD/VOB converter that converts videos to VOB files instead of DVDs. You can use the VOB files directly to create a DVD if required.
Step 1. Go to Aconvert, select the MKV to VOB page, and click the "Choose Files" option to upload MKV files from your local folder. You can also add files from an online URL, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
Step 2. Then choose the "Target format" as VOB. Choose the "Change size, bitrate, or frame rate" to further adjust the output format. Of course, you can retain the original codec.
Step 3. Click the "Convert Now!" button to start converting MKV to DVD VOB files. The output files will be listed in the "Conversion Results" section, which you can download with a QR code.
Pros
- It is an online tool that can be used anytime and anywhere.
- It allows you to add files by selecting a video file in your folder and pasting its URL into the tool.
- It has a clear and intuitive interface.
Cons
- It can only convert MKV files to DVD VOB files.
- The conversion process would reduce video quality.
Part 5. FAQs of Converting MKV to DVD
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Can you burn DVDs with HandBrake?
No. HandBrake is a program that allows you to rip DVDs or convert video files to a commonly used format. The program can also convert videos to a format compatible with mobile devices. However, it can't burn a DVD with HandBrake. You need to use a DVD burning program to burn your videos to a DVD.
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Can Nero burn MKV to DVD?
Yes, Nero can burn large amounts of content to multiple DVDs or even different types of DVDs at once, and it can also burn audio and data files to a disc in hybrid mode. As a versatile burning program, Nero can edit, burn, and play DVD and Blu-ray disc content. Also, it can convert high-definition content to AVCHD format for PlayStation® 3 or to play on a Blu-ray player.
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How do I view MKV files?
A file with the MKV file extension is a Matroska video file. It's a video container, much like MOV and AVI, but it also supports an unlimited number of audio, picture, and subtitle tracks (such as SRT or USF). You can use VLC media player to open MKV files because it has built-in support and doesn't require any additional installation. Just download and install the program on your computer.
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What type of files can be played on DVD Players?
Most standard DVD discs are in MPEG-2 format. Home DVD players will also play AC-3 or PCM audio discs. MPEG-2 is also called H.222 or H.262. Also, the audio format is called A/52. These formats support video and audio reproduction and playback.
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What is the best completely free MKV-to-DVD burner without watermarks?
WinX DVD Author and Blu-ray Master DVD Creator are among the best free MKV-to-DVD burners without watermarks. They support video DVD creation and basic menu customization. Both work well for standard home DVD burning.
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Can I burn a 4GB MKV file to a standard DVD-5 disc?
Yes, a standard DVD-5 can store about 4.7GB of data. However, the final DVD size may increase after conversion, depending on the DVD format used. Compression may be needed if the output exceeds the disc limit.
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Why do I lose subtitles when I convert MKV to DVD?
Not all DVD burners can detect embedded MKV subtitles. You may need to manually enable or import the subtitle track before conversion. Using hardcoded subtitles can also prevent subtitle loss.
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Is WinX DVD Author safe to use in 2026?
Yes, WinX DVD Author is generally considered safe when downloaded from the official website. It is a popular option for DVD authoring on Windows. However, make sure to only get it from their official website.
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Is there a way to burn MKV to DVD on Windows 11 without buying software?
Yes, you can use free tools like WinX DVD Author, BurnAware Free, or Blu-ray Master DVD Creator. Windows 11 does not include a built-in Video DVD creator. These free programs can convert and burn MKV files without paid software.
Wrapping up
When you need to convert MKV videos to DVD, you can learn more about the 6 recommended free methods from the article. Whether you need to burn DVDs for free or convert MKV to DVD online, you can find a suitable method in the article. If you have any questions about burning MKV to DVD, please share more details in the comments.
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