Can I directly download YouTube video to MKV format? Or should I use a YouTube to MKV converter to convert downloaded YouTube videos to MKV format? Please show me how to download YouTube videos to MKV format in detail.

This guide is all about YouTube to MKV conversion, which will show you how to download YouTube videos and then convert downloaded YouTube videos to MKV format in detail.

Related Readings:

How to Convert YouTube to M4A?

How to Convert YouTube to MPEG with YouTube to MPEG Converter?

How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline?

Part 1: How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube Video Downloader?

To download YouTube videos, we can make use of third-party YouTube downloader program. Here we pick CleverGet Video Downloader as our first choice, which is able to download videos and music from 1000+ sites with 6x higher speed. As an online video downloader, this professional program is capable of downloading videos from a bunch of video websites like YouTube, Vimeo, Hulu, Dailymotion, Facebook, Netflix, HBO Max, etc. What's more, it supports to output videos ranging from 480P, 720P, 1080P, 4K and even 8K resolution. CleverGet Video Downloader is efficient and user-friendly, which allows users to download videos in batch or in playlist in one click.

Download and install the right version of CleverGet Video Downloader on your computer, then follow the guide below to download YouTube videos.

  • cleverget
  • CleverGet YouTube Downloader

    - Download videos up to 8K resolution
    - Support 1000+ sites
    - Support live video M3U8 link downloading
    - Multi-task and playlist download
    - Built-in browser and player
    - Advanced hardware acceleration
    - Easy-to-use interface

Step 1: Launch Software and Go to YouTube page

After installation, launch the software on your computer. On the main interface, you can click the YouTube logo icon to enter the offcial website of YouTube, then just search for what you want to download directly with the built-in browser. Alternatively, you can copy and paste the link of YouTube video into the address bar to go to the page directly.

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Step 2: Download YouTube Videos

After detecting, all downloadable videos sources will be listed on a pop-up window. If it doesn't show up, click the arrow-down icon in the bottom-right corner to let this program work. Then, you can choose your preferred videos with all parameters listed, and click the "Download" button to download videos from YouTube.

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Step 3: Manage Downloaded YouTube Videos

You can manage the downloading tasks on the "Library" sidebar, and check all downloaded YouTube videos by clicking the video icon.

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Part 2: How to Convert Downloaded Videos to MKV with Leawo Video Converter?

The first professional MKV video converter I will introduce here is Leawo Video Converter. It supports a great variety of input and output formats such as Common Video (MP4, H.265 MP4, MKV, H.265 MKV, MOV, etc.), HD Video (HD MP4, HD AVI, HD TS, HD VOB, etc.), and 4K Video (4K MP4 and 4K MKV). At the same time, Leawo Video Converter supports audio input and output as well, including AAC, AC3, WAV, MP3, WMA, FLAC, etc. In other words, we can use Leawo Video Converter to extract audio file from video file, and to convert audio file from one format to another. What's more, having an easy-to-use interface, this video converter requires no expertise to operate video conversion. Better than any other free MKV converter, Leawo Video Converter is able to convert video files at 6 times higher speed.

Not limited to Windows version, Leawo software team also develops the Mac counterpart of Leawo Video Converter for operating on Mac system. Download and install the right version of Leawo Video Converter based on the operating system of your computer. As the conversion process is nearly the same regardless of version of Leawo Video Converter, here we take Windows version of Leawo Video Converter as an example to convert downloaded videos to MKV.

  • Leawo Video Converter
  • Leawo Video Converter

    1. Convert video and audio files between 180+ formats without quality loss
    2. Support 720P, 1080P and even real 4K video output
    3. Create photo slideshows from photos stored on camera, computer, camcorder, etc
    4. Built-in video editor to trim, crop, add watermark, apply special effect, etc
    5. 2D to 3D converter with 6 different 3D movie effects available

Step 1. Import Source Downloaded YouTube Video

Launch Leawo Video Converter, go to the “Convert” tab, and click “Add Video” button on the sub-menu to load the downloaded video file. Alternatively, you can directly drag and drop downloaded video file into the program interface. After video file is imported, you could play back source video file, select subtitles and audio tracks from source video file, add external subtitles to loaded video file, edit loaded video file, etc.

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Step 2. Set MKV as Output Format

Click the drop-down box named “MP4 Video” by default next to the “Add Photo” button. On the drop-down list, select “Change” option.

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Then on the popup Profile window, select “MKV” from “Format” column as output format. Please note that once you change the output format, the name of the drop-down box will change as well.

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If you need, you could click the “Edit” button on the drop-down profile setting box to adjust video and audio parameters like video codec, aspect ratio, frame rate, resolution, audio codec, bit rate, channel, sample rate, etc. After editing job is done, click “OK” to return to the main interface.

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Step 3. Convert YouTube Video to MKV

Click the big green “Convert” button on the sub-menu bar next to the format setting drop-down box. Then, on the popup sidebar, set output directory. After setting output directory, click the “Convert” button right below. Leawo Video Converter would start to convert video to MKV immediately. After the conversion process is finished, you can find converted file in MKV format in the output folder you just set.

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Note/Attention5

    Leawo Video Converter is equipped with an internal video editor, which means you can edit video after you import source video files.

Part 3: How to Convert Downloaded Videos to MKV with Clone2Go Free Video Converter?

Clone2Go Free Video Converter, as its name suggests, it is a free and easy-to-use converter. It can convert video files between different formats. Input formats include: WMV, FLV, MPEG-4, MPG, RM, RMVB, AVI, 3GP, etc., and output formats include: MP4, AVI, WMV, FLV, etc. This makes Clone2Go one of the best solution to convert YouTube video to MKV.

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Step 1. Add Source Downloaded Videos

Kick off Clone2Go Free Video Converter after installation, and click “Add Video” button at the top left sub-menu to choose and add source downloaded videos. Alternatively, you can click "File -> Add Video Files..." to load source video files.

Step 2. Set MKV as Output Video Format

Extend the "Profile" category to select MKV as output video format in order to convert it to MKV. If you want to customize the output video, you can click the "Video Options" and "Audio Options" buttons below the "Profile" category. There you can set video resolution, frame rate, bit rate, video codec, etc.

Step 3. Set Output Directory

Click the "Options" button on the main interface. In the "General" tab, you can specify the folder for the output file.

Step 4. Start to Convert Downloaded Videos to MKV

After all the steps above, click the "Start Encode" button to start to convert downloaded videos to MKV. After a while, you will get desired results.

Part 4: How to Convert Downloaded Videos to MKV with Format Factory?

The third method we are going to talk about is to use Format Factory to convert YouTube video to MKV. Format Factory is a free and multifunctional media file conversion tool, which is able to convert video, audio, and picture files.

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Step 1. Choose Video on the Interface of Format Factory

Go to the official website of Format Factory, and download and install Format Factory on your computer. Launch Format Factory to enter the program interface where you can see a list of options. Choose “Video” and you can see a list of output video format.

Step 2. Choose “-> MKV”

Choose “->MKV” to pop up a small window, where you need to click “Add File” to import your source video files.

Step 3. Adjust Output Setting

After the files are imported, you can adjust output setting by clicking “Output Setting” button at the top to pop up a small panel where you can set detailed video and audio parameters.

Step 4. Start Conversion Process

Before you start converting, you can choose the output folder at the bottom; and then you can click OK button at the top right to start conversion process from source video format to MKV video format.

Part 5: How to Convert Downloaded Videos to MKV Online?

In addition to computer program, we can try to convert downloaded videos to MKV online with online converter, such as FileZigZag, which supports thousands of types of unit conversions, making it easy for users to reach a one-stop shop without having to jump from one location to another. Here we convert downloaded videos to MKV with FileZigZag.

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Steps:

  1. The interface of the web page is very simple. The first bar is for you to import file. Here, we choose to import the downloaded video files.
  2. Click the drop-down box under “Convert to”, and you need to select MKV as output video format.
  3. In the third bar, you need to input your email address, and then click “Convert” in the fourth bar. After a while, the converted result will be sent to your email box.