Free online CRDOWNLOAD to MKV converter

A media server, editor, or archive may require a completed video in the MKV container, while a .crdownload file usually means the browser has not finished receiving the source. Complete the download first; renaming the file cannot recover missing data or convert its contents.

What the CRDOWNLOAD format is

.crdownload is a temporary filename suffix used by Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera while a download is in progress. It is not a video container, codec, or independent media format.

The file may contain part or all of an MKV, MP4, WebM, ZIP archive, installer, document, or another download. A browser normally removes .crdownload and restores the original extension after the transfer completes. An interrupted connection, paused or cancelled download, browser crash, or unavailable source can leave the temporary file behind.

Open the browser's downloads list and choose Resume, or restart the download if the source is still available. In Chrome, use Menu → Downloads or open chrome://downloads. If resuming fails, obtain a complete copy of the source instead of treating the partial file as a finished video.

What the MKV format is

MKV is the filename extension commonly used for Matroska, a multimedia container. One MKV can hold video, multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters, attachments, and metadata, which suits multilingual releases, subtitle preservation, and archival copies.

MKV does not define the codecs inside it. Common streams include H.264, H.265/HEVC, AV1, VP9, AAC, Opus, AC-3, and DTS. Playback requires support for both the MKV container and each included codec; older televisions, phones, and hardware players often support MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio more reliably.

Check the downloaded file

If the browser left film.mp4.crdownload, first confirm the original filename and type in the download entry or source URL. Make a copy, remove only the final .crdownload suffix from that copy, and test it; this changes the name for software that relies on extensions but does not repair the file.

VLC can test playback. FFprobe can inspect the detected container and streams:

ffprobe -hide_banner "film.mp4.crdownload"

A partial MKV may play up to the missing data, while a partial MP4 often fails because essential index metadata may be at the end of the file. Messages such as moov atom not found, Invalid data found when processing input, truncated packets, or missing streams indicate that the absent content cannot be reconstructed by conversion.

Remux a completed video with FFmpeg

For a complete, readable source whose codecs are suitable for the target player, remux it without re-encoding:

ffmpeg -i "film.mp4" -map 0 -c copy "film.mkv"

Replace film.mp4 with the completed file's actual name. -map 0 selects all detected streams, including additional audio and subtitle tracks when they can be read. -c copy copies the streams into a new Matroska container, so the operation is fast, causes no generation loss, and usually changes the size only slightly.

MKVToolNix GUI provides a desktop alternative: open Multiplexer → Add source files, select the completed source, choose the required tracks, set an output name ending in .mkv, and select Start multiplexing. It can change the container and track selection but cannot repair missing or corrupt source data.

Re-encode when compatibility requires it

Use HandBrake or FFmpeg when the target device cannot decode the source codecs, stream copying fails for a valid reason, or a smaller file is required. A typical FFmpeg conversion to broadly supported codecs is:

ffmpeg -i "input.webm" -map 0 -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k "output.mkv"

Lower H.264 CRF values generally increase quality and size; 20 is only a starting point. Re-encoding takes longer and can reduce quality, unlike remuxing. It also cannot restore frames or streams missing from an incomplete download.

Use the built-in online converter

A completed file can be converted on 101convert.com for free without installing software. Select the known source file and MKV as the output format; do not upload an unfinished .crdownload file, because no converter can recreate data that the browser never received.

Compatibility and quality limits

Changing the container does not improve resolution, remove DRM, fix corruption, or guarantee playback. If a device rejects the resulting MKV, check its supported container, video codec, audio codec, subtitle format, and maximum resolution. Remuxing will not help when the device cannot decode the existing streams; re-encode to compatible codecs instead.