Brief Introduction of MKV File Format and How Do You Play It

A friend of mine sent me some HD movies in MKV format. When I tried to play it in Windows Media Player, I found that it does not support MKV playback. Can anyone help?

This is a common playback compatibility issue when playing MKV videos. So, what is MKV file? MKVs can contain different tracks that aren't supported by every media player or device. You don’t always need to deal with this problem. This post will explain the meaning of MKV and introduce compatible players. Also, we’ll teach how to convert MKVs when device compatibility is more important.

What Is an MKV File?

What is an MKV file? MKV, also referred to as Matroska container, is a multimedia container format. It can bundle video codecs, audio codecs, subtitle tracks, and other supported tracks. The most commonly used MKV codecs are H.264/AVC for video and AAC for audio. There is a rumor that MKVs feature no compression, and this isn’t true. The MKV container does not compress; the codec inside it does.

How to Play MKV Files on Windows & Mac

Premium, Smooth 4K Playback

AnyMP4 MKV Player isn’t just for Blu-ray playback; it can also operate as an MKV player. It can play any digital media player, regardless of what codec it uses. It can bring the best UHD quality and surround sound for high-resolution pictures and cinematic sound.

1. Download AnyMP4 MKV Player, install it, and complete the setup.

In the home interface, click Open File and select the MKV you want to watch.

2. After loading the MKV, it will start playing immediately. From the top menu, you can select the correct MKV audio tracks and MKV subtitles.

That’s how to play MKV files smoothly. AnyMP4 MKV Player is a premium option if smooth, high-quality playback is your priority. It can open and play MKV videos without any issues with picture and sound quality.

Free Players

1 .VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a time-tested media player that can play almost any media format you name. You can use it as an MKV player without installing separate codecs. It can handle multiple audio tracks and embedded subtitle streams commonly found in MKV containers.

2. IINA

IINA is a modern media player alternative to QuickTime to play MKV on Mac. It is built exclusively for Mac and provides exceptional playback of MKVs and other HD video files. It uses MPV decoding and built-in FFmpeg to play MKVs without separate codec packs.

3. PotPlayer

PotPlayer is a high-performance multimedia player that natively plays MKV videos and other HD media. It prides itself on handling complex .srt, .ass, and Blu-ray/DVD subtitles embedded in MKV containers. It also allows adding custom codecs for rare media streams inside MKVs.

4. MPC-HC

MPC-HC, best known as Media Player Classic - Home Cinema, is a lightweight media player for Windows. It uses LAV Filters to decode HD MKVs containing modern video codecs. Also, it provides powerful internal rendering for complex subtitle tracks and multi-language audio.

How to Convert MKV to MP4

Premium Converter

AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is a high-end video-to-video conversion software that supports 500+ media types. It can convert MKV to MP4 encoded with H.264, H.265/HEVC, MPEG-4, or AV1. It can process hundreds of files simultaneously without experiencing lag or crashing the software. It uses the most advanced hardware-accelerating media processing to achieve a 120× conversion speed.

1. Download the MKV-to-MP4 converter and complete the installation. After setup, the software opens to the Converter tab.

Click +Add Files to import the MKV videos from your computer. Please note that there’s no limit to the number of files or the file size you can process, meaning you can upload multiple files.

2. Navigate to Output Format and select MP4 under the Video category. Select Same as Source as your quality preset to convert MKV to MP4 without losing quality.

3. Return to the main interface and turn on Hardware Acceleration to speed up the conversion. Set the output destination, then click Convert All to start the conversion.

By default, AnyMP4 re-encode the MKV file during standard conversions. This can lead to minimal quality loss. To avoid degrading the source’s quality, use the Same as Source preset or set higher bitrates.

Free Video Transcoder

HandBrake is an established video transcoding program that has been around for decades. It can re-encode MKV to MP4 and lets you freely choose a preset. Aside from MP4, it can also convert MKV to WebM and MOV formats.

MKV Troubleshooting

File Won't Open

If the MKV file does not open, the player may not support the codec used in the container. It happens due to a codec mismatch. To fix MKV file that won’t play, you can use a converter to correct the encoder or re-encode the MKV to a more universal video format.

No Subtitles

MKV files can contain multiple subtitle tracks, as mentioned previously. However, not every media player automatically select the correct one. You can fix this by opening the player's subtitle or track menu, then manually choose the subtitle stream.

No Sound

No sound during playback means the player cannot decode the audio track. To fix MKV no sound, use another media player with built-in decoders or convert the file to MP4 and set the audio encoder to AAC.