VLC Media Player is another free and open source MKV viewer for Windows and Mac. Not only for the video files, it also supports DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs and files that are part of various streaming protocols. Play the MKV files from local folder, online streaming and other channels. VLC is indeed a good MKV Player for Mac, it can almost play all video, however, if you want to sync your videos to other Apple products such as iPhone, Apple TV, iPad mini, you need to convert them to some proper formats, what i use is the Video Converter, it can convert all videos to Mac and other Apple products comptible formats. Fortunately there's a terrific open source video player app called VLC that will let your Mac (or PC or Linux system) play just about any possible video format you can imagine, including MKV. But it turns out that VLC has some conversion capabilities hidden in its menu choices too! Which brings us to video conversion. Filmora MKV Editor is one of the best MKV file Editor & MKV cutters for Windows or Mac and highly recommended for precise cutting while enhancing your MKV video files. It provides tons of simple and easy-to-use, useful editing features which let allow you to trim, split, merge your videos.
MKV is not as widespread as MP4. You can see many HD movies and TV shows in MKV format. But not all media players are compatible with MKV videos. Actually, most Windows and Android devices don't support videos in the MKV format by default. You need to install the related codec to get MKV playback in WMP and other default players. If you want to play MKV videos on your computer successfully, a good MKV player really matters. Here are some highly-recommended MKV video players for Windows and Mac in the market. You can read and compare to find your best MKV player here.
Part 1: Lossless MKV Player for Windows and Mac
The default Windows Media Player 12 and QuickTime Player don't support MKV format directly. If you want to play MKV files without losing quality, Vidmore Player can be your first choice. You can play popular and rare media formats losslessly within Vidmore Player. The HD image quality and high sound effect can improve your audiovisual experience a lot.
The MKV player for Windows and Mac computer doesn't take much storage space and computer source. Thus, you can get smooth MKV playback. No lagging, crashing, freezing or not working issues. By the way, you can play any Blu-ray and DVD disc within Vidmore Player seamlessly.
- Play MKV, MOV, AVI, FLV, M4V, etc. 4K UHD and 1080p/720p HD videos smoothly.
- Adjust image size, screen size and video effects during MKV video playback.
- Advanced video and audio decoding technologies for smooth playback.
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface for both Windows and Mac users.
Step 1: Free download Vidmore Player. Launch the MKV file player after the installation. Choose Open File and import your MKV video.
Step 2: After loading, the MKV video will play automatically. You can use the options near the bottom to control the entire playback process. Click the Screenshot icon beside to take a quick snapshot while watching MKV if necessary.
Step 3: You can also use the options from the top toolbar to control the playback settings as well. The Controls, Audio, Video and Tools drop-down lists are available.
Part 2: Top 7 Free MKV Video Players for Windows and Mac
If you want to get a MKV player freeware, you can take a look at the following tools. Just see what you can and cannot get from those free MKV players.
Top 1: VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a popular media player on multiplatform. It can be your free MKV player app for iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux. But sometimes you cannot use VLC to play MKV files under the H.265 codec. During this time, you can install the related VLC codec, or you can convert H.265 to H.264 to play MKV with VLC.
Pros:
- VLC Media Player is a cross-platform video player free and safe to download.
- Apply video editing effects and change video formats within VLC.
- It is workable to use VLC to download YouTube videos.
Cons:
- Not all MKV files can be played with VLC Media Player.
- The user interface is not user friendly.
Top 2: KMPlayer
KMPlayer is also a representative free MKV player for Windows. You can play videos in MKV, AVI, FLV, MP4 and MPEG1/2/4 formats. During the MKV playback, you can adjust brightness, saturation and other video settings. Its VCD and DVD playback support is also good to use.
Pros:
- Support most popular video and audio formats with the internal codecs.
- Control video playback and visualizations.
Cons:
- The Windows MKV player freeware contains ads.
- Fail to play VP9-enabled MKV files.
Top 3: GOM Player
GOM Player can play not only the common downloaded MKV videos, but also some damaged MKV videos. There is no need to download extra codec or repair pack. Well, just like KMPlayer, this South Korean MKV video player doesn't support VP9-encodeed MKV videos either.
Pros:
- GOM Player is a free video player that can play MKV video with H.264, HEVC and VP8 codecs on Windows.
- Offer the default codec searching and finding function.
Cons:
- The GOM Player installation package contain bundled software.
- No VP9-encoded MKV video playback support.
Top 4: MPlayerX
It is a free MKV player for Mac. You can get full control of MKV video playback with MPlayerX. You can set gestures to control how your MKV video play in MPlayerX. Moreover, MPlayerX can detect and convert subtitle file into your video automatically.
Pros:
- The free MKV file player for Mac can be controlled by Apple remote.
- Change frame size, aspect ratio, volume and other playback settings.
Cons:
- Require high CPU usage.
- MPlayerX crashes more often than other free Mac video players.
Top 5: PotPlayer
PotPlayer has an outstanding GPU hardware decoding. Thus, the video crashing problem is hardly reported by PotPlayer users. Moreover, you can get smooth MKV playback with DXVA, Nvidia CUDA and many technologies.
Pros:
- Less MKV video lagging, freezing or stuttering issues.
- Use minimum CPU usage on your Mac computer.
Cons:
- The PotPlayer setup process is not easy.
- PotPlayer advanced settings are designed for advanced and professional users mainly.
Top 6: RealPlayer
RealPlayer offers a free media player version for Windows, iOS and Android. You can play MKV and common video files with RealPlayer. The RealPlayer discover can help you find some celebrities and people. Though RealPlayer commercial versions are not as good as the old versions.
Pros:
- Play the downloaded MKV videos up to 720p with RealPlayer free.
- Discover and identify celebrities in videos.
Cons:
- The free RealPlayer version contain ads.
- RealPlayer crashes occasionally. The new RealPlayer update is not as good as the old versions.
Top 7: VSeven MKV Player
With the built-in MKV codec, you can use the free MKV Player to play MKV videos on Windows smoothly. Moreover, you can tailor your video in different types. It is also supported to quickly find a file within its built-in search engine.
Pros:
- Play and manage videos in MKV, AVI, MP4 and common formats.
- Create a playlist with MKV videos in different moods and preferences.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
- No advanced video playback features.
Part 3: FAQs of MKV Players
Can you play MKV on Windows?
The default Windows MKV player is Windows Media Player. There is no such a demuxer that support the MKV container. To get the MKV playback on Windows, you can download K-Lite or CCCP codecs. As for Windows 10 users, there is a new update in MKV support. However, you still cannot play MKV files on Windows 10 occasionally.
Can you play MKV with QuickTime Player?
No. QuickTime Player doesn't support the MKV format natively. You need to use a MKV player for Mac to playing MKV files. Or you can install a MKV player extension to get in-browser MKV playback as well. Besides, converting MKV to MOV is also a good solution.
How to play MKV files on iPhone?
The default Apple video players don't support the MKV video format. You can convert MKV files or use a MKV player app on iPhone. If you insist on the MKV playback on iPad or iPhone, you can use MKPlayer, Infuse, PlayerXtreme Media Player, etc.
Though MKV is not widely supported by default media players on Windows, Mac and iOS devices, you can still use a MKV media player to solve the problem. The above programs are excellent free and paid MVK video players for desktop users. You can choose any tool to play and watch MKV videos on your Windows or Mac computer. If you have no idea which one to choose, just download Vidmore Player and start its free trial. It is worth to have a try.
If you download online videos on a regular basis, you might have come across an MKV file especially in case you save HD movies. This video format is not as popular as AVI or MP4. Thus, many users don't have an idea what is it and how to play it. So let's make it clear.
SEE ALSO: How to Convert MKV to MP4 [FREE]
What is an MKV file?
MKV is an open standard video format that was developed in 2002 by Lasse Kärkkäinen and Steve Lhomme. The format is also called Matroska, which refers to the wooden, Russian or Matryoshka doll since MKV can keep multiple media files inside it like the Russian doll.
MKV file is, in fact, a container that stores various multimedia files even if they use different encoding types. For example, there can be an h.264 or h.265 video file, AAC/MP3/OGG or any other audio format and a couple of SRT subtitles files.
Nowadays MKV format is widely used for HD videos and online video streaming. A popular WebM format is based on the profile of Matroska container. Learn how to convert MP4 to WebM here.
The main advantage of Matroska container is that it can hold an unlimited number of audio, video and subtitles tracks as well as meta data (cover art, comments, description, etc.) and chapter points. It means that one movie may come with several audio and subtitles tracks within a single file. You can easily switch to a foreign language track or director's comments using your media player controls.
- Require high CPU usage.
- MPlayerX crashes more often than other free Mac video players.
Top 5: PotPlayer
PotPlayer has an outstanding GPU hardware decoding. Thus, the video crashing problem is hardly reported by PotPlayer users. Moreover, you can get smooth MKV playback with DXVA, Nvidia CUDA and many technologies.
Pros:
- Less MKV video lagging, freezing or stuttering issues.
- Use minimum CPU usage on your Mac computer.
Cons:
- The PotPlayer setup process is not easy.
- PotPlayer advanced settings are designed for advanced and professional users mainly.
Top 6: RealPlayer
RealPlayer offers a free media player version for Windows, iOS and Android. You can play MKV and common video files with RealPlayer. The RealPlayer discover can help you find some celebrities and people. Though RealPlayer commercial versions are not as good as the old versions.
Pros:
- Play the downloaded MKV videos up to 720p with RealPlayer free.
- Discover and identify celebrities in videos.
Cons:
- The free RealPlayer version contain ads.
- RealPlayer crashes occasionally. The new RealPlayer update is not as good as the old versions.
Top 7: VSeven MKV Player
With the built-in MKV codec, you can use the free MKV Player to play MKV videos on Windows smoothly. Moreover, you can tailor your video in different types. It is also supported to quickly find a file within its built-in search engine.
Pros:
- Play and manage videos in MKV, AVI, MP4 and common formats.
- Create a playlist with MKV videos in different moods and preferences.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
- No advanced video playback features.
Part 3: FAQs of MKV Players
Can you play MKV on Windows?
The default Windows MKV player is Windows Media Player. There is no such a demuxer that support the MKV container. To get the MKV playback on Windows, you can download K-Lite or CCCP codecs. As for Windows 10 users, there is a new update in MKV support. However, you still cannot play MKV files on Windows 10 occasionally.
Can you play MKV with QuickTime Player?
No. QuickTime Player doesn't support the MKV format natively. You need to use a MKV player for Mac to playing MKV files. Or you can install a MKV player extension to get in-browser MKV playback as well. Besides, converting MKV to MOV is also a good solution.
How to play MKV files on iPhone?
The default Apple video players don't support the MKV video format. You can convert MKV files or use a MKV player app on iPhone. If you insist on the MKV playback on iPad or iPhone, you can use MKPlayer, Infuse, PlayerXtreme Media Player, etc.
Though MKV is not widely supported by default media players on Windows, Mac and iOS devices, you can still use a MKV media player to solve the problem. The above programs are excellent free and paid MVK video players for desktop users. You can choose any tool to play and watch MKV videos on your Windows or Mac computer. If you have no idea which one to choose, just download Vidmore Player and start its free trial. It is worth to have a try.
If you download online videos on a regular basis, you might have come across an MKV file especially in case you save HD movies. This video format is not as popular as AVI or MP4. Thus, many users don't have an idea what is it and how to play it. So let's make it clear.
SEE ALSO: How to Convert MKV to MP4 [FREE]
What is an MKV file?
MKV is an open standard video format that was developed in 2002 by Lasse Kärkkäinen and Steve Lhomme. The format is also called Matroska, which refers to the wooden, Russian or Matryoshka doll since MKV can keep multiple media files inside it like the Russian doll.
MKV file is, in fact, a container that stores various multimedia files even if they use different encoding types. For example, there can be an h.264 or h.265 video file, AAC/MP3/OGG or any other audio format and a couple of SRT subtitles files.
Nowadays MKV format is widely used for HD videos and online video streaming. A popular WebM format is based on the profile of Matroska container. Learn how to convert MP4 to WebM here.
The main advantage of Matroska container is that it can hold an unlimited number of audio, video and subtitles tracks as well as meta data (cover art, comments, description, etc.) and chapter points. It means that one movie may come with several audio and subtitles tracks within a single file. You can easily switch to a foreign language track or director's comments using your media player controls.
Whenever you need to rip a DVD to MP4 and keep all possible audio and video tracks, you should definitely choose MKV for output.
Another great advantage of MKV container is its error recovery. If for example, your Internet connection was lost during the downloading process, you can still watch the parts of the video that have already been downloaded. It also works for corrupted files.
SEE ALSO: Free Video Editor for Windows: 7 User-Friendly Tools
How to Play an MKV file on PC, Mac, Android, iOS?
Although the MKV format seems to be a real treasure, it has not yet become an industry standard; not all the video players support it. Thus, to play an MKV file, you should choose one of the following options:
- download a special media player;
- download media codecs for your current video software;
- convert MKV to AVI or MP4.
Let's explore each option separately.
Way 1. Download a Special Media Player for MKV Files (PC, Mac, Android, iOS)
One of the most popular media players capable of reproducing MKV files is VLC Media Player. It's free and can be used on all popular operating systems: Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
SEE ALSO: 5 Cool Video Players to Play MKV Files on iPhone & iPad
SEE ALSO: Best Video Player: Top 5 Windows Tools Compared
To reproduce MKV files with VLC Media Player, you need to do the following:
- download it from the official site, AppStore, or Google Play;
- install the freeware on your PC, laptop or mobile device;
- run VLC on your gadget;
- add your MVK files using a corresponding button or drag-n-drop option. For Apple devices, transfer the videos from a computer right into the app with the help of iTunes. Don't forget to sync your device to apply changes;
- click the Play button to start the playback.
Mkv File Mac
You can make VLC the default player for MKV files and open them with a double click. To do it on Windows, you need to:
- right-click on any MKV file that you have;
- move to Open With option, and then click Choose Another App;
- select VLC player from the list of software;
- enable the Always use this app to open .mkv files option;
- click the OK button to save the changes.
From now on, all your MKV files will be opened in VLC.
For Mac OS, follow the steps below:
- in the Finder, choose the MKV file;
- right-click on the file and then select Get Info;
- in the Info window, click the triangle sign next to Open with option;
- choose VLC from the app list;
- to open all MKV files with VLC, click Change All.
Watch Mkv On Mac
Way 2. Download Media Codecs to Play MKV (PC & Mac)
A codec is a computer program used to encode or decode any kind of digital media files. In our case, we need codecs that will let you play MKV videos with a default system player. There are a lot of free codecs online that you can use for this scope. All have their pros and cons.
The main pros of all codecs are:
- you can use your favorite media player to play all the video files;
- the media codecs usually provide you an option to reproduce a variety of video and audio files that you can come across online.
Among the cons you should pay attention to are:
- being free, media codecs usually come with adware and even malware that might harm your PC;
- since the codecs support a huge number of multimedia files, they might steal space from your hard drive. It's OK in case you need all of them, but if you install a codec pack to play only one video format, it doesn't seem to be worth it.
What codec pack to choose to play MKV files?
The MKV developers recommend using Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) or K-Lite Codec Pack for Windows-based PCs. You can find a full description of each Pack on its official site. Choose the one you like and install in on your computer. Please be attentive during the installation process. The installer files may contain various ads. Read attentively all the offers and don't accept those you are not interested in.
When the codecs are installed, you might be asked to restart the PC. However, usually, you can start playing the video files right away.
Mac users can also install codecs on their laptops to play files with a standard QuickTime Player. The codecs for Mac are available at K-Lite Codec pack official site.
Way 3. Convert an MKV file (PC, Mac)
Finally, if first two options don't work for you for any reason, you can convert your MKV video to most popular formats like AVI, MP4 and play them with your favorite software or app or on a portable device without MKV support.
Convert an MKV File on Windows
To convert MKV files on Windows-based PCs, we recommend using Freemake Video Converter. It's a free and beautifully designed tool with an astonishing number of output format options. Let's see how it works:
- Download and install Freemake Video Converter onto your computer;
- Add MKV files via +Video button. You can also drag-n-drop the videos into the software;
- If necessary, edit your video. The software provides an inbuilt editor that lets you cut unnecessary video parts, rotate and join videos;
- Select an output format. We recommend choosing AVI or MP4 since they are supported by the majority of video players and devices. In case you want to play MKV on a DVD-player, burn a DVD here. Besides that, you can add subtitles to your video. Please note that Freemake Video Converter provides only hardsubs option what means that you won't be able to turn the subtitles track off;
- Choose a ready preset or create your own one with a custom bitrate, frame rate, codec, and other settings;
- Click Convert to start the conversion process and transform your MKV file into another video format.
In a couple of minutes, you'll get a converted file that you can later watch offline, upload onto a portable device or on your website.
Please note that Freemake Video Converter doesn't support multiple audio and subtitles tracks. Thus, preview the video and choose a necessary audio and subtitles option.
SEE ALSO: 6 Media Converters for Windows, Mac and Android
Convert an MKV File on Mac
Mac users can also benefit from a free video converter for MKV files. It's called Handbrake. The software is a bit more complicated than Freemake, but don't be afraid. Here is the how-to that will help you convert MKV files on Mac:
- download and install Handbrake for Mac from the official developer site;
- launch the software on your Mac computer;
- drag-n-drop an MKV file you need to convert or click the Source button to add files;
- choose an output format (MP4) and a ready preset, if necessary;
- then continue to the Audio and the Subtitles tabs. Here you can select what tracks you want to keep in your future file;
- besides that the software lets you customize bitrate, framerate, codec, and other settings;
- click the Start button to run the conversion process.
Depending on your Mac capacity, it may take some time to convert a video, especially if it's huge. What is mac operating system called.
Now you know what an MKV file is and how to play it. Please share this post with your friends to make them enjoy MKV videos, too.
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