Download the Video Converter from the Movavi website, open the file and follow the installation instructions. It takes only a few minutes. The program has been fully translated into Russian, so it will be very easy to understand it.
Select a file to convert
When the installation is complete, run the program, click on the button Add files in the upper left corner, select add video and add AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, MOV or other format files to convert to MKV. You can also add movies and clips in MKV to the program to convert them to another format. To add a DVD video, in the menu Add files select item Add DVD and then press Open DVD.
Select format
At the bottom of the interface, open the tab Video, click on the section MKV and select the appropriate profile from the list. You can change the video parameters manually: click on the gear button under the format bar to open the settings editor.
To transcode MKV for playback on PS4, PS3, Xbox, Android smartphone, iPad, mobile phone or other device, open the tab Devices and select a profile for your gadget model.
Start converting files
Before converting, click the button with the image of the folder and select the location where the new video files will be recorded. Now you can start converting: to do this, click the button Start in the lower right corner. Conversion may take several minutes or more, depending on the size and number of original files.
Wait for the end of the conversion
When the conversion is complete, a folder with video files will open. You can burn the resulting MKV file to DVD for widescreen viewing, or open the video on your computer using Movavi Media Player in the Movavi Video Suite for Windows. In addition to a media player and video converter, it includes programs for burning to DVD, capturing video from the screen, creating your own movies and slideshows, a full-fledged video editor and much more. Download a trial version of Movavi Video Suite and try all of these programs in action.
If you have converted MKV to formats for mobile phones or game consoles, write the finished files to your device by connecting it to your computer: open the file transfer application and follow its instructions. Movavi Video Converter blurs the boundaries between formats: now you can easily transfer movies and clips to any device for video viewing.
One of the most common formats for recording video with subtitles is the mkv format. The format is designed to store different types of multimedia content on your PC. Mainly used for high quality video. However, many users have problems running MKV on a computer, let's take a closer look at how to open it.
What is MKV format?
The name of the MKV format (MKV) stands for matroska video. It (the mkv container) appeared relatively recently during the heyday of Blu-ray technology and was intended to replace the archaic avi and mp4, which do not support such high video quality and resolution. The mkv file, as a rule, differs from the files of popular formats in its heavy weight, but it is considered optimal for viewing on widescreen monitors, TVs.
Matryoshka supports normal embedding of subtitles, switching audio tracks, and has finer settings for viewing video files. But in order to open a file with the MKV extension, we need to download and install a set of codecs, for example, k-lite codec pack. After installing the codecs, you can try to open the file using most modern player software. Let's take a look at a few of them as an example (they all work under Windows 7, 8, 10):
How to open MKV file on Windows?
Almost any popular universal media player from a well-known developer today has support for MKV, but the format is still not opened with the built-in means of the operating system. Although the standard has been used for a long time, and the source code of the mkv video container format is open.
Here is a short list of applications capable of playing mkv on Windows computer:
- VLC Media Player
- Media Player Classic Home Cinema
- Light alloy
- KMPlayer
- Daum potplayer
- Gom player
- Kantaris Media Player
- AllPlayer
- Kodi xbmc
- SMPlayer
- bs.Player
- MKV Player
The list could be continued, but we will focus on the first three programs. You can read more about the rest in our selection of Video Players.
1. VLC player- cross-platform (Windows, MacOs, Linux) program for playing video audio streams. The utility works both with online multimedia and with regular files on your PC's hard drive.
- This player can play under-downloaded files, images and audio files. It also has built-in internet radio and a gorgeous equalizer.
- The disadvantages of the player are that there is a problem with the playback of the TS format (format for broadcasting HDTV) and DVD can sometimes slow down.
2. Media classic palyer - one of the oldest and most popular players among people who prefer the classics. The player looks archaic, but it copes with the tasks perfectly.
- The advantages of the player are that you can control it from the command line and arbitrarily format the video playback screen. Plays corrupted avi files.
- The disadvantage is that it is impossible to change the metadata and computers with the old "hardware" can slow down when it works.
3. Light Alloy - in my opinion the most omnivorous player. The program is very functional and has a Russian interface language. However, this application lacks many of the features of newer developments: Potplayer, KMPlayer, etc. His support has practically ceased.
- Very easy to use.
- It can automatically download codecs from the Internet that are not enough for watching videos. The program has the ability to view streaming video - Youtube and IPTV.
- The software is focused on older computers, new PCs cannot work with it to the fullest, because more advanced alternatives can be installed on them. It resembles Winamp in the modern world of video players.
We dare to note that the choice of the considered programs for Windows is solely the opinion of the author of the review. If you like other players on our list of MKV compatible players please use them, but check the MKV compatibility in the app description before settling in with popcorn and watching a movie.
How to open mkv format on Mac OS?
Unfortunately, Apple was unable to add the ability to play MKV to the built-in Quick Time, but there are more functional alternatives, for example:
- VLC Media Player
- MPlayer
- MKPlayer
VLC will be convenient for users who have switched from Windows and cannot get used to Mac in any way. MPlayer and MKPlayer have roughly equal capabilities. They are free, but MKPlayer - MKV & Media Player is available right in the Mac App Store, so it's easy to install without any special instructions or settings. In general, the player interface resembles QuickTime, but it supports many more formats.
How to open MKV on Android, Smart TV?
For Android OS, there are many programs with MKV support. For example, MX Player, the ubiquitous VLC, FX Player. These players carry the MKV codec on board, so there is no need to install anything extra. The same MX Player itself will offer to download the required codec, if it is not there.
For TVs and other devices with a large screen, the set of applications running on Android is similar. If your Smart TV does not allow them to be installed, does not read MKV out of the box, or does not want to play sound on it, then the only option remains is to convert the file to the older MPEG 4 format (mov, mpg, wmv, avi, mp4). This can be done using the programs:
You can also use any of the analogs of these applications. In order for the resulting file to be read by almost any consumer video player, a relatively old Smart TV or a USB stick on Android, we recommend setting the divx compression container for video and the mp3 format for the audio track during encoding. Compared to MKV, you will lose quality, but you will be able to play it on almost any stationary and mobile device.
If you haven’t had to deal with such a multimedia format as .mkv until now, then before playing it on your PC, you will need to download the mkv player, since it is the most suitable for high-quality playback of the above format. Indeed, as practice shows, not all common programs will be able to correctly open and play MKV files.
MKV Player is a simple and convenient player in Russian for video playback, which stands out for its modest technical parameters and is not at all demanding on computer resources. The developers have endowed it with a simple and concise interface, which is literally understandable at an intuitive level - in it, all the necessary functions are activated in just a couple of mouse clicks.
You can download the Russian version of MKV Player for free from our website. Further, after a successful installation, the system will automatically associate all available file formats (including * .mkv), which, in turn, can be launched with one click.
The player's menu will easily help you create a convenient playlist, as well as deal with the search for individual necessary materials in it. Having downloaded the Russian version of MKV Player for free, you can effortlessly play the desired high-quality video and look with a smirk at other more primitive analogs.
Automatic installation of codecs
Not very experienced users will be pleased to know that the player itself will search for all missing video files for playback. This, of course, saves a lot of time and nerves.MKV Player will be useful when watching DVD videos too. And more advanced users will be able to use the additional program options for editing DVD menus.
Separately, it should be noted that MKV Player can be configured for special streaming video playback. Although most of the users will use only a basic set of its options, namely: normal playback, including full-screen mode, and scrolling. And yet, if necessary, the user can change the video playback speed, delay subtitles, and the like.
Looking through the materials you are interested in, you can share your funny and informative findings with your friends on social networks. To do this, it will be enough to take a regular screenshot using the player and post it on your page. You can also experiment with the current subtitles by making your own creative edits using a special program option.
Even if you do not have a very powerful personal computer yet, do not be afraid that due to the download of the MKV Player you need, it will slow down. For normal operation, the program will only need 256 MB of free RAM and a simple processor operating at a modest, by today's standards, 800 MHz frequency.
Comparison with analogues
Of course, MKV Player has other free analogies, but for interacting with the .mkv format? this is the most correct and correct choice.MKV (Matroska Video File) file is a video container format and has a certain similarity to MOV, MPG and AVI formats. MKV format has support for several compression algorithms.
It is noteworthy that the MKV format has the ability to contain various subtitles. By delving into the formation of the concept of what the MKV format is, you can pay special attention to its history. Initially, subtitles were implemented in similar video formats, which included the necessary service information, in addition, the MKV container could combine different audio tracks, placing the required video / audio data in one file format.
MKV files are very popular among the owners of outdated mobile gadgets with the Symbian operating system, as well as on other devices and PDAs, the software of which is not the most modern. In most cases, it is recommended to use Core Media Player utility to open MKV on the above devices.
When working with a computer, they often try to run this video format through Windows Media Player, however, to open correctly, you will need to install a special Matroska DirectShow package (from the developers of the Matroska project itself), then the Media Player project will successfully play audio, video, placed in a multimedia container. MKV. In order not to experience difficulties with the Windows Media player, most users run the MKV container through special programs such as KMPlayer without additional playback codecs or Nullsoft Winamp, which contains a standard set of codecs to open the MKV format.
An open-source project called Matryoshka (Matroska) very quickly won the love of fans of FullHD viewing, because the format's capabilities demonstrate good dynamics in the transmission of video / audio streams. If the user does not feel the need to play MKV, with the help of appropriate converters MKV can be easily converted to other formats.
If you download videos from the internet or receive them from other people, there is a high chance that you will come across MKV files. Let's talk about what they are and how you can use them on your computer. Easier than opening a mkv file.
From humble beginnings
Before talking about MKV files, let's take a look at a little history. MKV files, also known as Matroska video footage, appeared in Russia in 2002. Lead Developer Lasse Kärkkäinen worked with Matroska founder Steve Lhomme and a team of programmers to create this comprehensive multimedia container file format. It gets its name from the Russian word for Nesting Dolls, matryoshka.
The Matroska project was developed as an open standards project, which means that it is open source and completely free for anyone who wants it for personal use. The company also has many resources on its website, including a playlist. The format has been improved over time, and in 2010 it became the basis for the WebM multimedia format.
What are MKV files?
Contrary to popular belief, MKV files are not an audio or video compression format. MKV files are actually multimedia container formats. MKV container can include audio, video and subtitles in one file, even if these elements use different types of encoding. For example, you might have an MKV file that contains H.264 video and something like MP3 or AAC for audio.
MKV container files were intended for future proof, which means the files will not become outdated. The Matroska developers have included several key features to make this happen, including things like:
- Quick search
- Support for chapters, menus and metadata
- Various selectable audio and video stream
- Streaming compatibility
Subtitle support (hard-coded and soft-coded)
Error recovery that allows you to play damaged files
The MKV container itself also supports almost any audio and video format, making the format highly responsive and easy to use.
How can I run MKV files?
Since MKV is not an industry standard, not all media players support the format, although support is growing rapidly. You have two main options for playing MKV files: using the MKV media player, or downloading the appropriate codecs for the media player you prefer. So, how to open a mkv file?
Our favorite choice for playing MKV files is the VLC media player, mainly because it has built-in support and doesn't require you to install anything else. Downloading and installing the program is easy if you follow these directions. Start by going to the official download page at videolan.org. Beware of going elsewhere because many crapware vendors have fake VLC download sites.
Just run the downloaded file to install VLC. The entire installation process takes no more than two to three minutes.
Once the installation is complete, you will be able to watch any of your MKV files. Please note that although VLC binds to all supported video and audio formats during installation, including MKV, it does not register itself as the default application for these file types.
To watch an MKV file using VLC, right-click the MKV file, select "Open With" and then select "VLC Media Player".
To make VLC the default player for MKV files so that you can just double-click the file when you want to watch the video, right-click any MKV file, select "Open With" and click "Choose another application."
In the application selection window, select "VLC Media Player", enable the option "Always use this application to open .mkv files" and then click "OK".
After that, you can simply double-click the MKV file to open it in VLC.
Of course, not everyone likes the VLC player. If that doesn't work for you, the Matroska website offers several suggestions for Windows media players with built-in support.
Alternative option: download codecs for compatibility (but do it carefully)
If you need another option than opening the mkv file, then codecs will be a great way.
If you prefer to use Windows Media Player or another Windows player that doesn't support MKV files yet, you can. To add this support, you need to install some support files known as codecs (the name abbreviates compression / decompression). These codecs help your video player figure out how to decompress files it doesn't support.
Sounds great, but there is a reason why we are downloading codecs as an alternative to using a video player with built-in support. Codecs are known for being shipped with crapware or worse, malware. The good news is, if you're careful about where you get your codecs (and future updates for them), they are a perfectly viable option.
We highly recommend switching to Ninite - a great resource for getting a clean install of many useful applications. The good people at Ninite go to great lengths to ensure that the download is completely free of any nested bullshit. Ninite offers a codec pack called the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP), a popular set of codecs that cover a wide variety of file formats.
From the Ninite homepage, select the 'CCCP' option and any other apps that blow your mind, then click 'Get Your Ninite'. When your file is downloaded, run it to install all the programs you have chosen.
After you've installed the codecs, you might have to restart your computer, but you can usually just start playing the files at this point. We hope you understand how to open the mkv file. But also if you still have questions on this topic - write them in the comments form.
