How do I Watch a MKV File?

Wondering "how do I watch a MKV file?" MKV is a fairly common file format, but your computer requires a few extras to watch these videos.

An MKV file is a multimedia file.
An MKV file isn't a data file format; it's a multimedia file. Because it supports multiple audio and subtitle streams, it's a common file format for foreign films and anime cartoons. Since it's a multimedia format, you need a video player to view it. However, not all video players even support MKV files, so you need to start by looking for the right video player to watch it.

Select a video player you like.
Fortunately for consumers, there are literally tons of video players on the market. This makes it easy to look for a video player that offers the features and functionality you want. Video players that come with your computer, like Windows Media Player or Apple Quick Time, may play MKV files.

However, if you prefer different video players, you've got plenty of other options for software that supports MKV file playback. The trick is that many of these programs require special codecs to decode the MKV file data, so you can't just stop with choosing the right video player. If you don't want to hassle with a program that requires separate codecs to decode MKV file data, go with a video player like VLC Player.

Install codecs to decode the MKV file data.
If you're using a video player that supports MKV files but you're still unable to watch the file, you probably need to install the proper codecs for your player. If you have no video, no audio or the file simply won't play, you probably need to go hunting for the appropriate codecs. The codecs for MKV files vary depending on which player you use, so do a Web search for your video player and MKV codecs. When you find the right codecs, you should also find instructions on how to install them, and then you should be good to go.

Streaming MKV files to your XBOX.
People don't always want to watch video on the computer. If you're a fan of streaming media to other video sources, you've got a few different options. To stream media to your XBOX, for example, all you need to do is convert your MKV to AVI file format. Your XBOX generally won't recognize MKV, but it should have no problem with the AVI file format. With TVersity, you can easily stream video files from your computer to your XBOX.

If you are worried about buffering issues, converting the file format prevents those problems, but you may also be able to watch some MKV files directly without pauses for buffering. The buffering pauses occur because the computer can't transcode the data as quickly as it's streaming. Therefore, if you pause the streaming video to enable the buffer to build, you shouldn't experience any interruption while streaming. Converting the file to a different format typically prevents this issue, as no transcoding is required.