How to Play MKV Files

Want to know how to play MKV files? What is an MKV file, anyway? If you're having trouble getting your computer to recognize or play MKV files, having the right software is your key to watching these video files.

What are MKV files?
MKV technically is a container that can hold different types of files. AVI and MP4 file formats are also containers; MKV is like a wrapper for the file contained inside. MKV isn't typically a data file format; instead, it is used to store video data. Therefore, if you want to play MKV files, you need the right software for playback.

First, you need a video player.
Because MKV is a video file format, MKV files require two components: a video player and the right codecs. Many video players support MKV files, but they may not play them back properly without the right codecs to decode the video data. Therefore, if you have a video player that plays MKV, you still might be unable to play it.

However, the first step to playing an MKV file is to find a video player that supports the MKV file format. Popular choices include Windows Media Player, which supports MKV playback with the right add-ons, or RealPlayer. If neither of these players suits your preferences, you can find many other options, too; the choice is based entirely on personal preference.

Next, you need the right codecs.
MKV is a container file format. That means it carries multiple streams-typically video, audio and occasionally subtitles. However, the MKV format includes encoding for the different streams, so you need the right decoder to view and play MKV files.

"Codecs" is a mish-mash term that is short for "coder/decoder." When files are created in MKV file formats, they're encoded in a particular way. Even if your video player can play the file type, it can't play it back properly without the decoder that tells it how to read the data and translate the file. This is where things get tricky: different video players require different codecs.

Basically, once you settle on a video player, you'll need to go searching for the correct codecs to enable that video player to play back MKV files. When you know which video player you want to use, do a Web search for your specific player name and "MKV codecs." MKV is a popular container file format, so you should have no problem finding the correct codecs for many popular video players. Simply download the codecs and follow installation instructions, and you'll be playing MKV files in no time.

You can skip the codecs entirely.
Think you need codecs to play MKV files? Not always. While many popular players require special codecs to playback MKV files, some players designed specifically for the MKV format include everything you need to play MKV. If you download a MKV-specific video player, you don't need to worry about searching for codecs at all. If you prefer to avoid installing additional packs, look for MKV-specific video players. One popular choice is VLC Player, or VideoLan.