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3 Simple Methods on How to Fix MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

Updated on Mar 22, 2024

Fail to play MKV files on Windows 10/11 or MKV files play without video image or audio track on Windows PC? Eager to find an easy and quick way to fix the MKV Windows 10/11 playback issue? You have come to the right place! In this article, I will show you how to smoothly play .mkv files on Windows 10/11 in 3 different ways.
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◆ Can Windows 10 Play MKV? Why You Fail to Play MKV on Windows 10?

◆ 3 Simple and Effective Ways to Fix MKV Windows Playback Error

※※ Method 1 – Convert MKV to Windows 10 Compatible Format

※※ Method 2 – Install the Missing MKV Codec for Windows 10

※※ Method 3 – Use Third-Party Media Players to Fix MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

◆ FAQs about MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

Can Windows 10 Play MKV? Why You Fail to Play MKV on Windows 10?

A: According to the Microsoft official site, MKV is among the supported formats for Windows video playback. But it also explains that it can only play DRM-free videos, and if a supported video won’t play, it might be using an unsupported codec. Since MKV is rarely used as a commercial delivery format, the chances are low that your MKV file is DRM-protected. So that leaves it to the codec. (BTW, if you are using other players, like Windows Media Player, the MKV format itself could be a factor too.)

As you probably know, MKV is a video container format that can hold multiple video and audio streams encoded by different a/v codecs. To play the MKV video, it requires the player to have the same a/v codecs for decoding the video and audio data. If the player lacks the corresponding video codec, it will play the MKV with no video or can’t play it at all; and if it is the audio codec it lacks, the MKV will be played without audio.

So back to why we fail to play MKV files on Windows 10/11 and why is Windows 10 MKV no video or no audio. I believe that the answer is obvious now. To fix MKV files won’t play on Windows, here we offer three efficient ways:
#1. format/codec conversion,
#2. codec pack installation,
#3. player changing.
We highly recommend the first solution for it can solve the MKV playback problem once-and-for-all so you can play MKV on any devices and players without any hassle. Yet, it’s up to you to choose what’s the best way for you.

Note: MKV playback issue is always a heated topic. Besides failing to play MKV files on Windows 10, you may also find that you can’t play MKV on LG TV, Samsung TV, iPhone and many other devices and players. If you encountered such a problem, the following methods will also work for you.

3 Simple and Effective Methods to Fix MKV Windows Playback Issue

Method 1 – Convert MKV to Windows 10 Compatible Format

Format/codec conversion is the most welcomed way to solve video unsupported problems. To perform such a conversion, a reliable video converter is needed. Here, we’d recommend WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro, a powerful program that can fast convert MKV to Windows 10 compatible format/codec trouble-free. Moreover, this MKV video converter also enables you to change video formats and codecs for other video/audio incompatible issues. Now, free downloadfree download this software and see how to fix Windows 10 MKV file playback issue with it.

How to Play MKV Files on Windows 10 with WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro

Step1: Load MKV Files to MKV Converter

Run the software and go to the Converter module. Next, click the Add Files button to load MKV files to the program. You can directly drag and drop the MKV files to the program as well.

Tips: WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro can also act as an MKV video player for you to smoothly play MKV videos on Windows 10/11. If you have no other advanced needs for a video player, just try it! (Once loaded the video, you can click the video thumbnail to enter the video player and view it.)

Step2: Convert MKV to Windows 10 Supported Format/Codec

On the right side of the interface, click the format image to open the output format library. Go to the Video tab and select MKV as the output format. (If MKV is not supported by your player, choose your player-compatible format instead, such as MP4.)

Next, open the Parameter settings and change the video and/or audio codec to your device-friendly type.

Step3: Start Converting MKV to Fix MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

Click the bottom triangle button to choose an output folder or leave it as default. Finally, click Run to start the conversion process. Now, you should be able to play MKV files on Windows 10 without a problem.

You are also able to extract audio from MKV video or convert MKV to MP3, or edit your MKV files too.

Method 2 – Install the Missing MKV Codec for Windows 10

Install MKV Codec Windows 10

The MKV files can be successfully played through installing the missing MKV codec too. K-Lite Codec Pack is a simple free codec pack which supports playing almost all the mainstream audio and video files after installing.

Note: This method won’t work if the error comes from the wrong video format instead of the codec.

Step1: Visit http://codecguide.com/download_kl.htm, click the "Download Basic" option > click "Mirror 1" or any one of the locations to download the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Step2: After done, choose the players for Windows you want on "File association" section during setup.

Step3: Then click "Next", tick .mkv when you select the file extensions you want to play with the media players you have chosen. Finally finish the installation of the K-Lite Codec Pack. Then you can play MKV files on Windows 10 smoothly.

Downloading the basic version of the K-Lite Codec Pack is enough. If you want to find more MKV codecs, the following are recommendations:

1. MKV Video Extensions
2. Media Player Codec Pack
3. Haali Media Splitter
4. Matroska Pack Full
5. ffdshow
6. CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack)

Method 3 – Use Third-Party Media Players to Fix MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

Actually, if you are not a die-hard fan of Movies & TV or Windows Media player, using some third-party media players to play MKV files may be an easier and wiser choice. So what plays MKV files on Windows 10? Here are some MKV players you could try.

Moreover, you can also try to play MKV files on Windows 10/11 with your web browser like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc. You can directly drag your MKV videos to the browser to play them or add some media player extensions or add-ons that support MKV playback for playing your MKV files on a Windows PC.

At last...

This article introduced 3 effective and workable methods of how to play MKV files on Windows 10. You can select any one of them you prefer. But Method 1 is the most recommended, as it can convert video to other formats for permanent viewing. So download that handy tool to convert your MKV videos to Windows 10 compatible formats/codecs. Thanks for reading!

FAQs about MKV Windows 10/11 Playback Issue

Q1. What codec does MKV use?

MKV is a container format that supports almost all common codecs. It supports MKV videos compressed with AVC, HEVC, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, VP8, VP9, DivX, Xvid, etc., and audio with MP3, AAC, Opus, Vorbis, AMR, and others.

Q2: What is the best media player for playing MKV files in Windows 10/11?

The best media player for playing MKV files in Windows 10/11 is VLC Media Player. It is a free and open-source media player that is available for download on the official VLC website and can play any MKV file without any additional codecs or plugins.

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