How to Play MKV Files in Chrome Browser?

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Why Is MKV Not Playing in Chrome?

How to Play MKV Files in Chrome?

Method 1: Convert MKV to MP4, WebM, or OGV Format

Method 2: Use MKV.to Online MKV Player

Wrap-up

FAQs

Google Chrome isn't just a great search engine, it can also play local videos. Just drop a video on a Chrome shortcut or page, and it will start playing automatically. You can watch the video in full screen, adjust the playback speed, or cast to your TV. For a richer media experience, Chrome also offers features such as picture-in-picture and loop playback.

However, if you try to play an MKV file in Chrome, you will find that the MKV video will not play, but instead download to a local folder. Why does this happen and how can you play MKV files in Chrome? Don't worry. Below, I'll share perfect solutions for this issue. Please continue reading.

Why Is MKV Not Playing in Chrome?

Before we delve into the solutions, let's first figure out why you can't play MKV in Chrome. Actually, the main reason is that Chrome doesn't support the MKV format. According to the Chromium project, the Chrome browser only supports MP4, OGV, and WebM video files with video codecs VP8, VP9, AV1, Theora, H.264, H.265, and MPEG-4 and audio codecs FLAC, MP3, Opus, PCM, Vorbis, and AAC.

Unfortunately, MKV is not on the support list. When you try to open an MKV file in Chrome, Chrome automatically downloads the file instead of playing it.

How to Play MKV Files in Chrome?

Method 1: Convert MKV to MP4, WebM, or OGV Format

Since MKV is not supported, the way to successfully play MKV in Chrome is to convert MKV to a file type supported by Chrome, such as MP4, WebM and OGV.

On PC, we can use a reliable video converter WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory. It handles all major video and audio formats. With just a few clicks, it can convert MKV to web formats for smooth playback in Chrome. The conversion is easy and fast. Let me just show you how to convert MKV to Chrome video format below. Download and install Download and install this software to get ready:

Step 1. Add your MKV file

Launch the software on your PC and open Converter. Next, click Add Files to add your MKV file to the program. A direct drag-and-drop is also supported.

Step 2. Choose a Chrome-compatible format

Click the Output Format icon on the right to expand the output format list. Then go to the Web format section and choose a Chrome-supported format, such as MP4, WebM, and OGV.

Step 3. Start conversion

Finally, press the ▼ button to set an output folder and click Run to start the conversion. Once the video is converted, you should be able to play it in Chrome without issues.

Also read: Play MOV in Chrome

Tips. If you want to convert a folder of unsupported video files for Chrome, you can try the upgraded version of this program - WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro to batch convert videos at once.

Method 2: Use MKV.to Online MKV Player

While this isn't a common way to play MKV files in Chrome, it does work. MKV.to is an online media player for MKV files. It extends the browser's playback capabilities to be able to play MKV files instantly. You can drop any MKV file onto this website and start enjoying it.

However, one thing to note is that MKV.to is always different from the Chrome media player and lacks features like Loop and Cast to TV. That being said, it's still a simple solution for watching MKV videos on the Chrome browser.

Note: Be careful when uploading files to the website. Do not send any personal or private files to prevent data leaks.

Wrap-up

Google Chrome has limited playback capability and it cannot play MKV files without converting first. With the video converter tool introduced here, you can easily convert MKV to play in Chrome. Alternatively, you can try MKV player online to play MKV files efficiently.

That’s all I want to share about how to play MKV in Chrome without errors. I hope this article was helpful. Thanks for reading. Have a great day!

FAQs

1. Why won't MKV files play in Chrome?

Chrome does not support the MKV format. It only supports MP4, OGV, and WebM video files with specific codecs. When you try to open an MKV file, Chrome automatically downloads it instead of playing it.

2. How can I play MKV files in Chrome?

You can play MKV files in Chrome by converting them to a supported format like MP4, WebM, or OGV. You can use video converters like WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory to perform the conversion.

3. How do I convert MKV files to a Chrome-supported format?

Add your MKV file to WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory.
Choose a Chrome-compatible format such as MP4, WebM, or OGV.
Start the conversion process.
Once converted, you can play the video in Chrome.