Discover the Best Free MKV Player for Any Device

MKV, or Matroska Video files, is popular because it can store multiple video, audio, and subtitle tracks in a single file. This format is great for high-quality movies and TV shows, offering excellent picture and sound quality. However, not all standard media players can handle MKV files. This is because MKV is not a standard video format like MP4 or AVI. Also, it requires specific codecs or support that many normal media players don't have built-in. That's where free MKV players come in. These special media players are designed to easily play MKV files without needing extra downloads or complicated setups. If you want a hassle-free experience watching your favourite MKV videos, look out for the free MKV player we reviewed in this article.

Benefits of MKV Files

MKV files have various benefits, making them increasingly popular among multimedia enthusiasts and content creators. Below, we discuss some key advantages of this versatile file format.

• High-Quality Video and Audio: MKV files are known for their ability to maintain excellent video and audio quality. This makes them ideal for HD movies and TV shows.
• Multiple Audio and Subtitle Tracks: MKV can store various audio tracks and subtitles in one file. This feature lets viewers easily switch between different languages or captions.
• Support for Advanced Features: MKV files can include advanced features. These are menus, chapters, and metadata similar to those found on DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
• Open-Source and Free: MKV is an open-source format, meaning it's free to use and not restricted by licensing issues. This flexibility encourages widespread use and support.
• Error Recovery: MKV files can handle errors better, but you might still be able to play and watch corrupted or incomplete files.
• Wide Compatibility: Not all media players supported MKV before. But now, due to its growing popularity, many popular media players and devices, especially modern ones, have started to include MKV support.

Features of the Best MKV Player

When choosing a media player, consider the following features to find the best one for your needs.

• MKV Compatibility: A good MKV media player should easily support MKV file playback without requiring additional codecs or plugins. It should also smoothly handle various MKV file types and sizes.
• High-Quality Playback: A good player for MKV should provide excellent video and audio quality. It also uses MKV’s ability to store high-definition content and multiple audio files.
• Subtitle Support: The player should support multiple subtitle formats, allowing users to easily switch between different subtitle tracks. It should also offer customization options for subtitle appearance, like font size, colour, and position.
• Multi-Track Audio: A good MKV file player should allow users to switch between different audio tracks. This is helpful for multilingual files or other audio formats.
• Performance and Stability: A reliable MKV player should perform smoothly without lag or crashes. It should efficiently use system resources to ensure high performance even on less powerful devices.
• Customization Options: Choose a player that allows you to modify playback settings, including video brightness, contrast, audio equalizer, and playback speed. These features enhance the viewing experience.
• Support for Other Formats: While focused on MKV, a good player should also support a wide range of other media file formats. These include MP4, AVI, and MOV, offering versatility for all types of media playback.

Top 5 Media Players to Play MKV Files

1. VLC Media Player

One of the popular video players is VLC Media Player. It is an open-source, cross-platform video player and a music player supporting almost all multimedia files. Additionally, VLC plays almost all codecs, such as H.264, MPEG-2, MKV, WMV, etc., without codec packs needed. Furthermore, it stands out from other media players when it comes to compatibility. This is because this tool is compatible with various devices such as Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems.

Features:

• VLC supports high-definition video playback and high-fidelity audio.
• This video player MKV can handle multiple subtitle formats, allowing users to add or download subtitles easily.
• It also offers customization options for font, size, colour, and position.
• The software can also be one of the most powerful Blu-ray players as it plays discs, CDs, and Blu-ray discs.
• This movie player provides tools for adjusting audio equalization and video effects like brightness, contrast, rotation, and more.

2. MX Player

Another player for MKV files, the first Android media player that supports multi-core decoding, is MX Player. Also, aside from MKV, it supports other video formats such as MP4, AVI, WMV, WebM, and more. Moreover, it differs from others regarding the supported subtitle formats of this video player. These include VTT, SUB, SRT, TXT, SSA, etc. Besides, MX Player can also be a perfect media player when you download YouTube to MKV format.

Features:

• This app lets you zoom in/out and pan across the screen.
• It also has a Kid Lock feature, which you can use to lock the screen to prevent your kid from touching other apps.
• This MKV media player allows you to move the subtitle text up and down as well as zoom in/out of the text.

3. Jumpshare MKV Player

Jumpshare MKV Player is a free online player accessible on any web browser, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and mobile browsers. It's an online tool, meaning you don't need to install software on your PC. Additionally, you can securely upload and play videos in MKV format in this player. Besides, your uploaded files are deleted from their servers after 24 hours. Furthermore, you can upload files up to 100MB, but if you have a larger file size, you need to sign up or register.

Features:

• This free tool is accessible on any operating system, such as Mac OS, Windows XP, Windows NT, Windows Vista, and mobile devices.
• It lets you embed your MKV file anywhere across from your website or any product pages.
• Your file is protected using AES-256 military-grade technology.
• Jumpshare MKV Player also has an editing feature to trim and shorten your MKV videos and remove unnecessary parts.

4. DivX Player

Another MKV Player Windows and Mac with many features is DivX Player. Its user-friendly interface allows you to play your favorite videos in MKV format in ultra HD 4K resolution and create your own playlists. In addition to MKV files, the tool also supports other video files like MP4, FLV, and AVI with free HEVC playback. Furthermore, DivX Player can also track your private videos and purchase videos on any streaming platform. Moreover, you can also use this tool to convert MKV to MP4 format.

Features:

• This best MKV Player PC supports XSUB and SRT format for subtitles.
• It also offers streaming options for smart TVs.
• If you have a problem with their app, you can contact customer service or the developer using the contact form or chat.
• This video player offers Dropbox and Google Drive for storage.

5. PlayerXtreme

Suppose your MKV files are on your mobile device since a normal video player can't play it without an additional MKV codec or plugin. In that case, why don't you try the PlayerXtreme? It is a video player for iOS and Android devices that can play videos in any format like FLV, WMV, MP4, etc. Also, this app enables you to play Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Netflix to MKV videos. Aside from that, it stands out from others as it can boost the volume up to 3 times louder than the original.

Features:

• Apart from mobile devices, this app lets you stream movies on your TVs.
• It supports subtitle formats such as TXT, SRT, SSA, and SMI.
• PlayewrXtreme also lets you download subtitle tracks within the app.
• You can do unlimited streaming without worrying about the storage limit.
• This app also has a search feature, so you can easily find the files you need.

How to Play MKV Files Using MKV Player

In this step, we will use VLC as an example of how you can play MKV files using an MKV Player.

Step 1 Download the MKV Player

Of course, the first thing you must do is download MKV Player. You can get VLC's installer file on its main website. From there, you can double-click the free download button to get the file. Then, follow the wizard setup that will appear on your computer screen. After installation, launch the tool and explore its interface.

Step 2 Import Your MKV File

After you explore the MKV Player, you can add the MKV file. To do it, navigate to the Media tab and choose the Open File option from the menu. Then, your files will pop up on your screen. From there, search or find the MKV video file in your folders.

Step 3 Play the MKV Video

Once you find it, double-click the thumbnail, and the video will play automatically. Also, you can stop playing the video by tapping the little box and forwarding and looping the video. Aside from that, you can also edit the video by adjusting the audio, applying video effects, and more.

Extra Tips: How to Convert MKV Files to MP4

AceThinker VidElement is a versatile converter tool that can convert files on your computer. It supports almost 1000+ media formats such as FLV, MKV, MP4, MP3, AAC, MOV, and many more. Additionally, this tool ensures that the quality of the file is the same as that of the converted one. Besides, it lets you choose your desired quality along with the format you want. Furthermore, AceThinker VidElement provides 50x faster conversion speed, meaning you don't need to spend more time converting. Moreover, you can also enjoy the additional features of this tool once you have installed it. These are compression, GIF maker, enhanced video quality, metadata editor, and more. So, if you want to play your MKV files on QuickTime Player, convert them now using AceThinker VidElement.

FAQs and Comparison Chart

Comparison of MKV Players

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