How to Play MKV on Mac Easily | Step-by-Step Guide
MKV (Matroska Video) is a popular file format known for storing high-definition video, audio, and subtitles in one file. It's widely used because it can handle large, high-quality videos, making it ideal for movies and TV shows. However, Mac users often face challenges when playing MKV files, as macOS doesn't natively support this format through its built-in players like QuickTime. In this article, we'll explain why MKV files don't work smoothly on Macs and provide easy solutions to help you play MKV on Mac without hassle. We'll also recommend the best media players and tools to handle MKV files to ensure a smooth viewing experience. Whether you're new to MKV or just looking for better playback options, this guide will help you enjoy your videos on Mac.
On This Page
Why Do I Not Open MKV on Mac?
Mac computers can't play MKV files natively because MacOS, including its built-in media player QuickTime, doesn't support the MKV format out of the box. The main reason is that MKV is an open-source container format that can store different types of video, audio, and subtitles. However, QuickTime only supports specific formats like MP4 or MOV, and MKV isn't one of them.
To play MKV files, QuickTime would need additional plugins or software, which Apple does not provide. Without these plugins, Mac users often see errors or blank screens when trying to open MKV videos. Fortunately, several media players and tools can easily handle and play MKV files on Mac, which we'll cover in the next sections.
MKV files are not natively supported on Mac,
so you cannot play a video in MKV format via its default QuickTime media player.
How to Play MKV Files Using QuickTime Plugin
| Best For | Users familiar with QuickTime who want to keep using it for MKV files |
| Playback Features | Basic playback features with QuickTime interface |
| Effectiveness | Moderate |
Although QuickTime can’t play MKV files by default, you can use plugins or add-ons to make it compatible. One of the most popular plugins for this is Perian. Perian is a free, open-source QuickTime plugin that allows QuickTime to support various formats, including MKV, AVI, and FLV. Once installed, it will enable QuickTime to recognize and play MKV files directly. However, Perian is no longer actively updated, so the QuickTime player version it supports is the QuickTime 7.6.6 version. This means that it may not work perfectly with newer macOS versions. Also, the loading time to open MKV file Mac may take a little longer, so if you don’t want to wait, this solution is not for you. But if you want to try it, please follow the steps given below.
User Guide:
- First, visit the official Persian website and download the plugin. Once downloaded, locate the plugin file on your files and open it. Then, click on the Preference Pane System, which will open another tab to install. Afterward, click the Install button and wait until the installation process is finished.
- After installation, restart your Mac device to ensure that the QuickTime Player recognizes the plugin. Some people didn’t go through with the restart process, but to make sure that QuickTime will read the plugin, restart your device.
- After restarting, find the MKV file you want to play and right-click on it. Then, select the Open With option and choose QuickTime Player. Finally, wait for a moment until QuickTime plays your MKV file with the help of the Perian plugin.
Best Media Players to Watch MKV on Mac
1. VLC Media Player
| Best For | Users who need a versatile, all-in-one media player for any format |
| Playback Features | Advanced features: speed control, filters, subtitle sync, streaming |
| Effectiveness | High |
VLC Media Player is a free Mac MKV Player that plays almost all media formats without additional plugins. It supports video, audio, and even subtitle formats without any hassle. These formats are MP4, AVI, MKV, AAC, MP3, MIDI, DVD, TXT, SSA, SRT, ID3 tags, and many more. Since it supports all media formats, you don’t need to convert MKV to MP4 or other formats to play it on VLC. Besides, it can be installed on various devices such as macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, so you can use it across different devices. Apart from local files, VLC can also play videos from the internet, Discs, and webcams, which makes it advantageous to other media players. Moreover, you can also enjoy its advanced playback controls, such as adjusting video speed, applying filters, cropping or zooming, and even changing audio and video sync settings.
2. Elmedia Player
| Best For | Mac users looking for a seamless, macOS-native experience with extra features |
| Playback Features | 4K playback, streaming, subtitle customization, playlists |
| Effectiveness | High |
Another best player for MKV files Mac that is perfectly designed for Mac and delivers an HD experience is Elmedia Player. It supports over 70 media formats, including MOV, AVI, FLV, FLAC, MP4, DivX, and more. Apart from playing MKV files, this free 4K player can also be compatible with various devices such as Apple TV, Smart TVs, Chromecast Ultra, and more, which allows you to stream up to 4K quality. This is also the reason why it is more advantageous than other players. Furthermore, Elmedia lets you create your playlist to be more organized. Moreover, you can ensure no sync and slowdown issues will occur since the player is optimized for the macOS operating system. Additionally, it comes with vast useful features such as hardware acceleration, subtitle customization, A-B loop playback, adjustable playback speed, and others that make it a great choice for viewing MKV.
3. IINA
| Best For | Users who want a modern, feature-rich media player specifically designed for macOS |
| Playback Features | Advanced playback controls, picture-in-picture, Touch Bar support |
| Effectiveness | High |
IINA is a modern, versatile, and best free MKV player for Mac that comes with numerous advanced features. One of the best features of this p[layer that can also be advantageous from other tools is that it is built with a sleek, macOS-inspired interface that integrates well with macOS features like Touch Bar, picture-in-picture, and dark mode. Like VLC and Elmedia, IINA can play almost any video and audio format, including MKV, MP4, AVI, FLAC, and more, without needing extra plugins. Furthermore, aside from local files, you can also play online streams and YouTube playlists here with just one click. Moreover, this player has excellent support for subtitles, allowing automatic downloads, font customization, size, and timing adjustments. Likewise, it offers features like variable playback speed, video cropping, audio equalizer, and playlist support.
Extra Tip: Convert MKV to MOV for Mac Playback
Since macOS does not support MKV file format and you don’t want to install an additional media player on your device, then why don’t you convert MKV to MOV format? Mov is one of the supported formats of macOS that is natively played using QuickTime Player. So, to convert MKV, you need a versatile tool that can smoothly transform MKV files into MOV files, and we recommend AceThinker VidElement. AceThinker VidElement is a versatile converter tool that supports almost all video and audio. These are AAC, MOV, AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, WMA, WebM, and more. In addition, it has many available options with various quality up to 4K UHD. In fact, you will experience 50x conversion speed because it uses Blu-Hyper technology to increase the conversion speed. Aside from the conversion feature, you can use its editing, compressor, media metadata editor, and built-in player features.
User Guide:
- Start by downloading and installing AceThinker VidElement on your computer. Then, launch the tool and upload the MKV file you want to convert. Simply click the + icon and locate the MKV file in the pop-up window.
- Next, click the drop-down menu above the Settings option and select MOV format on the Video tab. You will then see multiple options with different qualities. Choose the one you want, then hit the Convert All button below.
- The conversion will start, and you will see the process on the interface. Once it is done, another window with the converted file will appear on your screen. Finally, you can now enjoy watching without any hassle using the QuickTime player.
Frequently Asked Questions
One disadvantage of MKV is that it's not universally supported across all media players and devices, meaning you may need special software to play it. MKV files also tend to be larger, which can take up more storage space and may be harder to stream or share. Lastly, editing MKV files can be tricky, as many video editing programs do not natively support the format.
MKV and MOV serve different purposes, so "better" depends on your needs. MKV is more versatile because it supports multiple video, audio, and subtitle tracks, making it ideal for high-definition content. At the same time, MOV is better optimized for Apple devices and QuickTime. However, MOV files offer smoother integration with macOS and iOS. On the other hand, MKV provides better compatibility for a wide range of media players.
MKV files can be laggy due to their large size and complex encoding, which requires more decoded processing power. This lag can also be caused by an outdated media player that struggles to handle the file format. Additionally, poor compression or high-bitrate videos in MKV containers can lead to performance issues during playback.
Conclusion
In conclusion, playing MKV files on a Mac is easy with the right tools. Media players like VLC, Elmedia, and IINA offer excellent support for MKV playback without needing extra plugins or codecs. If you prefer using QuickTime, try the Perian plugin, but remember it may not work with newer macOS versions. Alternatively, converting MKV files to MOV with tools like AceThinker VidElement allows you to play them natively on macOS without additional software. For hassle-free playback, VLC and IINA are great all-in-one solutions, while converting MKV to MOV offers smoother integration with Apple's built-in apps. Ultimately, choose the solution that best fits your needs for a seamless viewing experience.
Need more assistance?
Contact our support team, and we’ll guide you step by step!
By - By - 
By - 
By -