Program for opening mkv. What is the MKV format and how to change it

Hello dear friends! You didn't come to this page by accident. Most likely you are tormented by the question: How to open mkv? If so, then you are in the right place. On this page you will find many useful information about this extension.

First of all, you will learn what the mkv format is and what it was developed for. Secondly, I will review several free programs, which will help you finally figure out the question of how to open the mkv format.

Any of these programs can be downloaded for free and used for your own pleasure. A little lyrics, sometimes we are in a hurry and type characters like xtv jnrhsnm mkv))) I think you understand what I mean?) Haste has never been a help. So let's take a quick look at the mkv format.

How to open mkv format - a short tutorial.

Before reviewing programs that will help us open the mkv file, it would be nice to understand what this format is and why it is needed. If you are theoretically literate, then next time you will not have questions about opening a particular file format.

Some time ago, a group of programmers got together and set themselves the difficult task of creating a flexible, free and cross-platform file format that would serve as a container for multimedia. This large-scale project was named “in Russian” - Matroska (Matryoshka).

After some time, the task set by the programmers was solved and the world saw a new multimedia container, the files of which had a modest extension .mkv - this is what downloads video files, .mka - if we are talking about sound, and .mks - for subtitles. Now, I think, it has become more clear why it is needed this format, and based on this we can make some assumptions about how to work with it and which programs are most suitable for this.

Video tutorial

How to open mkv format.

A little higher, we figured out that our “stranger” is a format that is typical for video files. This means that in order to understand how to open it, we need video players. And it is desirable that they be free, i.e. distributed under a Freeware license. And we could use them for opening mkv format, and not only for it)

On given time There are many players that are compatible with Windows 7 and are perfect for opening our “stranger”. Among them, I have identified three main ones, which are currently the best and most stable.

First

The first and most optimal (in my opinion) player is called The KMPlayer. A super player that was developed for the whole world by guys from Korea. In my opinion, you couldn't ask for anything better. I recommend everyone to download it. You won't regret it.

Second

At number two we have GOM Player transcribed by Guruguru Online Movie Player. From the transcript you can understand that the advantage of this player is watching movies online. Perfect for internet users.

Download GOM Player

Third

At number three we have Light Alloy, which means light alloy. The player is perfect for users with a weak “office” computer. This player practically does not consume computer resources, while displaying high-quality video.

Conclusions: after this article, I hope you have no doubts about how to open mkv. Any of the players above can easily cope with this task. See you again!

What is an MKV video/audio container?

While you are unsuspectingly watching your favorite movie on your PC, the player plays at least one video track and one audio track. The player can also play subtitles or show you convenient menus to navigate between chapters of the movie. That is, when you launch one video file, you launch not only the video, but also audio, subtitles and all the service information stored in it. Theoretically, you should need two separate file, however, thanks to the invention of special containers, all files can be stored in one, user-friendly form.

For greater clarity, the container can be called special archiver, which packs all service information, video and audio tracks, subtitles into one file. In fact, a container is a special program that not only packs these files, but also stores a lot of information, such as comparing the playback time of video and audio tracks (timing), subtitles, menus and other things.

Beginner PC users may be intimidated by such complexity, but all this is not so difficult and is already quite common in the world of multimedia. In fact, all the usual films in the AVI, MPG, MOV, MPEG, MP4 formats are containers containing all of the above data. To play containers, which is the MKV discussed in this article, you need a special program - a codec that installs special filters, splitters, sound decoders and others on your PC. With the codec installed in the system, containers are normally played by most modern players and do not cause any difficulties for PC users.

What's happened MKV format?

MKV is a special audio/video container, similar to AVI, that stores a huge amount of information. The MKV format is an open project Matryoshka (Matroska), designed to create a unified standard for multimedia containers on the PC. Its peculiarity is the openness of the code, which allows any programmer in the world, as well as a team of programmers, to improve this format. The MKV format has become extremely common in lately, due to its capabilities and, in particular, the predominance of functions compared to AVI.

The multimedia container Matryoshka (Matroska) contains a video track (MKV), an audio track (MKA) and a subtitle track (MKS), as well as a lot of service information that allows you to create menus similar to DVD films, control timing, etc.

Differences between the MKV and AVI multimedia container

The main difference between the multimedia container proposed by the Matryoshka - MKV team from AVI is more flexible capabilities for creating and managing navigation between video chapters, creating menus, subtitles, and switching between audio track languages. Matryoshka or MKV container is aimed at the future, therefore it is becoming increasingly popular among experienced users PC.

Let's look at some improvements to the Matryoshka project and its MKV multimedia container from the good old AVI format:

versatility, the MKV container, unlike AVI, allows you to contain video in the following formats: H264, AVC1, WMV, MPEG1, MPEG2, and AAC audio

the MKV container can be easily edited, as well as extracted video or audio from it, without the use of video editors

The MKV format is more advanced, which prevents some freezing or stuttering when playing large videos

The MKV container allows you to store information about video chapters, menus, subtitles and other DVD functions, which AVI cannot

MKV file may contain various languages audio, which is not allowed in AVI

How and with what to open MKV files and movies?

To play MKV files and movies, you will need to install special codecs on your PC, after which you can view MKV movies with any modern player, such as LightAlloy or Windows Media Player.

To play and view MKV format files, you need to install a special Matroska splitter or a more complete set for playing subtitles, sound and menus from MKV - CCCP (Combined Community Codeck Pack), which includes all software to watch MKV.

After installing it, you can easily watch any movie in MKV format in any of the multimedia players installed on your PC. One of the most common and adapted for playing the MKV format is the Core Media Player, which already has built-in plugins for more comfortable playback of MKV files.

MKV - what format is it? It is a video container similar to MOV and AVI that supports an unlimited number of audio, image and subtitle tracks (such as SRT or USF).

This format is often considered as a medium for online video high resolution, as it supports descriptions, ratings, cover art, and even chapters. It is for these reasons that it was chosen as the default video content format for the popular DivX Plus software.

Description

MKV - what format is it? The Matroska Multimedia Container is an open standard, free format file that can contain an unlimited number of video, audio, images or subtitle tracks in one container. Intended to be used as a universal format for storing general multimedia content such as movies or television shows. Compared to the AVI format, MKV is conceptually similar to the technological solution of formats such as MP4 or Advanced Systems Format (ASF). The contents of the file are fully disclosed in the specification: the implementation consists of open source software source code. Matroska file extensions:

MKV - for video (with subtitles and audio);

MK3D - for stereoscopic video;

MKA - for audio files;

MKS - for subtitles.

Story

MKV files, also known as Matroska videos (from the name of the Russian souvenir toy "Matryoshka"), appeared in Russia in 2002. Lead developer Lasse Kärkkäinen worked with project founder Steve Lomme and a team of programmers to create a comprehensive media container file format.

Goals

The Matroska team has expressed some of their long-term goals on the Doom9.org and Hydrogen Audio forums:

creation of a modern, flexible, extensible, cross-platform format of multimedia containers;

development of reliable streaming support;

development of a menu system similar to the EBML-based DVD system;

invention of a set of tools for creating and editing MKV files;

expanding the gallery of libraries that can be used to provide developers with Matroska support for their applications;

work with equipment manufacturers includes support for Matroska in embedded multimedia devices;

MKV support on various operating systems and hardware platforms.

Development

MKV - what is the format and what are its features? The project is supported by a non-profit organization in France and is a free standard to use. His technical specifications available for private and commercial use. The Matroska development team licenses its projects under the LGPL, with parsing and replay libraries available under BSD licenses.

Version support

Contrary to popular belief, MKV files are multimedia container formats and not an audio or video compression format. A container can wrap audio, video, and subtitles into a single file, even if those elements use different types coding. For example, you might have an MKV file that contains H.264 video and something like MP3 or AAC for audio.

Matroska developers have included several key functions, preventing data obsolescence:

quick search;

support for chapters, menus and metadata;

selection of different audio and video streams;

compatible with streaming data;

subtitle support;

error recovery, which allows you to play damaged files.

The MKV container itself also supports almost any audio and video format, making it highly responsive and easy to use.

MKV format: how to open it?

Since this extension is not an industry standard, not all media players support it, but their list is expanding due to the growing popularity of the format. There are two main options for playing these files:

using MKV media player;

If you are on Windows you can use the following software to work with this format - MPV, MPC-HC, KMPlayer, DivX Player, MKV File Player or The Core Media Player (TCMP).

Some of these apps can be used to open an MKV file on macOS. Elmedia Player and Roxio were also written specifically for this operating system.

IN Linux files MKV can be played using xine and some of the above programs that work with Windows and Mac, such as VLC.

Play on iPhone, iPad and iPod using the free PlayerXtreme Media Player or VLC for mobile applications, which also works with Android devices

You can use CorePlayer mobile software to open MKV files on devices with operating system Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry.

The best option is VLC Media Player

MKV - what is the format and how to open it? Best choice for playing MKV files is VLC media player, mainly because it has built-in support and does not require installation additional components. It's easy to download and install the program. You need to go to official page download and run the exe file to install VLC. The whole process takes no more than two to three minutes.

Beware of downloading installation file from other resources, as there are fake VLC download sites that spread the virus.

Once the installation is complete, you will be able to watch any movies in MKV format. Note that while VLC bundles with all supported video and audio formats during installation, including MKV, it is not registered as the default application for these file types.

To watch MKV file using VLC, right click required file, select Open With, and then select VLC Media Player.

To make VLC the default player for MKV files, right-click any file, select "Open With" and click "Select Another Application". In the application selection window, select "VLC Media Player", enable the "Always use this application to open .mkv files" option, and then click "OK".

After this, you can simply double-click the MKV file to have it open in VLC.

Loading codecs

The Matroska website offers several offerings for Windows with built-in support. Alternative option: Download codecs to make the .MKV file compatible with a third-party media player.

If you prefer to use Windows Media Player or another Windows player, you need to install some support files known as codecs. These components help the video player understand how to decompress files that it does not support.

How to change MKV format to MP4?

The MP4 format is a much more popular media standard, compatible with most modern devices. Quite often, users have a question about how to change the MKV format. There are several options. Let's look at each of them step by step.

Convert with VLC (Windows/MacOS)

VLC media player can recognize and play almost any video format, including MKV. It can also convert them into something more versatile, such as MP4. Before changing the MKV format, you must complete the following list of actions:

Go to home page VideoLAN and download VLC. Be sure to read small font during installation to avoid virus infection.

Open the software, click the "Media" tab in the top left corner and select "Convert/Save" from the drop-down menu that appears.

Click the "Add" button and find the file you want to convert on your computer. After selecting it, click the “Convert/Save” button at the bottom of the window.

Specify the desired video format (in in this case"H.264 + Mp3 (MP4)") using the drop-down menu next to the "Profile" button. Clicking the tool icon will also allow you to fine-tune the file's options.

Then specify in the “Destination” section the location to store the converted file. Click Start. The timeline will turn into a progress bar, and once it completes, the video will be ready.

Convert with Cloud Convert (Web based)

If you don't want to install any file conversion software, you can use a web service. There are several different options, but Cloud Convert is the most popular because it is simple and supports a huge array of formats.

It is important to note that you need to upload the video files to your server before converting. Cloud Convert's privacy policy states that the contents of the files remain inaccessible. Step-by-step algorithm:

Go to home page Cloud Convert and upload the file through the "Select Files" button or simply drag and drop it into the browser window.

Scroll through the list of video formats and select MP4. The default settings should be optimal, but you can further adjust the quality and other aspects. Then click the “Start Conversion” button at the bottom of the page.

When the conversion process is complete, a green "Download" icon will appear. Click to upload a new video.

Now that your video files are in your preferred format, make sure they are protected.

There are many special programs for playing movies on a computer. The variety of formats forces programmers to create more and more advanced software that can support high quality video and sound. Among the most famous formats in recent times, *.mkv has gained particular popularity.

More about the mkv format

This format was created within the framework of the target project “Matroska - Matryoshka”. The developer from Matroska.org set out to create a cross-platform solution with sets of tools and libraries that could be played on various operating systems.

Three formats were created for the project - mka, mks and mk3d. The first is for audio, the second is for subtitles and the third is for 3D video. Meanwhile, the mkv format was developed for videos with subtitles and audio. Among its features: the ability to broadcast over the Internet, error resistance, the ability to display subtitles, easy switching between video tracks, modular extensions.

The format is not supported by hardware on home video players, which somewhat limits its use. However, developed on PC certain programs, with which you can watch movies without much difficulty.

Programs for mkv

The list of programs for opening mkv is very large. However, among them there are the most common ones.

One of the free video players for Windows. The main reason for its popularity is its support for a huge number of video and audio formats. It has its own built-in codecs, and can also use those installed on the system. To date, the developer Gretech Corporation has created version 2.2.5. The product is constantly being improved and supported.

An equally popular product from the developer Vortex Team. Distributed on the basis free license Freeware. The latest version for today is 4.7.8

Part of the popular line of software for watching movies on a computer. Supports many formats, among which mkv is not the least. The developer of Pandora TV has created version 3.8 for Windows, 1.0 for iOS and 1.01 for Android.

Media Player Classic

A simple but quite powerful free player, which is distributed both separately and as part of the K-Light Codec Pak codec package. Supports many formats, is multilingual and has version 6.4.9. The project is currently no longer supported.

Hello! Many of us have encountered the problem: how to open a filemkv? And indeed: the mkv format stores video very large size. Which is very inconvenient, especially if you are going to watch this video on your smartphone or tablet.

After all, mkv is almost not supported on these devices, its huge size can take up too much space, and you can hardly appreciate the benefits of mkv (in the form of HD video) due to small screens.

In general, by and large, MKV is a Russian development. The name of this format is Matroska. Initially, it was very popular among the anime community. This is understandable: you can add high-quality subtitles there, as well as several audio tracks. What else does an anime fan need?

So, method 1:

Unfortunately, MKV does not open in all video players. But this problem is quite easily solved. Just follow my advice.

First you need to download free player, which would support this format. VLC Media player (VLC) is perfect for this purpose. It is available for both PC and Mac. Of course, there are many other players on the Internet, but this one is the best. I recommend that you download it. Below is a screenshot of the site where you can download this program.

Go to the website and click “Download VLC”. After downloading, install the program on your computer (the installation is extremely simple, so I think there is no point in describing detailed steps).

The VLC icon is a traffic cone. We click on it. Then everything is simple: click “Media” on the top panel, then go to the “Open File” window. We find the required file and voila! You can watch the ill-fated MKV.

However, if the video is compressed in RealVideo format, then this procedure may not help. In this case, you need to download a special RealVideo player.

However, downloading “MKV player” is not the only way to open “MKV”. There are a few more. And I will tell you about them below.

Method 2: Download codecs!

In order to open “MKV” you can simply download the necessary codecs. Then this format can be watched directly in the built-in player.

The advantage of codecs is clear: along with “MKV” you will download other formats. That is, you will no longer have to worry about this or that video not opening. You can open any video on your computer!

But this method also has its drawbacks. Namely: You will download not only “MKV”, but also a huge number of other codecs that can clog your memory hard drive. In short, installing codecs is a radical solution and is suitable for the lazy.

The official website for the mkv format states that the best way to install this format is the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP). Or you can choose another codec that will also work: K-Lite Codec Pack. At the same time good decision will “demolish” old codecs manually in order to avoid all sorts of compatibility problems. Below is detailed video on how to download and install these same codecs. I recommend that you watch this video.

If you are working on Mac OS, then the least problematic option for you is to download the player. For example, the same “VLC”.

What to do if it still doesn’t open?

Of course, don't despair. There are several reasons why this could happen. It is quite possible that the problem is not in your computer, but in the file. Test it on other devices, or run the MKV diagnostics using special program matroskadiag.exe. It can be downloaded from the official MKV website.

The problem may be with the "MKV" compression. The fact is that the format of this video is sometimes compressed using “RealVideo”, which, to put it mildly, is not entirely reliable. To play it you will have to download a special “RealVideo player”. It is free and can be freely downloaded from the official website of the developers.

Now let's look at how to convert MKV?

The structure of "MKV" is very similar to the "AVI" format, which, as you know, is much more universal. Unlike "AVI", the code of "MKV" is open, and the format itself is free for distribution.

Meanwhile, as we wrote above, many have problems reproducing this format. Therefore, it sometimes makes sense to simply convert “MKV” to “AVI” and watch this or that video fragment without any difficulties. It is important to choose a converter that, on the one hand, converts the video quickly, and, on the other hand, does it quickly.

However, converting “MKV” to “AVI” is not so difficult. Today there are many converters: all you have to do is choose. For example, let's look at conversion using absolutely free utility, which I talked about in this article:

Concluding today's article, I hope that my tips will be helpful and you will finally be able to open MKV on your computer. Fortunately, as you have seen, there are a lot of opportunities for this. All that remains to be done right choice. In general, as they say – “Have a good viewing”!