For the advanced user, it is almost impossible for a format difference to cause conflicts (and if so, we're convinced they'll resolve it in seconds), but we also know many people out there are downloading and sharing videos that raise questions when it comes to playback. We've been asked about an "MKV player" more than once, and today we're going to explain the role of that format and recommend three options that work very well.
What Exactly Are MKV Videos?
MKV is one of the file extensions associated with the Matroska container format, inspired by the classic hollow Russian dolls (Matrioshka) that fit one inside the other. Matroska can technically store multiple tracks made up of audio, video, images and/or subtitles, all in a single file. The V in MKV stands for video, while the other extensions, MKA, MKS and MK3D, indicate audio, subtitles and 3D video, respectively.
Since it is an open and royalty-free project, adopting Matroska presents no legal difficulties. In fact, Google uses a Matroska profile to combine VP8 video and Vorbis audio in what we know as WebM, the multimedia sibling of the WebP image format. In other words, every first-class media player also works as an MKV player, and below we'll mention three of the best…
Three MKV Players to Watch Them All
VLC Player
The most obvious and popular first. VLC Player will play any MKV video without a hitch and with no extra requirements. This support extends to its Android edition, so all you need (besides the app) is a smartphone or tablet with enough processing power.
Media Player Classic - Home Cinema
Development of MPC-HC has slowed a bit due to a lack of contributors, but that also reflects how mature the player is. It's one of the cleanest and most stable tools you can use to play MKV videos, and it definitely deserves a place on your PC.
PotPlayer
I personally use PotPlayer as an external player for YouTube videos (by the way, don't forget to check our guide to download music from YouTube), but it works perfectly with MKV videos. My only recommendation: accept the OpenCodec download during the final stage of installation.
In Summary
There's nothing to worry about here: Matroska is a stable and well-documented format, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding (and installing) an MKV player. Our suggestions will put you on the right track, but never stop experimenting with other software. Good luck!
