How To Play Mkv File On Mac

There are hardly any Mac users who accept never had any difficulties trying to play MKV videos on their Apple devices. But if you lot change players, information technology creates other problems: the video may exist played with interruptions, errors, or not exist played at all. In the terminate, the whole process of troubleshooting player bug becomes quite annoying and takes a lot of time. Of course, it's easier to switch if y'all discover the best Mac video player.

Unlike Windows owners, Mac users cannot play MKV files immediately after downloading them, but at that place are plenty of tricks to open them without losing your mind. We'll explain how to open MKV files on Mac below.

What Is an MKV File?
Best Ways to Play MKV Files on Mac
- Method 1. Plugin for Your Mac's QuickTime
- Method 2. Tertiary-Party Applications
  - Elmedia
  - VLC
- Method 2. Сonverting Your MKV File into a Format Compatible with macOS
  - Apowersoft
  - HandBrake
Decision: How to Play MKV Files on Mac
FAQ

What Is an MKV File?

It is of import to highlight that MKV (Matroska) is not a video or audio format. MKV is a free container format that serves as a storage box for a variety of files. Every bit one of the alternatives for MP4 or AVI, Matroska stands out with its ability to hold an unlimited amount of video, audio, and subtitle tracks in one file. These features make it a very popular format for storing movies: one MKV file can hold an entire pic or CD in one file, all with high quality.

Matroska is based on an open up specification, which helps to support all existing formats and makes it a convenient file container.

Best Ways to Play MKV Files on Mac

It's like shooting fish in a barrel to go overwhelmed past the number of tools the Internet suggests to y'all to play MKV on Mac. It also makes it harder to notice the i that volition piece of work for y'all. To keep things simple, we have made a list that explains how to open an MKV file on Mac.

Method ane. Plugin for Your Mac'south QuickTime

Since MKV isn't supported by default, users shouldn't expect Mac QuickTime to play the files you lot download as it usually does. However, there is a way to brand the built-in video player work even with the MKV format. You need to install a plugin. The most popular i is called Perian, so we will utilise it as an case.

How to Use It?

Pace 1: Showtime, you should download the file from the official website.

Step two: To outset the setup procedure, you need to find the Perian.dmg file in the Downloads folder. After that, you lot volition likely see a notification proverb the file tin can't be opened because its developer cannot exist identified. To solve this issue, you need to temporarily disable the GateKeeper security bulwark:

a) Go to System Preferences, observe Security & Privacy.

b) In that location is a default selection, "Permit apps downloaded from", and below that, you volition come across a push "Open Anyhow", which you demand to click.

c) The organisation will inquire for a password from your Mac if at that place is 1. After entering it, you lot can continue with the installation of the plugin.

Pace 3: Remove another alarm that appears after clicking on the "Perian.prefPane" file by clicking the "Okay" push.

Step iv: In one case the installation process is finished, you lot tin can open up the MKV file with the QuickTime histrion. Instead of showing an error like before, the player will kickoff converting the file. After that, the video will exist run properly.

Pros:

It is the easiest way to solve this trouble, with no need to install another histrion.
It is a free, open-source plugin.
It also works as a converter from MKV to MP4.

Cons:

Information technology is non the fastest mode to go things washed. Before you lot tin play the video, the program needs to convert information technology to MP4 format, which can take some fourth dimension. It depends on the file size.

Method two. 3rd-Party Applications

This choice will piece of work for those who would rather change a media player rather than install additional plugins to the existing ones. Find the all-time MKV player for Mac and use it to open up the files directly. Here is how to play .mkv files on Mac using different players.

Elmedia

If you lot don't want to wait for a video thespian to convert a video every time, you can merely install another one that will play the MKV file immediately. Playing media files is easy if y'all have the best music histrion for macOS. One of the almost popular ones is Elmedia. This MKV player for Mac supports all types of formats, including Matroska. In the end, you will have a sort of an all-in-ane player that tin can open any file on your Mac.

How to Employ It?

Pace 1: To download the app, go to the official website or the AppStore.

Step 2: Find an icon with the Elmedia player and open it.

Pace 3: Open the menu bar, then go to "File", and click "Open".

Step 4: Cull the MKV file you need on your Mac.

Footstep 5: Select "Open up".

Autonomously from merely playing high-quality videos, Elmedia allows you to suit them past using several additional functions. On the bottom right of the interface, you lot will meet a gear icon, which allows you to suit the playback speed, synchronize audio and subtitle delays, set the saturation, effulgence, and other details you might want to improve.

Pros:

It is costless, but it besides has a PRO version with a more extensive functionality: from AirPlay streaming to additional fine-tuning options.
All-in-one: since it supports nigh all file formats, you won't need to install other players to open different file types.
It gives the ability to customize playback and manually synchronize audio and subtitle tracks if needed.
You can watch videos from YouTube or Vimeo without ads while using Elmedia.

Cons:

Some features are available only in the PRO version.
The player has express back up for some older devices.

VLC

The listing wouldn't be completed without this well-known orangish cone. VLC Media Histrion has proved its reliability by being on the market for 20 years. It supports a variety of formats, including MKV, without using any additional plugins. Many players strive to go a VLC alternative Mac app.

How to Employ It?

Stride ane: To become VLC Histrion on your Mac, you demand to download it from the official website.

Footstep 2:To outset the installation process, find the file in your Downloads folder and open information technology.

Step three: Drag downwards the icon towards your folder with other apps.

Step 4: You will see a warning on your screen, then click on "Authenticate," and the installation will offset.

Step v: Later on that, right-click on an MKV file on your Mac > "Open with" and choose VLC Actor.

Pros:

It is safe and has no take chances of containing malware. It's besides complimentary and open-source.
It supports a broad range of formats, including MKV.
The player has a user-friendly interface; some features can be adjusted if needed, including subtitle synchronization.
A congenital-in equalizer allows you to conform the sound without quality loss.

Cons:

The interface cannot be customized.
Yous tin can only play files directly from the folder.
Y'all cannot use tags.
There might be bug with playing 4K videos.

Method 2. Сonverting Your MKV File into a Format Compatible with macOS

Probably the most common idea on how to open MKV on Mac is to convert the file. This method works for those who don't want to install whatsoever additional players or plugins on their Mac calculator. You tin can detect enough of different tools to catechumen your MKV file into MP4 or any other compatible format online. We'll focus on 2 of them.

Apowersoft

It is a free online converter that doesn't crave installation, although it besides offers software for Mac that allows users to convert files and download videos. Overall, the website is like shooting fish in a barrel to use. Apowersoft supports a wide range of formats and even allows you to make some adjustments before converting the file. For example, y'all can change the resolution, bitrate, output size, etc.

How to Utilize Information technology?

Footstep ane: Go to the website and upload your file.

Step 2: Requite permission on a Coffee notification that appears on the screen.

Footstep 3: Select your video output format, make the necessary adjustments if needed.

Step four: Click on the green "Convert" button.

Step 5: Download the file you converted.

Pros:

It is very uncomplicated to use. Y'all can brand the procedure faster by converting several files at the same time.
You lot can either get for an online version or install the software on your Mac. Information technology depends on your needs: if y'all don't need advanced features, the functionality on the website will be enough.
It converts the MKV video without quality loss.

Cons:

While converting the file, other processes on your Mac may get slower because Apowersoft causes loftier CPU usage.

HandBrake

Information technology is an open-source application to convert MKV to MP4 on Mac. Once the procedure is finished, you can easily play the converted video on QuickTime or other media players on Mac.

How to Use It?

Stride ane: Download a free app from the official website.

Step 2: Click on the icon, then go to Source > Open File and select the one that needs to be converted.

Stride iii: Ready a container in Output Settings to MP4.

Step 4: Adjust the quality if needed by using a list of presets.

Pace 5: In one case installation is washed, you can play your video on the preferred media player.

Pros:

It can also exist used for ripping DVDs, processing BluRay, and other common multimedia files.
Information technology is free and open-source.
It allows you to tweak some basic and advanced functions based on your needs.
The program has a simple layout, so it is easy to use.

Cons:

Users take spotted several bugs, and in general, the program is quite slow. People don't recommend using this converter for long videos.
It doesn't support all formats.

Conclusion: How to Play MKV Files on Mac

How you lot choose to open MKV videos on your Mac depends on your needs. If you lot bargain with this format a lot, then installing a divide media thespian is probably the best solution. On that note, you can too learn most the best AVI player for Mac. In case you lot don't need to work with MKV files often enough to have an extra programme on your computer, you tin can but use online converters. Either style, this guide should help yous avert nigh problems with MKV files in the future.

FAQ

You probably need to check whether a file is damaged or not. If the MKV file is slightly damaged or disturbed by other pocket-sized errors, try a converter to change the file's format. Later that, it should run smoother.

Some think that MKV supports higher-quality videos, which tin be explained by the fact that it can concur a bigger file size than, for instance, MP4. MKV, likewise as MP4, is just a container for videos. That is why the quality depends on what the MKV file contains. The video codec defines its quality, not the container.

Aye, you can. In that location are multiple ways and types of software to do that; virtually of them are gratis to download or offering a gratuitous trial. We covered some of the programs in this commodity.

iPhones don't support the MKV format, and then information technology's not possible to play the file straight without converting it or using some third-party apps.

A skilful converter can continue the terminal video high quality. Some programs also allow you to make the necessary adjustments to keep the quality. Only in general, there shouldn't be whatsoever bug considering when converting MKV to MP4 on Mac, you're only changing the box for your files – both are just containers.

MKV can incorporate an unlimited number of subtitle tracks and bigger files than MP4. On the other manus, MP4 is the near common container that is supported past every platform and media player, including the ones on iPhone. In general, they both support high-quality videos. So, information technology'south non near which 1 is better merely which one is more convenient for you.