Everything You Should Care about MKV Codec for Windows Media Player
January 14, 2020 13:56Updated by Kevin Miller to Play Video
Windows Media Player is not familiar to the users using Windows 7, 8.1 and 10.
It is natural to play a video file with the default media player on Windows. However, when you open some video files, e.g. MKV, with Windows Media Player, you will be interrupted by an error message that Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.
When getting the problem of playing MKV files on Windows Media Player, you will need to install the MKC codec on your Windows computer for smooth playback of MKV file.
In this article, we will show the comprehensive guide of MKC codec for Windows Media Player, including what is MKC codec, how to download/install, and the solutions to get rid of the MKV codec on Windows Media Player.
By default, the Windows operating system and the Player include a number of the most popular codecs, such as WMV, WMA and MP3, AND Windows Media Player 12 has a wider support of .asf, .wma, .wmv, .wm, .asx, .wax, .wvx, .wmx, .wpl, .dvr-ms, .wmd, .avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .mpe, .m3u, .mid, .midi, .rmi, .aif, .aifc, .aiff, .au, .snd, .wav, .cda, .ivf, .wmz, .wms, .mov, .m4a, .mp4, .m4v, .mp4v, .3g2, .3gp2, .3gp, .3gpp, .aac, .adt, .adts, .m2ts, and .flac).
Though it supports multiple codecs, such codecs as MKV, are not in the list.
For playing MKV files on Windows Media Player, you need to install the matching codec, which compresses or decompresses media files such as songs or videos.
How to get the MKV codec installed on Windows Media Player?
That is what we shall talk in the next part.
For downloading the MKV codec on Windows Media Player, you can try searching the internet for it. You can often go to a codec manufacturer’s website to download the most recent version of a codec.
https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/ is the one of the MKC codec package download website.
Not only MKV in HD/4K, it also plays .BDMV, EVO, HEVC, AVI, FLV, WEBM, MP4, M4V, M4A, TS, OGM, .AC3, DTS, ALAC, FLAC, APE, AAC, OGG, OFR, MPC and 3GP. For compression types like x264, x265, h.265, HEVC, 10bit x265, 10bit x264, AVCHD, AVC, DivX, XviD, MP4, MPEG4, MPEG2, etc. will also be supported.
Download MKV codec pack on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/2008 here: https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/download.php?file=codecpack
Download MKV codec pack on Windows XP/2003/2000 here: https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/download.php?file=codecpacklegacy
After downloading the MKV codec, you just need to select “Easy Installation” for simple installation and “Expert Installation” for advanced installation.
After that, you just need to add the MKV file into Windows Media Player for direct playback.
Caution: When you install MKV codec that you find on the internet, you are recommended to remove them if you are having problems with the Player.
It has a risk of installing the MKV codec on Windows Media Player, and it makes it difficult for Microsoft Support to diagnose and troubleshoot playback issues.
Is there any way to play MKV files without downloading MKV codec?
Yes, and converting MKV to Windows Media Player supported formats will be the solution.
Video Converter Ultimate is the MKV to Windows Media Player converting software, not only SD, HD, 4K, even the 3D MKV is also supported.
Free download and run Video Converter Ultimate on your computer.
Click “Add File” button and add the MKV video into this software. It supports batch conversion, so you are allowed to import more than one MKV video files.
If you need, just click “Edit” button to start to edit the MKV file before converting, like adjust the video effect, rotate/crop/enhance/watermark video to your satisfaction.
Click “Profile” and choose the Windows Media Player supported WMV, WMA, MP3, etc. Then click Browse and define the output folder where the converted MKV video will be saved.
Click “Convert” button in the main interface, wait a few minutes, then you can get the converted MKV file on your computer.
Certainly you could convert MKV to other formats for Apple TV, iPad, Xbox 360, PS4, etc.
Though Windows Media Player is the default player for Windows users, you have to admit it is not as smooth as other media players like VLC, PotPlayer, KMPlayer, etc.
To get rid of the risk of downloading MKV codec and the embarrass of using Windows Media Player, seeking for an excellent video player is the ultimate solution.
Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player is the powerful MKV player freeware. It lets you play MKV videos for free on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP (SP2 or later) easily.
Free download this wonderful Free Blu-ray Player software to your computer, and then follow the instructions to install and run it immediately.
Click “Open File” to import MKV or other video/audio file into this software. Then this freeware will play MKV file automatically.
If you want to play Blu-ray disc, just click “Open Disc” to load Blu-ray files to the program.
1. How do I update my codecs for Windows Media Player?
You can check for the latest updates using automatic updates. If there are new codec’s or required codec’s, it will be downloaded and installed by the automatic update feature of windows vista. To access windows updates click on start, click on control panel and then click on windows updates. You will see all the important and required updates.
2. How can I find out which codecs are installed on my PC?
Open windows Media Player and if you don’t have a toolbar menu visible right click towards the top of the program to bring up the context menu. Go to Help > About Windows Media Player, then click on the Technical Support Information link at the bottom. This will open a webpage that lists several bits of information including installed audio and video codecs.
3. Which is a standard video file format for Microsoft Windows?
The video formats that Windows can support are the following: asf, wmv, wma, wm, avi, mpeg, mpg, mp2, mp3, m1v, mpe, mpa, m3u, mpv2, vob, mod, mp4, mp4v, m4v, 3g2, 3gp, 3gp2, 3gpp, etc.
4. What is the best format for Windows Media Player?
The file formats that can be played across all versions of Windows Media Player are as follows: asf, wmv, wma, wm, wmd, avi, mpg, m1v, mpeg, mp3, mp2, mpe, mpa, m3u, wmz, wmz, etc.
This page shows the full information about MKV codec for Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player does not support MKV playback, and you have to download and install the MKV codec for smooth playback, but it is risky to download the MKV codec for using on Windows Media Player. To remove the risk, you can convert MKV to Windows Media Player compatible formats with Video Converter Ultimate. Alternatively, you could give up Windows Media Player to use Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player to play MKV and other video/audio files on Windows 10/8/7 computer to kick all trouble out.
Now, I’d like to hear what you have to say:
Have you play MKV files on Windows Media Player?
Which way is your best choice?
Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
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