Watching movies on a laptop is not the best way to do it but you can’t carry a TV on the Plane, yet. While the Quicktime Player handles all of my media content with ease, there are certain formats that it still can’t recognize. The MKV format is one of the popular ones in the movie industry because of it’s unlimited storage capacity. In this guide, I’ll show you how to play MKV files on a mac. Let’s get started.
- Player Mkv For Mac Windows 7
- Player Mkv For Mac Os
- Player Mkv For Mac Iso
- Mkv Player For Macbook
- Mkv Player For Mac Air
- Player Mkv For Mac Media Player
The MKV format is an open and free container format that can hold an infinite number of audio, video, and text files in a single file. This makes it an excellent format for TV shows, movies, etc.
Player Mkv For Mac Windows 7
Key Features of the Best MKV Player for PC and Mac. Open MKV files on PC and Mac without extra codec. Support almost all video and audio codecs in MKV files. Fully control the MKV playback and keep the original quality. Needless to say, it is the easiest option to watch your MKV files on Windows and Mac. The 3 ways mentioned above offer users flexibility for playing 720p/ 1080p MKV video files on Mac system. While installing VLC player is quite easy and quick, converting MKV lets you get a Mac readable file, so you can use it on Mac platform hassle-free later. Also, you can choose to install a QuickTime component to play the MKV file. MKPlayer - MKV & Media Player for Mac. MKPlayer - MKV & Media Player for Mac. Free Rocky Sand Studio Mac Version 1.3 Full Specs. Visit Site External Download Site. Publisher's Description.
There are various options to play MKV files on Mac but we’ll choose the easiest three;
- Installing a QuickTime Plugin
- Installing a third party Player
- Converting the Video
1. Play MKV Files on Mac – QuickTime Plugin
Quicktime Player is the default video player for macOS. Yes, it does lack a few features which other players have but it’s nothing a plugin won’t fix. Perian is a popular Plugin for QuickTime Player which lets you play MKV videos on your Mac.
Download the Plugin setup file from the official website or by clicking this link.
Read: Best Font Manager for Mac
Your download should automatically start and once the file is downloaded, you can simply open the downloads by clicking the downloaded button on the tray. Click on ‘Perian.dmg’ to begin the setup.
It would show the error just like the figure below, which says “Perian can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer”. Fret not, you can easily remove this error, by temporarily disabling the security blanket of GateKeeper.
To disable Gatekeeper, open ‘System Preferences’ by searching in the Spotlight or from the Apple menu. It would open the settings window and you can click on ‘Security & Privacy’.
After that, you’d see the section which says ‘Allow apps downloaded from’ and a button ‘Open Anyway’. Click the button to override the default action.
If your Mac has a password, you need to enter it again to authenticate it. Make sure you enter the Administrator’s name and password or else it won’t install the plugin.
Now, this will open the installer and you just have to click ‘Perian.prefPane’ to begin the installation.
Ignore this warning and allow it by clicking ‘Okay‘. It automatically installs all the necessary files and you just have to wait for it to finish.
After the installation is finished, you’ll see the window similar to one below. You can close it now as the Plugin is successfully installed.
Play the MKV file with Plugin
Now, you can open any file from your system with QuickTime Player and it would start loading instead of showing you an error. Depending on the Size of the file, it may take some time.
This Plugin converts the MKV file to MP4 and that’s why it takes a little while to load. Once it does, you can watch the video without any problems on your QuickTime Player. If you close the window, you’ll get a pop-up that would suggest you save the file in MP4 format. You can save the file in MP4 format and play that instead.
Pros
- No additional Player required
- Easy installation and integration
- Open-sourced
- Converts MKV to mp4 as well
Cons
- Slow loading speeds
2. Play MKV Files on Mac with VLC
The last method works great if you want to keep using QuickTime Player as your main media player on the computer. The Plugin is still a workaround and slow when compared with other media players.
The VLC media player is one of the most popular video players out there and the popularity keeps growing because of its consistent and reliable performance and support for a wide range of formats and codecs. You can install VLC to play MKV files and other formats without installing any special plugin. You can even set it as a default media player on mac.
Go to the VLC’s website and download the latest package or click this link.
It opens the download page and beings the download in a few seconds.
Once the download is finished. Double click the package in the Downloads to install it.
As it unwraps the container, you’ll see the window like the one below, you have to drag the traffic cone to the applications folder by clicking and holding the icon.
Must Read: VLC for Apple TV: Fixing 3 common problems
It would prompt you with an authentication pop-up, Click ‘Authenticate’ button to begin the installation.
It may ask you the login credentials. Enter the administrator username and password and click ‘Modify Settings‘.
VLC media player would install and now you can play any MKV file with VLC media player. Simply right-click the MKV file and select ‘Open With’. Click on the VLC icon. It begins to play the video without a hiccup.
Pros
- Support for a wide variety of Plugins
- Native support for MKV
- Sleek UI
Cons
- Problems with 4K playback
3. Play MKV Files on Mac With Handbrake
If for any reason, you can’t use the above two methods. Converting the MKV files to a supported format is the best option. Using a web converter is both time-consuming and slow, considering you have to first upload, convert, and then download the converted file again.
Handbrake is an open-sourced video transcoder that is used to rip DVDs and it also lets you convert MKV files to mp4. Installing Handbrake on your mac would take no more than five minutes. Go to the website or click this link to download the installer package.
Start by clicking the downloaded package in the Downloads folder.
It would open the container and you can click on the Handbrake icon to launch the converter.
To select an MKV file for conversion, click the ‘Open Source’ button on the top left corner of the window.
Select the file from the computer by browsing to the desired folder.
After selecting the file(s), you can select presets, and adjust video duration. You can edit dimensions, filters, video, audio of the output file. After you’re done with the tweaks, choose the output folder, and click start.
After the conversion, The output file is automatically stored to the destination address. You can open the folder and play the file on any media player or send to other devices using iTunes.
Pros
- Multiple files can be converted at once
- Multiple presets are available
- Full control over dimensions, audio, chapters, etc
Cons
- Only converts to MP4
Also Read: 5 Best Time tracking apps for Mac to boost your productivity
3 Ways to Play MKV Files on a Mac
These were 3 ways with which you can play MKV files on a Mac. Installing a Plugin is the easiest way to play MKV files if you don’t want to move to a new media player considering QuickTime is already powerful. Installing a VLC is my recommended choice because it gives you so much more than just MKV playback, even AirPlay(coming soon). Handbrake is best when you need to convert and transfer the file to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod. This gives you more control over the quality and you can optimize the video for specific devices. Tell us which method would you use to play MKV files on a mac.
While Windows 10 has added native support for MKV, many users complain that they cannot play MKV videos on Windows 10. In fact, everyone needs a great media player. Whether you are looking for the simplest of programs to get the task done with a minimum of fuss or you need a tool that gives you complete control over each aspect of image and audio playback, there are plentiful options that will deliver what you want.
Of course, you are not limited to using only one video player, but with so many programs to choose from, discovering the best MKV file player can be tricky. That is why we are testing the popular video players available to MKV files. This article will show you the top list and you can find the right one for you quickly.
MKV Players
Part 1: Best cross-platform MKV player: AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player
AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player is a versatile media player with extensive features, such as:
1. Play any video files, including MKV, MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, MTS, etc.
2. Read multimedia contents on DVDs, DVD folders, ISO or IFO image files.
3. Let you watch Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray folders and ISO image files with the original quality.
4. Offer excellent quality and smoothness playback when playing 4K and 1080p videos.
5. Provide a wide range of custom options to adjust bit rate, frame rate and other parameters.
Apparently, it is the best MKV video player for enjoying MKV files on Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and Mac OS X.
How to play MKV files without losing quality
Step 1: Import an MKV video into the best MKV player
This MKV player offers two versions, one for Mac OS X and the other for Windows. Download and install the right version to your computer and launch it when you want to watch MKV. Click the Open File button to trigger the open file dialog. Then navigate to the MKV file and open it in the media player.
Step 2: Play MKV on computer
After importing, you will see the menu interface. Then you are allowed to select the desired audio track and subtitle based on your need. Click the Play Movie icon to start enjoying the MKV video.
Note: There are custom options in the Audio and Video menus on the top ribbon, which you can used to adjust the quality and other parameters. Moreover, the Control menu allows you to control the playback, such as adjust the playback speed.
Part 2: Top 7 MKV players for Windows
Top 1: SMPlayer
Pros
1. This best MKV player for Windows 10 almost supports all video formats, including MKV, AVI, WMV, M4V, MOV, DAT, MTS, M2TS, DAV, MXF, M3U8, etc.
2. It will remember most of the settings and play video files based on your settings.
3. It can detect the subtitles in your videos and let you to decide which subtitle.
4. You are allowed to completely control the playback of your video file, such as speed, audio track and more.
5. It has the capacity to search subtitles online automatically.
Cons
1. It will download extra software when installing, although it is free to download.
2. SMPlayer is not compatible with Windows 7 and earlier.
Top 2: Media Player Classic
Pros
1. This MKV media player is capable of VCDs, SVCDs and DVDs without extra software or codecs.
2. The built-in codecs support for subtitles and codecs for LPCM, MP2, 3GP, and more.
3. It is based on the DirectShow architecture and integrates DirectShow decoding filters.
4. If you install a supported TV tuner, you can use the media player to record and play TV programs.
Cons
1. It cannot remember your settings, for example, it will play a video from the beginning if you hit stop and start it again.
2. Sometimes, the free MKV player will mute audio by default.
3. This player is only compatible with Windows. (Check here to get more DVD players for Mac.)
Top 3: JetVideo
Pros
1. The MKV player for Windows can play almost any video and audio formats like MP4, MOV, WMV, MKV, AVI, MP3, FLAC, AIFF, etc.
2. It permits you to edit tags easily without extra software.
3. The alarm and timer feature is able to set the starting and end points freely.
4. You can control audio volume, video speed and sound effects.
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5. The interface is nice-looking and the playback is smooth.
Cons
1. Some features take time to learn how to use and beginners might feel frustrated.
2. It is not available to the latest operating systems, like Windows 10/8.
Top 4: MediaMonkey Free
Pros
1. The free MKV player supports a variety of multimedia formats, like MKV.
2. It packs a tag editor to adjust video tags automatically.
3. MediaMonkey is not only a media player but also a library organizer.
4. You can sync multimedia contents between your computer and mobile device within the program.
5. It provides an array of video managing and playback tools for free.
Cons
1. The interface is messy and difficult to learn, especially for beginners.
2. The free version lacks some features and you have to purchase the Gold version if you want to advanced tools.
Top 5: uView
Pros
1. This MKV media player allows you to play MKV videos from local folders.
2. You can play MKV files with the program while working or playing games.
3. It can be set to stay always on top and lock the window size and position.
4. You are allowed to acquire general data, such as video URL.
5. It is able to stream videos from websites and services, like YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, and more.
Cons
1. It requires you to install Adobe Flash Player on your computer.
2. It is only available to Windows operating systems.
Player Mkv For Mac Iso
Top 6: FreeSmith Video Player
Pros
1. It is a free MKV player that deals well with various media formats and optical discs.
2. The player supports almost any video and audio formats without extra codecs.
3. You can change the videos, like crop, rotate, change the volume, or adjust speed.
4. The full version also allows you to make screenshots, select subtitles and create playlist.
5. The interface is nice.
Cons
1. It takes a while to load media files.
2. When playing MKV and other HD videos, it is a bit laggy.
3. There is no full screen control.
Top 7: DAPlayer
Pros
Mkv Player For Macbook
1. The best MKV player not only supports standard file formats, but also 1080i/1080p HD videos.
2. It could play region protected DVDs and change your DVD drive from one region to another.
3. The interface is stylish and quite intuitive.
4. It can import video files from the browser, tree view or by dragging and dropping.
5. You can adjust video aspect ratio, image flip, angle or deinterlacing.
Cons
1. It is not compatible with Windows 10 or Mac OS X.
2. It cannot play videos on Blu-ray discs.
Top 7 MKV players for Mac
Top 1: VLC Media Player
Pros
1. The MKV player for Mac is open source and free of charge without ads or virus.
2. It is able to optimize video and audio playback for chosen device.
3. It can convert MKV to other formats and let you enjoy on any devices.
4. This media player also supports streaming and recording online videos.
5. As a versatile media player, it also have the capacities to convert videos and rip DVDs.
Cons
1. Though VLC has a lot of functionalities, they are hidden in the menus and difficult to find out.
2. It takes longer time to convert DVDs to MKV.
Top 2: DivX Player
Pros
1. This MKV video player on Mac lets you watch movies up to 4K.
2. It supports a large number of video formats, like AVI, DIVX, MKV and MP4.
3. You can decide to play videos from the beginning or view certain chapters.
4. It is able to switch between soundtracks and subtitles seamlessly.
5. If you have oceans of videos, you can create playlists and watch videos without interruption.
Cons
1. When playing online MKV videos, it needs a web browser.
2. The player sometimes freezes due to unknown reasons.
Top 3: KMPlayer
Pros
1. The MKV player for Mac offers quick playback and fully customizable interface.
2. When playing videos, the system time will be displayed for changing into elapsed or total playback time.
3. It lets you view information regarding the file and filters.
4. You can set audio streams, repeat and shuffle options based on your needs.
5. The built-in help menu is useful to average people and beginners.
Cons
1. It will download extra software, like Opencandy, when you install.
2. If you get it from website, chances are that it packs virus or malware.
Top 4: 5KPlayer for Mac
Pros
1. The MKV video player for Mac is able to play MKV and other video files up to 5K/4K/1080p.
2. It allows you to download online videos from YouTube, DailyMotion, etc.
3. In addition to MKV, it also supports FLV, MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, and more.
4. If you use it on Nvidia or Intel, it will smooth the playback with hardware acceleration technology.
5. You can stream music and videos from iPad, iPhone and iPod to computer within the player directly.
Cons
1. It lacks some important features as an MKV player, such as no subtitle options.
2. It is not very configurable.
Top 5: Elmedia Player
Pros
1. The MKV player for Mac can play HD movies in MKV format smoothly.
2. Besides MKV, it is compatible with almost all commonly used video formats.
3. You can watch online videos within the program through URL or download them to hard disks.
4. It has the capacity to extract audio files from MKV or other videos.
5. If you have an iOS device, it could help you to stream videos via AirPlay.
Cons
1. Some advanced features are only available in the pro version.
2. You cannot convert MKV videos to other formats within the media player.
Top 6: MplayerX
Pros
1. The MKV video player fits in Mac OS X environment perfectly with the hotkeys and design.
2. It will remember the interrupted spot and start file reproduction from here.
3. The player will detect your video library and play next video file automatically.
4. You can control the playback with an Apple remote and mouse.
5. It allows you to stream videos to smart TV or home center and enjoy them on larger screen.
Cons
1. It is only available to Mac OS X.
2. The media player cannot create playlist.
Top 7: Kodi
Pros
1. It is not only an MKV player, but also a media library for videos, audio, movies and images.
2. The interface is user friendly and customizable with oceans of add-ons.
3. The open source feature allows you to build you won favorite add-ons.
4. The video player's sound quality is pretty good.
Cons
1. The installation and configuration are pretty complex.
2. Some add-ons are not free though the player is free to use.
Mkv Player For Mac Air
Seeking for media players for Android? Here is the list.
Player Mkv For Mac Media Player
Conclusion
Based on our reviews, you should grasp at least 15 best MKV players. Now, you can pick your favorite one and start enjoying your HD movies.