How to Fix Windows Media Player Won’t Play MKV files?

Although MKV has robust capabilities to handle video, audio, image and subtitle content in a single container even if they are in different formats, it's not yet supported by Windows Media Player. When trying to play MKV files in WMP, you may find it shows audio only but no video or other abnormal playback problem. Here we'd specifically talk about how to use Windows Media Player to play MKV file and fix Windows Media Player won't play MKV issue in 3 easy yet effective methods. Check them out.

Play MKV on Windows Media Player

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Easy Yet Effective Methods to Fix Windows Media Player Won't Play MKV

Method 1: Convert MKV to Windows Media Player most commonly used video format

Method 2: Install the missing codec that Windows Media Player needs to play MKV files

Method 3: Resort to the Windows Media Player Alternative for playing MKV format

Method 1: Convert MKV to Windows Media Player most commonly used video format

To figure out why and how you can solve this problem, let's have a look at the supported file formats on Windows Media Player: .asf, .avi, .dvr-ms, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v,.mpg, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm and .wmv but not including the MKV file. To smoothly import the MKV files into Windows Media Player (Windows 10 included), you have'll to convert the MKV files to WMP friendly format first.

In order to convert your MKV to Windows Media Player supported format quickly and easily, it's time for you to try out the professional and easy-to-use tool - Dimo Video Converter Ultimate. It features a simple and sleek interface and performs files conversion up to 30X faster that enables you to complete the task in just a few clicks at your fingertips.

MKV Video Converter

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  • Support 150+ Video formats conversion, including AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, etc.
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Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, Mac OS 10.12 (Sierra), 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6

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Method 2: Install the missing codec that Windows Media Player needs to play MKV files

In a bit to play MKV video file well with WMP, you need to install appropriate codec to extend the supported formats of Windows Media Player, which doesn't come with Windows Media Player by default at the first place. Considering it's not that easy to search for the correct codecs, here I'd like to tell you to download Combined Community Codec Pack (short for CCCP, which is specifically developed for playing videos including MKV) directly. Then restart your computer and you can then play MKV files on Windows Media Player with smoothness.

How to convert MKV to Windows Media Player supported formats

Windows Media Player format

Step 1. Launch the MKV converter and put MKV files on the converter. You can do that in two ways:

a. You can drag and drop the file directly in the application.
b. You can click the "Add File" button to browse, select and load the file in the application.

Step 2. Click the "Select Format" menu, select Windows Media Player friendly format as output video format. There, you can take "Format > Video > WMV" as your output video format. If you prefer high definition videos, move your mouse pointer to "Format > HD Video" and then choose HD WMV.

WMP video settings

Tip 1: Before the conversion, you can click Edit to Trim, Crop, Watermarks, Effects, 3D, etc. to get what you want. In this way, you can not only personalize the video, but also reduce the output file size.

Tip 2: Click "Settings" button; you can adjust video and audio settings, including codec, aspect ratio, bit rate, frame rate, sample rate, and audio channel.

Step 3. Once you've finished all the settings, click "Convert" to begin FLV to Windows Media Player conversion. When the conversion finishes, click Open to locate the converted video files. You can now get the .wmv files to play in Windows Media Player with ease.

Method 3: Resort to the Windows Media Player Alternative for playing MKV format

Assuming that you are not versed in dealing with Windows Media Player won't play MKV problem by installing the abstract codecs or converting MKV files, it doesn't matter! You still have another option-turn to Windows Media Player alternatives for assistance. Among them, VLC, KMplayer and 8K Player are the most preemiment MKV video players.

All of them will work seamlessly with MKV files, as well as MP4, MOV, MKV, 3GP, FLV, AVI, etc. More importantly, VLC media player also delivers perfect performance in playing incomplete or corrupted MKV files without worry about any unplayable issue. And KMPlayer outshines WMP related to its rare 3D format playback function, which allows you to experience the amazing 3D home cinema world with a low CPU Memory share and an optimized, stable playback supported by GPU. And 8K Player, as a great multimedia player, it plays most multimedia file formats like MKV, AVI, MP4, FLV, WMV, H.265, and Blu-ray/DVD discs as well. Be fed up with Windows Media Player MKV playback problem? Then go to these alternative choices and have a try.

See also: How to solve VLC no sound problem

Note: Apart from aiding you to effectively fix the WMP won't play AVI problem, this all-in-one video converter program makes you wow at its superiority in converting any video no matter the SD or HD video from camcorder or online website. You can take advantage of it to convert AVCHD to MP4, AVI to MOV, MKV to FLV, MTS to 3GP, etc. so that you are free to play back any video on your latest iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Microsoft devices with 1:1 high quality reserved.

MKV Video Converter

Top MKV to WMP Converter

Dimo Video Converter Ultimate is capable of converting MKV files to WMV, ASF, MPEG and more WMP formats, solving problem of MKV won't play on Windows Media Player.

  • Convert All Video Audio Formats: Convert any video to popular video formats and audio formats, such as MKV to MP4, WMV to MP4, MKV to AVI, VOB to WMV, FLV to AVI, AVCHD to MOV, etc.
  • Preset Profiles for Apple and Android Devices: Super fast speed to convert videos to iPhone iPad Android with best parameter settings and video editing features.

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