Windows 10: .MKV files don't work properly with WMP?

VLC is fine, but why does Windows Media Player have problems? It always closes and says it encountered a problem playing the file. It only seems that .mkv files is the issue. Avi files etc, seem perfectly fine. Anyone else have same problems or a way of resolving the issue? Not that it's major, but still annoying!

:)

 

My Laptop Hangs and reboots automatically when I play videos of .mkv and .MKV formats

Hi Pavan,

Initially I used "potplayer" to play all .mkv/.MKV files. while using, my laptop will stop working, and will restart automatically, the same problem occurred when I used "5K Player" , then I tried using VLC , and still I am not able to play .mkv/.MKV
files properly, Now when I open my videos folder, the green loading bar in the address bar keeps on loading..

Please help me out with this !

Thank you...

 

No video length data in File Explorer

Recently, File Explorer doesn't show the "Length" data in folders optimized for Video files. This appears to only happen in folders with MKV files, and not MP4 files, but it's not all MKV files. Some folders show the length data for all the MKV files,
some show data for some or just a few files, and some folders don't show any length data for any MKV files. I've viewed the folders from multiple PCs and have copied the folders to multiple PCs, and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Stranger yet, when
initially converted some of the files showed length data in File Explorer, but now do not. Any ideas as to what's going on with File Explorer in these cases?

 

VLC has buitin codec to play MKV. Wmp doesn't. To play MKV file with WMP, you'd need to install some third party Codecs such as:
Shark007: Windows 10 codecs - Windows 8.1 codecs - Windows 7 codecs or
Download K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 12.2.5

 

Yeah, I have already the 'Media Player Codec Pack', but it's still happening. Might try some others!

 

I have read threads where people report issues after de-installing 3rd party codec packs caused by registry leftovers so it might be worth looking into that if other packs also don't work. Here's a link with a reference to the issues: Full Fix: Can’t Play MKV Videos in Windows 10, 8.1 and 7

 

I've had some luck in simply renaming the .mkv files to .flv and either VLC or Applian Technologies player. They do open in Windows Media Player but get only the audio.

 

I got it working using the 'Shark007' codec. All seems fine now. Only my malware detected a couple of bogus files which I removed. Seems odd, when on his website it states it's 100 per cent clean...:/

 

As careful as one can be it's still possible for downloads and uploads to get diverted/hijacked along the way and so fast that the user will never notice it.

 

Hello, I hope it is all right if I join this conversation. Would you consider converting your MKV files into formats that are more compatible with your software? Vidcoder does a good job of converting MKV to MP4. Also, Freemake Video Converter converts MKV to several formats you can choose from, including AVI.

MKV files take a lot longer to convert than other files, though. If you do choose to convert them, hopefully your computer has sufficient processor power.

Also, Freemake, which has always been a 100% freeware utility, recently has forced "branding" into its converted files, unless you pay $9.95 for a Gold Pack that removes the branding. The branding is just a splash screen at the beginning and end of the video clips.

 

I think this is what a Dutch expression calls" tensioning the horse behind the wagon". First of all I wonder why anyone would still use WMP since it's not even a standard player with windows anymore, thus will lack further development and as for functionality it has always been miles behind with for eg. VLC and MPC-HC. The only way to even remotely consider WMP for me is with the addon of :BM-productions which adds a lot of basic functionalities in the toolbar.

However, I find MPC-HC to render the best image quality without any tweaking and while I also have VLC Player installed I never downloaded a codec-pack (like CCCP) since in my earlier experience this is prone to cuase conflicts.Having these 2 other players installed makes WMP play MKV files (container but really all formats I've encountered so far) without a problem.

I'm on another OS now (dual boot) so can't check but as I recall correctly you only need LAV filters, Haali Media Splitter and the MPC-HC player (which are in the CCCP codec pack as well). But since you need to install MPC-HC as well from the CCP pack to play MKV on WMP I figure you might as well just install MPC-HC which comes with these codecs natively and will allow you to watch MKV on WMP as is the case with me.

 

I think the main reason it's still included in Windows 10 is that it's required if you wish to set up the PC as a Media Server without the aid of third-party tools.

 

@Bree: Astude catch! I must admit I've never liked WMP for it's sluggishness and lack of functionality so I am partially biased.
Also I "stream" my media from my PC (which essentially is my main mediacenter for both music and video) with HDMI to my TV by switching monitors and have an external Audio Interface which is connected tot my hifi system so never bothered to look for alternative native solutions.

Still, thanks for pointing out this functionality.

 

It's how I used to stream media in Win7, it allows you to browse for and pull media from the media server using just the display device (a smartTV in my case). Since the upgrade to Win10 I've turned it off, preferring to push media to my TV from the PC using 'Cast to...' in Explorer.

 

Didn't know about this functionality but just looked it up. Sounds easy enough (just one click and there you go). I use (Win key + P) to switch my entire desktop (or sometimes extend if someone is watching a movie and I want to continue working on the PC) and actually chose for this way since other methods like using NVidia's tools and more gave me problems with the different aspect ratios of my monitor and TV (16:9 vs 16:10) and sound running through my Home Cinema Set.

I might give this a try someday soon as it does save one or two mouseclicks (but does force me to physically walk to my PC when for e.g. streaming the next epsiode in a binge mode *Wink). However I don't think MPC-HC or VLC will adapt this functionality soon and I am very particular about the video quality which imo is the best with MPC_HC.

Anyway, once again thanks for pointing out this functionality. Was about to look for some options to stream to my iPhone and also for a simple and cheap (free?) Remote Access to Desktop iOS app and it seems Win10 has more under it's hood than I gave it credit for.