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MKV file: what it is and how to open it

Matroska video. Here is what a .mkv file contains, how to open one on any device, and a viewer that opens it right in your browser.

Open a .mkv file hereChoose fileRead in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What the viewer shows

  • Whether the file matches the .mkv signature
  • The first bytes as hex
  • A preview when your browser can display it

What is a .mkv file?

A .mkv file is a matroska video. Its registered MIME type is video/x-matroska, which places it in the video family of formats.

Technically it is a specialised form of application/x-matroska, so tools that understand that format can often read at least part of it.

MKV is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.

The same format is also saved with the extensions .mk3d, .mks.

MKV file format details

Extension.mkv
FormatMatroska video
MIME typevideo/x-matroska, video/matroska
CategoryVideo
Text or binaryBinary
Based onapplication/x-matroska
File signatureNone fixed
Registered with IANANo
Other extensions.mk3d, .mks

How to open MKV files

WindowsVLC media player is free and plays almost every audio and video format, MKV included in most cases. Media Player and Films and TV handle the common ones.
MacQuickTime Player plays formats Apple supports. VLC or IINA play most others.
iPhone and iPadThe Files app plays formats Apple supports. VLC for iOS plays most others.
AndroidMost gallery and music apps play common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything.

Convert MKV files

TapToConvert converts MKV files in your browser, without uploading them. Open the MKV converter, or go straight to a conversion:

MKV file FAQ

What is a .mkv file?

A .mkv file is a matroska video, with the MIME type video/x-matroska.

How do I open a .mkv file?

VLC media player plays most audio and video formats on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android.

Is a .mkv file safe to open?

MKV files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.

What is the MIME type of .mkv?

video/x-matroska, and it is also seen as video/matroska. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.

Is MKV a text or binary format?

Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.

File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.

Similar file types

Try MP4 to MP3, HEIC, merge PDF or compress video.