MKV is an open-source video file format. It supports almost all codecs. You can play this video file format on mobile phones, cameras, and iPods. You can also use an open-source media player to play and watch MKV files on your TV. Many users use MKV files to compress HD videos without compromising quality.
However, like other video file formats, MKV is a sensitive file and can easily be corrupted, blurred, or cropped. There are many reasons why MKV video files may get corrupted and cannot be played.
This post describes common causes of MKV corruption. You will also learn how to repair MKV files using the manual solution and the best way to repair MKV video files. If you have any corrupted MKV video files, this post will help you.
Common Causes of MKV corruption
There are various reasons why MKV files become corrupt and inaccessible. We have listed some of them.
Sudden power outage: If you are editing an MKV file and suddenly you face a power outage, there is a high chance that your file may be damaged or corrupted.
Virus attack: A virus attack can damage your MKV videos or other files. To prevent this from happening, always download files from a trusted source and install antivirus software on your machine.
Incomplete transfer: If you are transferring MKV files and somehow the process gets interrupted, there is a high chance that the MKV file might be corrupted.
Bad sectors on the hard drive: If your hard drive has some bad sectors and your MKV files are stored in any of these sectors, MKV files may get corrupted.
Old video driver: If your media player fails to play MKV files, check if the PC has an updated driver.
Media player does not support the MKV file: MKV is a popular file format, but not many media players support this file format. You can use VLC, MX Player, or other media players to open MKV video files.
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How to repair MKV video files?
You can use manual solutions or third-party MKV repair tools to repair MKV files. But if your file is highly corrupted, we recommend the SysCurve Video Repair tool. With the help of this software, you can repair corrupted MKV video files.
But before using any manual solution or a third-party tool, try the following troubleshooting method to repair MKV video files.
Note: Before performing any method, prepare a backup.
Download the MKV file again
If your downloaded file doesn't play, try downloading it again. There are chances that your download process may have been interrupted. Because of this, your video file is not playing.
Open MKV video in other media players.
If your media player fails to play the MKV file, use another player to open the MKV video file. You can also use DivX, MX Player, and VLC to open these files.
Convert MKV to another file format
MKV format is not supported by many media players. So it would be better to convert MKV to MP4 or other file formats.
Download Codec
If your media player fails to play MKV video files, try downloading a codec pack. With the help of a codec pack, you can play any video.
If these troubleshooting solutions don't work for you, use the following methods to repair MKV video files.
Method 1: Repair MKV file using VLC Media Player
- Select the MKV file that you want to repair and right-click on the MKV file
- Select Rename option, replace .mkv with .avi extension and press Enter key
- Open the VLC Media Player and click on the Tools
- Select the Preferences option and choose the Input/Codecs option
- From the damaged or incomplete file drop-down, choose the Always fix option
- Finally, Click on the Save button.
Method 2: Repair corrupted MKV file using the Video Repair tool
Here, we will use SysCurve Video Repair tool. It is one of the best software that quickly fixes 17 different video file formats. With the help of this tool, you can recover MKV, MP4, MOV, WMV, MPEG, AVI, FLV, WEBM, and other video formats. The software also comes with a free trial version of this tool.
- Download and install the SysCurve Video Repair tool.
- Launch the software and click on the Add File option
- Select the corrupted MKV video file and click on the OK button.
- Select the damaged file and click on the Repair button
- When the process is complete, click on the preview options to see the video.
- Select the repaired file and click on the Save Repaired File button
Other helpful features
- Repair MKV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MP4, WEBM, MOV, etc.
- Preview the repaired video file
- Fix all types of video issues.
- Fix highly damaged video using sample file
- Provide a free trial version
- Support major media players
- Compatible with Windows 10 and earlier
Frequently Asked Questions
How to open MKV files?
You can use VLC, DivX, KM Player, MX Player, and MK Player to open MKV video files.
Why doesn't my MKV file play?
There are many reasons why MKV files won't play. It includes missing codecs, incorrect audio/video settings, corrupted MKV files, and more.
How to repair a corrupted MKV file?
You can use the manual method to fix the corrupted MKV file. If the manual solution fails, try the SysCurve Video Repair tool. With the help of this software, you can repair MKV files quickly.
What is the best MKV repair tool?
SysCurve Video Repair software is considered the best MKV repair tool. With the help of this software, you can repair damaged MKV files. The software not only repairs MKV files but also repairs MP4, FLV, AVI, WMV, MOV, MPEG, and WEBM files. The tool also comes with a free demo version. You can use the free version of this tool to repair corrupted MKV files and view the repaired videos inside the software window. To save the fixed video file, you need to purchase the full version of this tool.