How to Play MKV Files on TV without Playback Error?

To fix the issue of MKV not playing on your TV, it helps to understand why it happens in the first place.

The main cause is unsupported codecs. MKV is only a container format that can hold various audio and video codecs. To play MKV smoothly, your TV must support both the MKV format and the codecs used inside. And that's why even though you read that MKV is supported by your TV, you still can't play some MKV files. You would often find that the MKV has no image (when the video codec is not supported, such as AV1 or 10-bit HEVC), no audio (when the audio codec is not supported, such as DTS, Dolby TrueHD, or AC3), or does not play at all.

Additionally, if your MKV video has a high bitrate or frame rate that's hardware demanding, it could also lead to playback errors like lagging, audio-video desync, or complete freezing.

Note that while many modern smart TVs support the .mkv extension, there are a few exceptions, e.g., Apple TV, that do not support the MKV format natively. For native playback on Apple TV, you must convert MKV to MP4 or MOV.

If you want to play MKV files directly from a USB flash drive or external hard drive, you need to make your MKV TV-compatible first. And this is done by video conversion.

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is a powerful and reliable video converter that offers a fast and high-quality solution to this conversion. It's equipped with a range of presets for all major TV brands and streaming devices, including Samsung, Sony, LG, Apple TV, and Fire TV. You simply need to select your specific TV model, and it can make the video compatible with this TV. Also, you can adjust the bitrate and frame rate of your videos for easier playback on your TV.

Free download Free download this MKV to TV converter now to convert MKV for your TV.

Step 1: Launch HD Video Converter Factory Pro and open Converter. Click +Add Files to import your unplayable MKV files. Batch conversion is supported.

Step 2: Open the output format page on the right. Click your TV brand and pick your target TV preset. Alternatively, you can choose H264 (MP4 – H264/AAC) under the Video tab, as this profile is universally supported by virtually all devices and platforms.

💡 If your video stutters on TV, you can open Parameter settings to lower the resolution from 4K to 1080p/720p and keep the video bitrate around 2000–5000 kbps for smooth playback.

Step 3: Click the ▼ icon to choose an output folder at the bottom and hit Run to start the conversion. The process will be fast with hardware acceleration enabled.

After the conversion, transfer the converted files to your USB (use USB 3.0 for 4K transmission to avoid choppy performance) and connect it to your TV. Now, you should be able to play the videos on your TV without issue.

In most cases, you need to convert MKV to a universal format for it to be played normally on a TV. But if you have a modern smart TV, you can also try the following methods, which help you play MKV files on TV without converting first.

If your TV can install apps, such as Android TVs and Amazon Fire TV devices, you can try using a third-party media player that comes with built-in software decoders for MKV. The popular options are:

VLC: This is a universal media player that supports basically any MKV file. You can search for VLC directly in the Google Play Store or Amazon App Store on your TV or Firestick. Install it, open the app, and allow it to access your local USB storage and play the MKV files that the native media player can't play.

Kodi: This media player can also decode almost all MKV video and audio streams.

You can also set up a Plex server to stream MKV files to your TV. Plex will transcode the unsupported MKV files on the fly so your TV receives the converted video and audio streams in a supported format and then plays them correctly.

🔔 Note: You may experience lags when the network is unstable.

Step 1: Install Plex Media Server on your PC and add your MKV movies to the Plex library.

Step 2: Install the Plex App on your TV.

Step 3: Sign in to Plex and browse the library to play the desired MKV file.

For more details: How to Use Plex

One more option to play unsupported MKV videos is to cast your screen to the TV. Here are three common options:

Chromecast: If your TV supports Chromecast or is connected to a Chromecast device, you can cast MKV to TV from your computer or smartphone. For instance, you can play MKV in VLC, then go to Playback > Renderer, and select your TV (make sure that the casting device and your TV are on the same Wi-Fi network).
💡 You can also cast MKV from a web browser if it's supported (MP4 –H264/AAC), otherwise, you would still need to convert the MKV file first.

AirPlay: You can play MKV on Apple TV through AirPlay screen mirroring (not direct AirPlay as it requires format conversion first). But this method will cast everything on your device screen to your TV, so the quality may be poor.

HDMI Cable: You can connect your PC and TV with an HDMI cable. Next, on your PC, bring up the Display settings. Click Detect to search your TV display. Then play MKV on TV from your PC.

When your TV fails to play MKV files, the culprit is almost always a codec mismatch. You can install third-party media players like VLC or Kodi, set up Plex on your TV, or cast screen to your TV to watch the unsupported MKVs. But for a permanent, hassle-free solution, it's recommended to use WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro to convert your MKV files to standard MP4 format using H264 and AAC codecs, which ensures smooth playback on any TV.

Yes, but with some limitations. Newer Fire TV devices can play MKV files if their internal audio/video codecs are supported. If your MKV contains DTS audio or high-profile H.265 video, it cannot be played directly. You can use HD Video Converter Factory Pro to transcode the file to H.264/AAC MP4 to resolve this playback issue.

This is usually because your TV does not support the audio codec in the MKV file, such as DTS, Dolby TrueHD, or EAC3. You need to convert the audio track to AAC or MP3 to resolve this audio issue.

This is because your TV does not support the video codec in the MKV video, such as HEVC or AV1. Converting it to H.264 will effectively solve this problem.

Many TVs don't support soft subtitles very well. It's recommended to hardcode the subtitles into the video to solve this problem.