I need help with my VLC player

I have some video files with .mkv extension. These files play on VLC player on another laptop but not on my desktop computer. I have a Windows 8.1 system. Can someone please help me play these files?

I was also facing a similar issue with my VLC player and I was not able to play .mkv files.

All you have to do is to right click on mkv file and select ‘open with’ from the shortcut menu.
Then choose default program and in the options dialogue box, check the “Use this app for all .MKV files” and then select VLC player.

It should play now. It worked for me, may it will work for you too.

VLC player must support the MKV video format. I don't know whats wrong with you but for me it is working. Make sure that you are using the latest version of VLC player. If you are already using it then make sure the files are opening with VLC player. I mean you can use option 'program open with' and choose VLC player to play the file.

If you are still getting problem then you can go for alternative of VLC player. Classic media player is the best one working for me.

I have some video files with .mkv extension. These files play on VLC player on another laptop but not on my desktop computer. I have a Windows 8.1 system. Can someone please help me play these files?

It must be an issue with the codec. Your system may not have the right codecs to render mkv files. Can you tell me the exact version of windows 8.1? ( like Pro, Pro N, Home etc ). If it is any version with an ending 'N', it means the media pack of windows is not installed, which can use issues with media playback (including online streaming). If it is the issue with codecs, then you can just install the codecs and fix the issue. I use K-litecodec, which is free. You can download it from here K-lite codec

KMPlayer or KMP is a good alternative to VLC media player because it can play more formats that VLC are having issues with. I use to have VLC but I struggle to play MKV and MP4 files with it so I decided to change brands. KMP is also free just like VLC.

I have some video files with .mkv extension. These files play on VLC player on another laptop but not on my desktop computer. I have a Windows 8.1 system. Can someone please help me play these files?

It must be an issue with the codec. Your system may not have the right codecs to render mkv files. Can you tell me the exact version of windows 8.1? ( like Pro, Pro N, Home etc ). If it is any version with an ending 'N', it means the media pack of windows is not installed, which can use issues with media playback (including online streaming). If it is the issue with codecs, then you can just install the codecs and fix the issue. I use K-litecodec, which is free. You can download it from here K-lite codec

That can be one of the reason. :idea: If we don't have codec installed properly on our system then video player may behave malfunction. You are quite right on it. By installing proper codec again this problem can be solved. It is worth to try it out.

I was also facing a similar issue with my VLC player and I was not able to play .mkv files.  

All you have to do is to right click on mkv file  and select ‘open with’ from the shortcut menu.  
Then choose default program and in the options dialogue box, check the “Use this app for all .MKV files” and then select VLC player.  

It should play now. It worked for me, may it will work for you too.

@lifegame thank you for your suggestion, I will certainly try doing as you say and see if it works. Do you also use a Windows 8.1 operating system?

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I have some video files with .mkv extension. These files play on VLC player on another laptop but not on my desktop computer. I have a Windows 8.1 system. Can someone please help me play these files?

It must be an issue with the codec. Your system may not have the right codecs to render mkv files. Can you tell me the exact version of windows 8.1? ( like Pro, Pro N, Home etc ). If it is any version with an ending 'N', it means the media pack of windows is not installed, which can use issues with media playback (including online streaming). If it is the issue with codecs, then you can just install the codecs and fix the issue. I use K-litecodec, which is free. You can download it from here K-lite codec

That can be one of the reason. :idea: If we don't have codec installed properly on our system then video player may behave malfunction. You are quite right on it. By installing proper codec again this problem can be solved. It is worth to try it out.

@Minyah and @naruto100, I use Windows 8.1 Pro and the VLC player came installed with it, so it must be the latest version. Anyway, I will check it again and see, otherwise will install the codes as you have suggested. :)

KMPlayer or KMP is a good alternative to VLC media player because it can play more formats that VLC are having issues with. I use to have VLC but I struggle to play MKV and MP4 files with it so I decided to change brands. KMP is also free just like VLC.

I was a KMPlayer user for a long time. Recently I switched to VLC because KMP started to become annoying, especially by asking me to update whenever I open it, at least once in a week. They also started playing ads on their home screen if we are connected to the internet. On the other hand, VLC is really powerful, customizable, open sourced.

Convert MKV to Better Compatible MP4, AVI, MOV Video Formats

Compared with MKV, the videos formats AVI, MOV, MP4 are more compatible with PC, MAC and portable devices and can be played by VLC more simply. Therefore, it's better to convert MKV to those more common video formats to play MKV with VLC while avoiding sound and subtitle problems.

If your .mkv video won't still play in VLC player. There is something wrong with the application. You better update it or uninstall it and then reinstall it. Probably there are bugs in your present VLC player.