Video files come in different formats like MKV or MP4 and we all often face difficulties in playing them because they often get damaged or corrupted. If you like making videos and watching movies, you must have dealt with Matroska Multimedia Container aka. MKV video format. This format includes video, image, audio, and text subtitles in a single file and is widely used for movies and shows. If your MKV file cannot be played, there is a chance that it is damaged. This article explores some of the main factors that make them unplayable, the most effective way to repair MKV files, and some great tips to protect them. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Part 1: Reasons why MKV file won’t play
Not paying attention to the file format is very common unless you encounter an error when trying to play it. The first thing that comes to the mind of every user is the possibility of a damaged video file. However, there are other specific scenarios that make an MKV file unplayable. Let’s discuss them briefly.
Unsupported Media Players:
87.8% of computer users worldwide use computers with Windows operating system. The default media player of the Windows operating system is Windows Media Player, which does not support MKV files. It is valid for versions prior to Windows 10, and if you want to play a file in MKV format on this player, you need to download certain codecs to make it compatible. VLC is the most widely used video player that supports MKV files. So always play your files in a supported player before you conclude that it’s broken.
Drivers out of date:
Are you someone who doesn’t update your operating system and keeps putting them off? Then there are high chances that your video drivers are out of date which is causing the problem during playback. If you are using an old device and its drivers have not been updated, this could be the reason why your MKV files are not playing. Update your drivers from a trusted source and try playing again to see if the issue is resolved.
Device issues:
Problems playing video files are sometimes not because there is something wrong with the file. If the general functionality of your computer is interrupted, perhaps due to a virus or malware attack, or if the operating system is not installed correctly, the video players will also not work correctly. The best way to confirm that the problem is with your device is to try playing it on another audio device to rule out this cause.
The MKV file is damaged:
After ruling out all the above reasons, you will finally conclude that the unplayable MKV file is corrupted. This data corruption can be due to various reasons. The most common is video data that is infected with a powerful malware or virus, making it unplayable. If you yourself recorded a video from a digital device and it suddenly turned off or the device was running out of battery while recording or saving, this can also damage MKV files. The use of the MKV format is prevalent in subtitled videos, usually in movies. People tend to get them from untrustworthy sources, so there is always a risk of getting corrupted, suddenly ejecting a storage device during the transfer. MKV files are another factor that leads to corruption of such data.
Part 2: Repair damaged MKV video with Wondershare Repairit
Once you are sure that the video files are damaged, don’t panic; you can fix them with an effective repair tool. MKV files are complicated and not all repair tools are designed to fix them. So, always go for a reliable one with great reviews. Wondershare is a leading software company with a wide range of software products for data recovery, video editing, templating and more. The company has released a great video recovery tool known as Wondershare Repairit. The repair tool has a high repair success rate and is specially designed to repair MKV files and many other video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, 3GP, FLV and others. Regardless of the cause of video file corruption/corruption, the tool can effectively repair MKV format data within minutes. The tool is packed with advanced features, user interface, and is compatible with both Windows and macOS. It is available in two versions. The free online version will help you repair a file up to 200 MB for free. To use the desktop version to repair larger files, you need to download the version according to your computer’s operating system and follow the steps below to recover all your precious videos.
Step #01: Run and add the video file:
After launching Wondershare Repairit, you will see a button to add videos. Click on it and it will allow you to add multiple videos at once. Add all your MKV files with errors and proceed to the next step.
Step#02: Select file and repair:
When you add all the problem videos, the interface will also show you the size, dimension, and duration of the file. Select the ones you want to repair and hit the repair button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step #03 – Examine the Fixed MKV Files:
The software has a built-in preview feature through which you can view the repaired video content and make sure that it is perfectly repaired.
Step #04: Save the MKV file:
The final step is to save the file to the desired location on your computer based on available space. Therefore, Wondershare Repairit helps you quickly repair all damaged .MKV files
Part 3: Tips to protect video files:
All video files, regardless of format and size, are prone to damage and corruption. Many times the files are lost and cannot be played due to human errors. With the necessary preventive measures, you can avoid its damage. Some of the important ones are
- Do not turn off your computer immediately and make sure to avoid any scenario that leads to it. When you play videos or transfer them to/from another device or download them, momentary shutdown interrupts the process and causes changes that lead to file corruption.
- When you want to transfer files to an external device, always scan them for potential malware and viruses. If your storage device is infected with any of them, it will damage your videos. For your protection, do not use USB, pen drives and passport hard drives on public computers or without antivirus software.
- Videos are larger than any other type of data and may take some time to transfer. When the transfer is not complete, do not eject the device suddenly. Allow the process to complete and eject properly to avoid data corruption.
- Take all essential precautions when recording video. Don’t overplay them and turn off the camera when not in use. Transfer the recorded data to the correct device and back it up to a secure cloud storage platform.
- The Internet is an excellent source of content, from which you can download a lot of information in informative and entertaining video format. Just make sure you download them from reputable sources and websites, as they may contain viruses that will corrupt your existing videos. Download them when your internet connection is stable and the speed is excellent.
This beginner’s guide on video repair and video data protection will come in handy if you find yourself in such a situation. Most of the time, the problem is resolved by downloading the appropriate media player or the correct codecs. However, if the MKV or MP4 video file is really damaged, Wondershare Recoverit will help you to repair all your damaged video data in the easiest way. In a simple four-step process, you can recover all your data in a reproducible form. This online/desktop video repair tool has an amazing success rate, so you won’t be disappointed at all. Check out all the features and benefits of the software on its official website.
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education