Play MKV files on the TV - Here's how
With modern smart TVs you can usually also play video files in MKV format. Here's how:
Play MKV files via USB on the TV
- First, make sure that your TV has a USB port and that your model is suitable for MKV playback. You can find this information, for example, in the manual or on the manufacturer's website.
- Copy the MKV file to a USB stick or an external hard drive with a USB connection.
- Connect the USB data carrier to your TV and start it.
- Navigate in your TV menu to play from your USB device. For most manufacturers, this works by selecting your USB device from an input list or first starting the TV internal media player and then navigating to the MKV file and playing it.
MKV playback with BluRay player
Unfortunately, some manufacturers do not support the playback of MKV directly on the television. In such a case, you can make the detour via a second device: your DVD or BluRay player with USB connection.
- Connect your USB data carrier to the corresponding socket on the player and start it.
- Most manufacturers can play them either via a player main menu or a media player app in the device. There you select the desired MKV file and play it.
MKV via stream on the TV
If your hardware doesn't work, you can also stream your MKV file from a streaming device to the TV.
- Provided that your television supports streaming via the home network, in most cases you can access media content on your PC via a DLNA connection. This practical tip shows you how to do this under Windows 7, for example.
- Some manufacturers offer their own streaming solutions for their TV sets. We'll show you how to stream your laptop to your Samsung Smart TV.
- You can also use HDMI sticks such as Google's Chromecast to send local files to the TV via your home network.
Play MKV on laptop or PC
If all of these solutions do not help you, in this last option you can connect a PC or laptop to your TV to enjoy your MKV file on your TV.
- To do this, connect a PC or laptop to your television with an HDMI cable, for example, and start both devices.
- Usually the connection is automatically recognized by your PC and duplicates your desktop on your TV. If this does not happen, you can activate the output in your graphics card settings.
- Finally, start MKV playback on your computer.
You can also convert the MKV file. In this practical tip we will show you how.