5 Ways on How to Play MKV files on Mac [2025 Newest]

As one of the most popular video formats, the MKV file is widely used for playing high-quality HD 720p or 1080p movies and videos. Windows devices can easily play MKV file format because they have a built-in codec. However, Mac users may find it hard to play MKV files because QuickTime Player doesn't support MKV file format and its codecs.

Then, is there any other way to play MKV file? The answer is yes. In this tutorial, we will show you how to play MKV files on Mac in 5 ways. A QuickTime plugin is needed. Some MKV players are also included.

We tested and compared the 5 ways and put the results in the table below. Let's have a look at them now.

✅QUICK CONCLUSION:

From the comparison table above, we can see that EaseUS RecExperts is the most effective and easy-to-use tool to play MKV media files on a Mac. Download it and check the tutorial to use it now!

👁️You may also want:

Part 1. Play MKV Files on Mac with EaseUS RecExperts

EaseUS RecExperts is a third-party video & audio player that can play common files like MKV, MP4, MP3, AAC, etc. And it enables you to make basic changes to the MKV files. For example, you can use it to trim videos on Windows, change the speed when playing an MKV video, or you can delete an MKV file from your list.

We recommend it because users can put its built-in media player on the desktop and play a local media file by simply dragging the file to the desktop icon. Besides, it doesn't require plugins to start playing, which is easier to use than inbuilt players on Mac. 

Download it from the button below right now!

Steps to play MKV files with EaseUS RecExperts:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts, and click "Recordings" on the lower right to open the media player.

Step 2. In this window, you can see all your recorded files, including MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, MP3, etc.

Step 3. Click the file you want to play to view it immediately. You can also trim the file by clicking the scissor sign on the bottom.

📋Interested in this tool? Download it right now!

Part 2. Play MKV Files on Mac with QuickTime Plugin

We can't play MKV files with QuickTime directly, but we can use Perian, a QuickTime plugin, to help us in playing MKV video files on your Mac. Perian is a free, open-source plugin for QuickTime Player. It works automatically in QuickTime after setting it up on Mac. With its help, playing MKV videos on Mac is not impossible anymore.

However, Perian supports only QuickTime 7.6.6. And it takes a long time for MKV to load. This is because QuickTime expects to know the location of every single frame in a movie in order to play it. But it is difficult for files like MKV. So, if you are not so patient, you may skip this option.

If you can bear with this, you may follow the steps below to play the MKV file on Mac with Perian now.

Step 1. Find the media file you'd like to play on your Mac computer and right-click on it.

Step 2. Select "Open With" > "Perian - Open in QT Player" on the list.

Step 3. Wait for a while, and your file should be playing in QuickTime with the help of Perian.

✒️As we mentioned before, users can't play MKV files directly with QuickTime. So, if you want an easier and smoother MKV player, try EaseUS RecExperts now!

Part 3. Play MKV Files on Mac with Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player is another choice for playing MKV files on a Mac. This is a convenient and reliable player that includes all the necessary features for both advanced users and novices. FLV, SWF, AVI, MOV, MP4, MP3, MKV or etc. are all supported by this tool. So you can see it as a FLV player, MP4 player... too.

Moreover, you can also export/import bookmarks, create and save playlists, change screenshot series, etc. In a word, it is one of the all-in-one players that can open any file on your Mac. If you often watching downloaded videos and movies, this is your tool.

Now, let's see how to play MKV with this tool.

Step 1. Download the app from the official website or the AppStore.

Step 2. After downloading and installing, launch it and open the menu bar, then go to "File", and click "Open".

Step 3. Choose the MKV file you want to play from your Mac and select "Open". Then, Elmedia Player will play the MKV video for you.

Part 4. Play MKV Files on Mac with VLC Media Player

Another decent program to play your MKV on Mac is VLC Media Player. This app is well-known because of its high-security measures, offering the most convenient use to its users. And this is also the reason why we recommend this media play to you.

VLC supports almost all file formats, and MKV is not an exception. Of course, it is also an MP4 player that can play MP4 with high quality. Moreover, this tool is highly customizable with an editor tool for personalized extensions. It is compatible with all platforms.

All these features make it reliable. However, many users feel the interface is outdated and not as intuitive as other updated apps. If you value the intuitive interface of a product, this may not be your best choice.

Below are the steps for playing MKV on Mac with VLC Media Player.

Step 1. Download VLC Media Player from the official website to your computer.

Step 2. Right-click on an MKV file on your Mac, choose "Open With" and choose VLC Media Player. Then, the app will play your MKV files.

Part 5. Play MKV Files on Mac with Handbrake

There is another option for you, and it is the last one we gathered. This is converting MKV files to Mac-supported formats. For example, you can convert MKV to MP4. To do so, you will need a file converter. Here we give you Handbrake.

Handbrake is one of the open-sourced tools that is commonly used for people to rip DVD videos. You can also use it to convert your MKV videos to MP4 format with one click. After converting, you can use QuickTime to play the MP4 file on your Mac easily. The operation is a bit confusing. If you are not ok with that, try another tool.

Step 1. Download and launch Handbrake on your screen.

Step 2. Hit on the option "Open Source" located at the upper left corner of your window and choose the MKV file that you want to convert.

Step 3. Choose MP4 or other Mac-supported formats as the output format. After that, hit on the "Start" button to convert the MKV file.

Step 4. After converting, you can play the MP4 file on your Mac.

Conclusion

People sometimes come up with the question: Can I play MKV files on Mac? If you have the same confusion, you can try the methods listed above. The article gives you five ways to play MKV files on Mac. And we recommend you download EaseUS RecExperts as it is comprehensive and easy to use. Download it from the button below right now!