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How to Repair Damaged MKV Video File

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions

Are you playing a video file on your device media player but getting an error? Probably your MKV video file is damaged and urgently needs an MKV repair. The MKV video file stores short clips, movies, and TV shows like other formats. The name MKV comes from the Matroska multimedia container format. It also supports several audio and video codecs for your media to play smoothly. But sometimes, it fails to work. The reason behind it is the MKV file corruption. So if you are facing MKV file corruption and looking for a solution to repair the MKV file, this article is all you need to repair damaged MKV video files. Below are the topics that will be discussed in detail in this article.

Part 1: Causes of Video Files Corruption

MKV videos are the most reliable digital videos in the world. The MKV video files are known for their depend on ability, but even they can’t outrun the risk of damage and corruption. Before revealing the solutions, the first step is to identify the appropriate reason that causes file corruption. There are instances when an MKV video file can become corrupted, and you will have to think about repairing it. The following are some situations in which an MKV video file might get damaged.

  • Sudden power failure
  • Abruptly switching off the device
  • An inappropriate media player was used for playing the video content of the MKV file
  • Hard disk and its bad sectors can be a reason, along with any physical or logical damage that can aggravate the problem
  • Server errors can also result in file corruption
  • Inappropriate downloading of the file or faulty network connection
  • Virus and malware can also serve as problematic factors
  • Conversion of the file to incompatible formats

These are all the prompt reasons which can lead to video file corruption for which you need an MKV repair. Let's see what causes the file corruption in your case.


Part 2: Repair Damaged MKV Video with Wondershare Repairit Video Repair

MKV videos are rich in texture and provide excellent results. It is no wonder then that people get annoyed and frustrated when they get corrupted. However, there is a solution available to this problem. You can easily repair MKV video files provided with an MKV repair tool. Fortunately, there are many video repair tools available on the internet. The bad news is that most of them are completely useless. They don’t do much in the name of repair and aren’t able to restore the content of the corrupted MKV videos. The best video repair tool to repair MKV videos is Wondershare Repairit Video Repair.

The following is an instruction manual that has been specifically designed to give you the chance to learn how to repair damaged MKV files using the MKV Video Repair tool.

Step 1Add Damaged MKV Video File

To fix your corrupted video files, you can first click the "Add" button or "Add video and start repairing" to add damaged videos here.

add corrupted mkv video files

Step 2Repair Damaged MKV Video File

Select multiple video files for repairing. Hit the "Repair" button to begin the repairing process.

select corrupted mkv video files

Step 3Preview and Save Repaired MKV Video File

If all selected MKV video files are repaired successfully, preview the repaired MKV video files.

repairing corrupted mkv video files

Step 4Try Advanced Video Repair

If not, you can turn to the "Advanced Video Repair" mode and add a sample MKV video for further repair.

preview repaired mkv video files

Step 5 Save Repaired MKV Video File

Finally, save your repaired MKV files to your preferred drive location.

save repaired mkv video files

Simple Tips to Prevent MKV Video Corruption:

Prevention is always the best means of keeping MKV videos safe from the threat of corruption and damage. The following tips offer you preventive measures that can help you protect your MKV videos from harm.

Related: Further, read and know more complete details on repairing AVI files.
- 2 minutes to read it.

Part 3: How to Fix MKV Files on VLC

Done with pinpointing the error causing the error while playing the MKV video file, you need a quick MKV fix to sort out the problem. Here are some powerful solutions for MKV repair that would surely work for you. Out of all, the first one is to fix your MKV file in VLC. Being a high-end open-source media player, it is compatible with a number of devices and works with various file formats. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX OS.

Here is a step-wise process for MKV file repair via VLC.

Step 1 Start downloading the VLC media player and installing it on your device.

Step 2 Click on the MKV file and select the option of Properties.

fix mkv files in vlc

Step 3 In the properties menu, select change and set VLC media player as the default application for playing the video content.

set vlc media player

Step 4 Now click on the MKV file, and it will open in the VLC media player.

Step 5 If the error persists, open the VLC player, select the option of Media and then click the File option.

Step 6 Select the target file to be played and click open for playing it.

select target mkv files

You may also want to know How to Fix VLC Not Playing MKV File.

Part 4: Fix Non-playing MKV Videos in Any Media Player

Other than the VLC media player, you can also carry out the MKV fix in other media players or simply check for the working factors as explained below.

1. Download Compatible Codecs

Downloading the compatible codecs can serve the MKV repair. The codecs are used to reduce the size of audio or video files to be easily downloaded. So if you are trying to play the MKV video on a Windows media player, you need suitable codecs. Otherwise, the video will not play, and there appears an error message saying you cannot reproduce your file. So with the help of the network connection, download the compatible codec package.

download compatible codecs

Once the package is downloaded, it’s time for some settings to run the video file in the windows media player.

run mkv files in windows media player

2. Upgrade Video Card Drivers

One can check for the video card drivers as another MKV repair option. If your system software controlling the video media to play on the device is outdated, then you cannot play an MKV video file on your device. As a solution, all you need to do is upgrade the video card drivers. In the case of recent card drivers, they are automatically updated with every update of Windows. If not, update the video card drivers and run the MKV video file on the Windows media player.

3. Download MKV Files Again

If you tend to play the MKV video file on a Windows media player, check for certain factors. The video file should be accurately downloaded via a sound network connection. It should also be kept in mind that the files always be downloaded from reliable sources to avoid authentication errors that lead to file corruption. Moreover, if the process of file transfer is the target, then the safe and complete transfer must be obliged to avoid the MKV video file corruption. In case of any mistake, download the MKV file again.

Hence, while working with the MKV video file, one should keep track of the file downloaded. It should be a complete download from a reliable source. If you get the file due to a file transfer, then it should be a complete file transfer. One should ensure that the device gets a uniform power supply, any abrupt power failure can result in file corruption, and the MKV video file would not play on your device. Then you need an MKV repair mechanism.

Use a powerful anti-virus to protect your device from malware attacks, as it can also result in the corruption of a new MKV video file. If you face file corruption, you can play the MKV video file in the VLC media player by changing the format, then check for the factors like compatible codecs downloaded, update the video driver cards, or download the MKV file again.

Recoverit author

Eleanor Reed

staff Editor

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