Top 6 Solutions to MKV Video No Sound Problem

Eleanor Reed

Nov 23, 2020 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions

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Matroska videos or MKV is an ingenious video file format that was created in Russia in 2002. What's so great about it is the way it combines audio, video, and subtitles in a single file and provides added functionality to boot.

Unfortunately, many have encountered a nagging issue. The MKV video no sound problem is when audio is absent during playback. Everyone's first thought is to redownload the video, but that isn't always the solution. So stop wasting your data and try out these methods instead.

Solution 1. Check the Media Player

There are several ways for an MKV video to become corrupt but here are just a couple: memory card issues, change in video format, device crash, improper transfer or download, unreliable media players, etc.

First and foremost, check that your media player isn't at fault. You can confirm this by playing other videos in the player (MKV and non-MKV files). If you have another media player installed, try the problem video there as well. Here are some scenarios that could result:

If you use third-party media players like VLC, PotPlayer, and GOM player, then they should be able to play MKV files without taking any additional steps. This means that the likely cause for your issue is a faulty installation. You can check out how to repair corrupt MKV files further in this article, but regarding your media player, here's what you do.

Step 1: Press the "Windows" key to bring up the Windows menu. Click on the "Settings" icon.

Step 2: In Windows Settings, click on "Apps." Make sure you are on the Apps & Features tab by checking the menu on your left.

Step 3:Scroll down until you find your media player. Select it and click on "Uninstall." Agree to any prompts about fully uninstalling the media player and wait for it to finish.

Step 4: Now download a new installation file for your third-party media player to any location you prefer.

Step 5: In the "download complete" page, tick the "Run VLC media player" box and click finish.

Step 6: Once VLC opens, try your MKV video once more to make sure your problem has been fixed.

Solution 2. Use Video Repair Software

Let's say you discover your MKV video isn't playing with sound, so you decide to try other media players, but they all have the same issue. You've done everything you can think of, from installing more codecs to updating all your drivers. Then it means your MKV video is at fault.

Whether you downloaded the MKV videos or transferred them from another device, it's always annoying to realize that you will have to get them again. Usually, that would mean re-downloading the MKV video or trying to get your hands on the device that you copied if from the first time. Depending on the situation, either could result in a lot of stress that we would all prefer to avoid.

So rejoice, because you no longer have to delete your corrupt MKV videos. Wondershare has come up with the ultimate tool to fix corrupt MKV files called Recoverit Video Repair. It's a handy data recovery tool that can quickly repair corrupt MKV video files on your computer. Users can scan and preview their files for free using Recoverit Video Repair, so you're sure it can solve all your MKV video problems before you commit to getting it.

Another cool thing about Recoverit Video Repair is that it supports several video formats right out of the box. The list includes MOV, MP4, M2TS, MKV, MTS, 3GP, AVI, FLV.

If you're in a hurry or believe the corruption in your MKV video isn't too bad, go with Quick Repair. However, Advance Repair is always the way to go if you want to cover all your bases. It uses the sample to figure out how the file should be structured and then does its magic.

How to repair corrupt MKV videos

Recoverit Video Repair is designed to fix video corruption in video files across multiple formats by first scanning them and then giving the user a preview of the fixed video. It's built to repair simple video errors to larger, more severe forms of file damage.

Here's our guide on how to use Recoverit Video Repair in Quick Repair mode:

Solution 3. Check the Audio Driver

Audio drivers are a type of computer file that allows other programs to recognize and appropriately interact with an audio device, like speakers and headphones. Check to make sure that your audio drivers aren't outdated or malfunctioning, as this could also be the cause of your MKV videos not producing sound. Here are a few things you can try.

1. Update your audio driver

This is the most direct way of updating your audio drivers without the use of any third-party programs.

2. Open Device Manager

Step 1: Type "Device Manager" in the search box of the taskbar and select it from the results.

Step 2: Select the arrow beside "Sound, video, and game controllers" to expand it.

3. Update driver

Step 3:From the expanded list, right-click the listing for your audio device or sound card, and select "Update driver." Wait for the search to end.

Step 4: Now select "Search automatically for updated driver software." Your computer will then proceed to search for any available updates for your audio device or sound card.

Step 5: If it finds an update, follow the instructions provided to complete the update process.

Step 6:If Windows can't find any available updates for your audio driver, try visiting the manufacturer's website to see if anything is available.

4. Uninstall your audio driver

If there are no updates for your audio driver, then it could be that what you have installed is malfunctioning. Try uninstalling it by doing the following;

Step 1:Type in the taskbar search box, "Device Manager" and then select it from the search results.

Locate your device drivers

Step 2: Click on the arrow beside "Sound, video and game controllers" to expand the list and then click on the "Delete the driver software for this device" checkbox to uninstall.

Uninstall the driver

Step 3: Restart your computer after uninstalling, but make sure you've saved all your documents and any work you might have open. Select the Start button.

Step 4:Select "Power" from the menu.

Step 5:Select Restart from the Power menu to initiate the restart process. Restarting will automatically prompt your computer to reinstall your audio driver.

5. Use the generic Windows audio drivers

If your audio drivers still aren't working, try using the generic audio drivers that come with Windows. To do so, follow these instructions;

Step 1:Type "Device Manager" in the taskbar search box and pick it from the results.

Step 2:Click on the small arrow beside "Sound, video, and game controllers" to expand it.

Step 3: Right-click on your audio device or sound card and select "Update driver."

Browse computer for drivers

Step 4: Select "Browse my computer for driver software." Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer."

Select the driver

Step 6: Now select the audio device whose driver you wish to change and choose "Next." Follow the instructions that follow to install the audio driver.

Solution 4. Use the Windows Troubleshooter

One of the cool new additions introduced in Windows 10 is the built-in troubleshooter, which also includes an audio troubleshooter tool. Troubleshooters help users fix many common issues they may be experiencing, including the MKV video no sound problem. What's great about the tool is that it initiates an automatic process which fixes your audio issues for you. Just follow these steps to get it done.

Step 1:Click on the Start button or tap the Windows key and select "Settings" from the menu.

Step 2: Click on "Update & Security" in the settings window.

Step 3:Choose "Troubleshoot" from the menu.

Run the troubleshooter

Step 4:Find "Get up and running" on the right-hand side and then click on "Playing audio" to activate the audio troubleshooter.

Step 5:The audio troubleshooter will begin to detect the problem you're facing and try to fix it. Give the troubleshooter some time to get the job done.

Let the process take over

Step 6: Once the repair process has ended, play your MKV video to confirm that you've gotten rid of the no sound problem.

The Troubleshoot settings "Get up and running" section has the more common problems that users experience arranged in alphabetical order and includes Internet Connections, Printer, and Windows Update. There is also the "Find and fix other problems" section, which provides troubleshooting options for a more extensive range of system-related problems. These include Bluetooth, Incoming Connections, Network Adapter, Windows Store Updater, Searching & Indexing, Video Playback, Recording Audio, and Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. With all these options and more, there isn't any reason not to give the Windows Troubleshooter a try when encountering any issue on your computer.

Troubleshooter settings via search

You can also access the audio troubleshooter by typing "Troubleshoot settings" in the taskbar's search box.

Solution 5. Change the MKV File Format

Your computer might lack the resources to play your MKV video properly or driver and codec issues, which might lead to MKV video playback with no sound. Whatever the cause, converting your video to a more common format like MP4 will save you a lot of headaches.

Here's our guide on how to convert your MKV video file format to MP4 using Wondershare Uniconverter:

Step 1: Click on the triangle near "Add Files" and select "Add from Camcorder." Select your MKV video in the popup window and click "Add to List."

Step 2: Click on the triangle near "Convert all files to:" and select "Video." Pick MP4 as your desired file format.

Step 3: Click on the Edit icon next to the file resolution to enter the "Settings" window. Select the settings you prefer or pick "Small Size" to let Uniconverter select the details for you.

Step 4: Click "OK." Then click on the "Convert All" button to begin the conversion process. Once the process has ended, play your converted MKV video to make sure it now has sound during playback. Click the Convert button

Solution 6. Repair MKV Codec Problems

Video files are ordinarily large files, but through the use of codecs, we can compress them into smaller file sizes and then decode them during playback. Codecs are small pieces of code that make this possible, without which, playback would be impossible.

That's why the absence of codecs will prevent playback, while corrupt codecs will cause any number of issues, which include the MKV video no sound problem. K-Lite Codec Pack is one of, if not the most popular high-quality codec packages out there. Using it will make sure your MKV videos will be encoded and decoded correctly, removing your no sound woes.

This is what you do if your codecs are corrupt or outdated.

Step 1: Install the software. Make sure Profile 1 is selected and leave all the options in their default setting and click "Next."

Step 2: For "Additional Tasks and Options," leave the default options and click "Next." Under "Hardware Acceleration," leave the default options and click "Next."

Use the default settings

Step 3:Under "File associations," make sure to select all media players installed on your computer if you want the codecs to work with them. Or make sure you've set your primary media player to "All Video Extensions." Click "Next."

Step 4: Under "Speaker configuration," select whatever preference your computer can handle. Click "Next."

Speaker configuration setting

Step 5:The "Ready to Install" page will provide a summary of all your selections. Look through to make sure all is in order and then click "Next" to begin the installation process.

Step 6:Once the installation is complete, click "Finish" and test your MKV video to make sure there's no sound during playback.

Make sure all selections are correct

Final Reviews on MKV Video No Sound

MKV files or Matroska files were developed in Russia in 2012 by lead developer Lasse Kärkkäinen and its founder, Steve Lhomme. It was named after the Russian nesting dolls, matryoshka, for how it similarly contains multiple multimedia files.

Using the .mkv file extension, Matroska files were designed to be future proof. Unlike audio and video compression formats, MKV is a container that can combine audio, video, and subtitles in a single file, no matter what each of these encoding components was encoded in. Additionally, MKV files support several key features like:

Why does an MKV file have no sound?

There are five possible reasons why MKV video files lose audio during playback. They are:

How to prevent video corruption

Ever heard of the saying," Prevention is better than cure?" It's hard to argue with it after you've experienced losing valuable data or treasured videos due to irreparable damage. To protect yourself from the possibility of having to deal with corrupt MKV videos all the time, follow these tips:

Closing Words

It's never fun to find out that the videos you've been looking forward to watching won't play properly. It's even worse if you don't know what to do about it. Now that we've given some causes as well as solutions to MKV videos having no sound during playback, nothing will get in the way of your viewing experience again.