Get MKV video files play properly within Windows Media Center

mkv to windows media center converter

It would be nice to put pictures, music and videos to Windows Media Center, as running a remote control allows you to simply sit back on the couch when browsing gallery and deciding which movie to play. But there’s an issue you may run into when setting up Windows Media Center: the MKV files can not be played. MKV is a format you're likely to encounter if you routinely download videos. In fact, H.264 encoded MKV is one of the most popular formats for video streaming and transport. Windows 7 fans managed to find ways enabling WMC play MKV files by installing plug-in codecs like CCCP and FFDShow. This works for some MKV files, despite of the risk of running into crack issues. In case Media Center can not play back MKV files properly, you are advised to take another way --- converting MKV format to more common video format (WMV, AVI, MP4, etc) with Pavtube MKV Converter software. This method is slow but steady, which ensures Windows Media Center play MKV contents. And the converted file can be transferred to other Microsoft devices, such as Xbox 360 video game console, Zune player and the latest WP7 phones. Here’s a guide of converting MKV to WMV format to follow if you’re intending to add MKV videos to Windows Media Center for playback:

Required software: Pavtube Video Converter (Click to download a free trial)

(The software converts MKV, AVI, WMV, MP4, MTS, M2TS, MOV etc to be played back on iPad, iPod, iPhone, GPhone, Blackberry, 3G phone, Nokia, Sony Erickson, Motorola Droids, Google Nexus One, Apple TV, PS3, Xbox 360, WD TV Live, Zune, Creative Zen, Archos, PSP, Pocket PC)

Convert MKV to WMV for Windows Media Center

Step 1. Download a free trial of Pavtube MKV Converter (compatible with Windows 7, Vista, and XP), install the software to your PC. Run the MKV to Windows Media Center Converter, click "Add" button to load MKV files.

play mkv in windows media center

Step 2. Click on the “Format” bar and find “Zune/ Xbox 360 Device” group. The formats listed work with Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Xbox and Zune. If the source MKV file is SD video of 4:3, you may select “Xbox 360 Video – Windows Media Video (*.wmv)” or “Xbox 360 Video (640*480) (*.wmv)”. If the source H.264 MKV is 1080p or 720p high definition video, the optimal video format is “Xbox 360 HD Video (*.wmv)”. This format creates 1280*720 WMV HD video with 5.1 surround sound in perfect sync. Inlaid MKV subtitles will be added to the converted video by default. Other optional formats are AVI, DivX AVI, and MP4.

mkv playback by wmc

Step 3. Convert MKV to Windows Media Center playable HD WMV videos. Click “Convert” to start converting MKV to Windows Media Center customized WMV HD files. When the MKV to WMC conversion completes, click “completed”, back to the Pavtube Video Converter interface, and click “Open” to find converted WMV HD videos for adding to movies library of Windows Media Center.

Tips and tricks:

1. Get track of wrong language? Click “Properties” and select a desired audio track from the drop-down list of “Stream ID” box before the MKV to Xbox 360 conversion starts.

2. The trial of Pavtube Video Converter produces video with a Pavtube logo on the screen and you can purchase a license to get rid of the watermark.

What's Next? Price: $35