Why an MKV may not play
When playback failsWhy an MKV may not play; When playback starts and then fails.
Matroska (.mkv) support depends on the browser and the codecs inside the file. Chromium may play common combinations; Firefox and Safari generally reject the container.
gettor still shows Play for these files. If your browser cannot open one, the player says so and offers the download.
If it does not work
- Try the same file in a Chromium-based browser.
- If playback fails, the file may use a codec your browser cannot decode, such as HEVC or an unsupported audio track.
- Download it and use a desktop player, which will handle it.
Note: A failed playback attempt may still use some monthly allowance because part of the file must be fetched before the browser can reject it.
When playback starts and then fails
Usually the browser cannot decode a codec inside an otherwise supported container. Download the file to use another media player.
A browser may support the container but not one of its video or audio codecs. HEVC and some surround-audio tracks are common examples.
What the player does
If the browser cannot decode the media, playback stops and the file remains available to download.
Other reasons playback stops
- Your monthly downloads-and-streaming allowance ran out mid-file.
- Your session expired — “Your session has expired — sign in again to play this file.”
- Playback is paused for maintenance; the status page will say so.