admin

In this article, we’ll walk through you to steps to open MKV File. Multimedia files sometimes come in MKV formats which might not be compatible with your default media player. In cases like this, you might think your file has a problem, especially if you are not already acquainted with MKV files.

Hold on a minute, don’t delete your file out of frustration, there are ways to open and convert MKV files that can be done by anyone. You don’t need advanced computer knowledge; all you need to do is read the information from this article.

What is MKV File Extension

MKV file extension is a container file for various kinds of media files. This file format is more sophisticated than single format media extensions and they are popularly used online so chances are that you will come across one while you surf the web.

MKV file is convenient because it makes use of different encoding within a single file, making it suitable for things movies where you can have different multimedia formats making up a single file. You can also alternate between different media formats available within the file by using the controls for the file player.

This means you can decide to switch from an English subtitle to a Portuguese subtitle or put off the subtitle altogether. All you need is the controls/options offered by the file player (as long as the MKV file already contains these media files).

However, the best part of this file is that it is an open-source format that can be used by anyone, royalty-free. So, now that you know the basics of an MKV file, it is time to open and/or convert your file as you wish.

How to Open MKV File (Windows and Android)

Using VLC Media Player

For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the VLC media player since it is popular and available. The VLC media player is open-source; therefore, it is free to use by everybody, and all you have to do is have it installed on your device. You can download VLC from your Google Play, VideoLan, and from Appstore (for Mac users).

Be careful where you download VLC from because there are fake VLCs all over the internet which is put up to confuse unknowing users. However, the three places mentioned above are places you can trust to get your VLC media player. The following steps explain better (if you already have VLC then jump straight to step 4).

Step 1: Go to a download site to get your VLC media player – With your browser, go to your preferred download site (use Google Play Store for Android devices).

Step 2: Download VLC media player – Search for VLC player on your download site and click on ‘Download’ to begin your download. If you are using a Windows device or going through a VideoLan, it might bring up a prompt asking what you want to do with your file after download, you can choose either to save or run.

If you decide to run, your file starts to install immediately after downloading, but if you choose to save then your file saves into the download folder of your device.

Step 3: Run and Open the player – If you had not chosen to run in the initial step, locate the downloaded file and double-click. It will bring a pop-up asking you to run the file, select ‘Yes’ and follow through the installation process. You will get a prompt to allow VLC to make changes to your computer, select ‘Yes’.

Step 4: Play the file with VLC media player – you have the option of right-clicking or dragging and dropping. You can right-click on the MKV file and select the ‘open with’ action. After that select VLC from the displayed list of applications available on your device and click on ‘ok’ which is located at the bottom right.

You can also open the VLC media player and then drag your MKV file and drop it on the VLC interface.

If you think that opening MKV files will be a frequent action, you can make VLC your default for these kinds of files. To do this, when you right-click on the file, select ‘Open with’ and select ‘Choose another app’ which will pop-up a window of your available applications.

Click VLC once and check the box with the words ‘Always use this app to open .mkv files’ at the bottom left of the window. Then click ‘Ok’ from the bottom right. You will get a prompt to allow the app to make changes to your computer, select ‘yes’.

By Downloading Codecs on Windows Media Player

Normally if you try to open an MKV file on your windows, you will get an error message. This is because, by default, your windows media player does not support that kind of file. To fix that, you can download codecs from third-party which will enable your player to open MKV files.

Choose a trusted source, download codecs and install them. Afterward, you will be able to play your MKV file by double-clicking. With codecs, you will need to update them as their developers often make updates available. It is important to note this in case you suddenly find your codecs are not working.

You can also convert the file to a format compatible with your player and this is explained in detail below.

How to Play MKV Files on Mac

Just like Windows, your Mac will not automatically play your MKV file, you will need to either get a third-party app, get a plugin for Quicktime, or convert your file to a readable format.

Method 1: Download a Plugin

To download a plugin, go to the official website to get the necessary plugin for your Quicktime.

Step 1– Click on download: Download the file from the official website and it will go to your download folder.

Step 2 – Disable Gatekeeper: You cannot just install the plugin because of your security settings. Therefore, you need to first disable the gatekeeper temporarily.

Go to ‘System Preferences’ (you can search for this from your Apple menu), and click on ‘Security and Privacy’. If you had attempted to install the plugin, you’ll see a section titled ‘Allow apps downloaded from’, here you can allow the install by clicking on ‘Open Anyway’.

Step 3 – Enter your password: Your Password and Username will be requested, enter them to effect changes and give access to the plugin.

Step 4 – Install the plugin: An installer window will pop-up, select your plugin, and install it. After installation, close the window. Now you can play your MKV file on Quicktime by double-clicking.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party Player

If you’d rather use a third-party app, you have several options available to you. VLC is one such popular option. It is easy to use and it has an extensive list of compatible file formats.

• Download VLC Player from the official website (VideoLan).
• Double-click on the downloaded package to install it. It will then ask you to add it to the applications folder.
• From the pop-up window, click on the VLC icon, drag it to the ‘applications’ folder and then drop it.
• Authenticate the installation in the prompt and enter your device name and password if prompted.
• Right-click on the file and select the ‘open with’ option, from the list given, choose VLC and your file will open immediately.

Method 3: Convert the MKV File

MKV files are usually large, so it will be too heavy to make use of an online converter. Therefore, you should use an offline converter that you will install on your device. There are different converters available for you, and they have simple UI which usually follow this process to convert a file.

• With the converter installed on your device, double-click on it to launch the converter.
• Look for a tab titled ‘select file’ or ‘Choose File’ or ‘Browse File’, or anything similar. This will allow you to select your file from where it is on your device. Now click on ‘Open’ or ‘Upload’.
• Haven selected your file, select your desired file type, and click on Convert.
• After that, save your new file and open it with a supported player.

F.A.Q

1. What file extensions are similar to MKV files?

File extensions like MP4, AVI, QT, SWF are all similar to MKV format. They usually can be handled the same way you would an MKV file.

2. What media players can open MKV files?

The most popular media player that can open MKV files is the VLC media player. Others are DivX and BS Player. With players that do not support MKV files, you can always download additional codecs to get them running.

3. Can my default Windows Media Player run MKV files?

Playing MKV files in the default Windows Media Player requires that you install additional codecs from a third-party source. Make sure that you only download these from sources you trust to avoid downloading malware that will damage your device.

4. What is the meaning of the MKV File?

MKV files stand for Matroska Video Files which was named after a type of Russian wooden doll called – Matryoshka. The name was given to it by the founders/developers.

5. Who was the creator of MKV file?

The development team comprises of different members that made this File a success. However, the lead developer on the team is Lasse Kärkkäinen together with Steve Lhomme who is the founder of Matroska.

6. How can I open MKV File on Windows 10?

Inability to play MKV files on Windows 10 can be fixed by using a supported player or installing the right codec. Windows media player will require you to install additional codecs before it can play an MKV file.

However, if you have installed a codec and it still isn’t playing then check that you have the right codec. You might need to download specific codec for video, subtitle, or audio depends on the problem you have.

7. Are MKV files Video files?

It is incorrect to refer to MKV files as video files even if they might contain video data. This is because MKV files can contain anything from videos to audios to subtitles. Therefore, this file type is a package with variety and not a single file type.

Conclusion

Because MKV files are yet to become universally default format for multimedia files, your default media player might not be able to open this file type. In Conclusion, All you need to do is follow the above steps above and you will have your file playing in minutes.

In subsequent paragraphs, we would come to understand what “HEX” means as far as computer technology is concerned. We’ll also show you a guide to open HEX File, convert and work with such files and what they are meant for.

What is .HEX File Extension

If you are surprised to see the words ‘File extension’ attached to ‘.HEX’, I would not say I blame you. A .HEX file extension is a Hexadecimal Source File. If you are already counting out to see how many numbers are in a Hex, well that is cool.

A Hexadecimal is a method of representing numbers using the base-16 number system. While counting in this system, numbers immediately after ‘9’ would be represented by an alphabet, where 10 is A, 11 is B and so on. For example, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, etc.

It gets complicated down the line. Number 24, for instance, would be 18, as in 16+8 where 16 takes the place of 10. The number 100 would be 64 and calculated thus; 16×6 + 4. It gets a bit complicated the higher we go, but I do not think you are here for all that.

As complicated as the calculation may seem, the base-16 system is usually more efficient because one hexadecimal digit represents four binary digits and whereas it takes eight binary digits to represent one byte, only two hexadecimal digits would do the same thing. Cool, I know!

Open HEX File

Any computer that contains programming, which supports HEX files can automatically open HEX file like every other file.

Otherwise, opening such files usually depends on the kind of Operating system a user has; Windows, Mac, Linux, etc., it also depends on the format in which the .HEX file was stored.

If the .HEX file was stored in a binary format, then, only hex editing applications can open it, whereas .HEX files that are stored in text formats (Book Design) can only be opened by text editors. In other words, text editors cannot open .HEX files in binary format.

How to Open HEX File on MAC

• Open the relevant file with Xcode.
• Press Command + Shift + J on your keyboard.
• On the left page, Right Click on the File Name.
• Open as -> Hex.
• Other programs that open HEX files on MAC are Synalize It, TextEdit, iBored (Free download), it, HexEditor, UltraEdit, iHex – Hex Editor, Hex Fiend, 010 Editor, etc.

How to Open HEX File on Windows PC

To open Hex File on Windows, you will need to use the professional version of Visual studio. It comes with a preinstalled Hex Editor called Visual Studio Binary Editor).

• Download and Install Visual Studio Professional from here.
• Once it is installed, Right-click on the hex file you want to open.
• Select Open With just beside the “Open” button ( A list of options drops down).
• Select Binary Editor. (A file opens, displaying the contents of the file in hexadecimal).
• This application allows for Copying, Pasting, Overwriting and Delete, however it is not advanced enough to support file shredding.

You can also use following programs to open Hex Files on windows: Windows NotePad (usually comes with the Operating System), HeavenTools, Hex Workshop Hex Editor, HHD Hex Editor, NotePad++, Cygnus Hex Editor, XVI32 (can be run from an SD card, USB stick, etc.), HxD.

Open Hex Files on Linux

Download and use any of the following applications to open and edit .HEX files on Linux.

• Vim (Run hexdump -C  <filename>>  output.txt to open the file; save it on a file called output.txt. Open the output.txt file and view it separately. On Vim, you can view it directly as hexadecimal).
• Hexedit (Command Line) Hex Editor.
• Ghex – GNOME Hex Editor.
• Hexyl Hex Editor.
• Hexer Binary Editor.
• Okteta Editor.
• Hexcurse – Console Hex Editor.
• Xxd Hex Editor
• Bless Hex Editor.

Open Hex Files Online

Visit any of these websites; file-extension.org, online-convert.com, onlinehexeditor.com, etc.

How to Convert .HEX Files

When it comes to converting .HEX files to text or other file extensions, the same software that opens them may come in handy.

However, most users prefer to carry out their conversions online, a ready example of such converting websites is online-convert.com, onlinehextools.com, tomeko.net, etc.

F.A.Q

1. What are the contents of a .HEX File?

HEX files hold different information ranging from settings to configurations, which have been saved in a hexadecimal format but can be stored in either binary format or text format.

It holds information relating to the setup information, settings, source code, arrangement data, etc. of devices.

2. What are .HEX Files used for?

Usually, they are used to transfer data and programs, which are to be stored in a Read only Memory (ROM) or an EPROM.

3. What are the different types of .HEX Files?

Intel HEX File, Arduino HEX File, etc.

4. My text editor can open some of my .HEX files but it cannot open the rest, why?

It is possible that the unread .HEX files were written in Binary format, therefore, only Hex editors can open them

5. What kinds of devices use .HEX files?

Hexadecimal source files are usually used by programmable logic devices such as vehicle motor control frameworks, remote controls, office machines, and the likes.

6. I have a HEX Fie programming introduced on my PC but I cannot open my .HEX file, why?

The .HEX file is either corrupted, infected, incorrectly connected, out of date or damaged in some other way.

It is also possible that the program or application is not properly installed or computer is not properly equipped with the necessary hardware resources to open the .HEX file.

Conclusion

It is worthy of note that one may try all the suggestions above and still not be able to access a .HEX file, where this is the case, it becomes imperative to engage the services of an expert.

This is because some .HEX files are configured in certain ways to avoid unnecessary tampering with devices in which they are installed or just as a way for the creator to show off, yeah.

It is a common problem to open DAT file because this kind of file is different from any other random file extension. Whether you got your file from your email or you have it on your computer if you want to find out what kind of data it contains, then you have to understand what the .DAT file is about.

Therefore, this article will provide insight into what the .DAT file, how to open it on your windows and Mac device, and how to convert the file to a different format. At the end of it, you’ll see FAQ about DAT file answered clearly so you don’t have to look further than here.

What is .DAT File Extension

Files with the .dat extension show that it is a generic file that contains data in different forms. What makes .dat files so common is that different software and applications use this format to store random data that is used to running or operating it. Unlike other file extensions that are fixed to a particular data format, .dat files are rather random.

The random property of .dat files makes it a tough one to handle if you do not know the origin. Although when software store data in .dat format, they do not intend this data to be accessed randomly by users rather it is supposed to be used by the software.

That means that the software opens DAT file by themselves, in the background. However, the software is not the only one that uses .dat files; some emails come in that format and you need to find a way to open it and read it. There are different reasons why you want to open the .dat file on your device, read on to find out what you need to do.

Open DAT File

When DAT files are created by software, there is usually no need for anyone to open them because the information contained will hardly be useful to users. Nonetheless, if you want to open .DAT files, these methods will serve you whether you have a Windows PC or a Mac.

Get Prepare by Finding File Origin

Opening DAT files are easier when you know their origins. Softwares that create these files can always open them, so it saves you the problem of trying to find the origin of the file. If you are not sure, you can find out the origin of your file with these options.

From the Containing Folder

DAT files are usually available in the program files of the software package. Therefore, if you find a .DAT file in a folder named and containing Adobe files, it means that the file was created by this program. It also means that you will be carrying out the next two methods with that software.

Inquire from the File Creator

In an event where you received your DAT file from another party, you will have to ask them about the file origin. Even if the file was downloaded, you might be able to contact the file creator to inquire about the related program. in most cases, people are willing to offer this kind of information.

Open with a Generic File

If none of the above options works, you might be able to get some information from the file using a general software, e.g. Notepad++, iTunes, VLC, etc. These files might not be appropriate to read all the data contained in the file, but they are generic enough to be able to read some of the data.

This way you might get some information about the file origin. For example, opening your .DAT file with notepad might show a lot of jargon that you won’t be able to make sense of but in the midst of all that, you might find some useful information about the software it was created for.

To open the file with a generic program, first click on the icon of the program to open it, then drag the file and drop it on the opened program window.

If none of these three options works, you should consider a trial and error approach. It means you try to open the file using the different programs installed on your device. With luck, one of these will yield something, then you can proceed to the methods listed below.

How to Open DAT File on Windows PC

Step 1: Open the software/program affiliated with the file – Double-click on the program icon to open it. If you cannot find this, a simple search in your start tab will reveal all available programs you can open.

Step 2: Every program has a similar interface with a tab titled ‘File’, and from here you can open any file you want as long as you know their location in your computer library.

Click on the ‘file’ tab to reveal a drop-down options menu showing the different line of commands to follow. Now click on the ‘Open’ command and proceed to search from your file from your computer library.

Step 3: Now you will need to display all files before you’ll be able to select your .DAT file. To do this, click on the tab beside the ‘filename’ dialogue box and select ‘All Files’. This will display all available files in the folder you opened and you can now find your file.

Step 4: Confirm all prompts: Since DAT files are not designed to be opened by users, any attempt to do so might bring about error messages or prompts asking for confirmation to proceed. Confirm these prompts so that your file can be opened.

However, make sure you read and properly understand all prompts before you grant any confirmation to be sure that your actions will not damage the file.

Step 5: Change the extension – Go through the renaming route to change the file extension. Right-click on the file action through your library and detect the ‘Rename’ command. Highlight on the ‘.dat’ extension of the file name and edit it to the file extension of the program it was made for.

Without this step, you will always have to confirm prompts and go through this process any time you want to open the file. However, by changing the extension, you can avoid these and make the file easy to open with a single click.

How to Open DAT File on Mac

MacBook users will have it a little differently from windows users in their attempt to open DAT file.

Step 1: Open the program .DAT file was intended for – Doube-click on the software’s icon to open it. Just like for windows, this uses the assumption that you have already discovered what the software is, and that you have it installed on your device.

Step 2: Drag the ‘DAT file’s icon and drop it on the opened software window. Available software and that work with Mac do not necessarily have the same interface as windows. Usually, they have different placement of tabs and different command names. Therefore, you might not see the ‘file’ tab that was used in the case of windows.

Therefore, a simple click and drag the file icon from where it is located and take it to the open interactive window. Drop the file on the software window to open it with that software.

Step 3: Confirm all necessary prompts – Dropping the file as you have done will try to open it with the software, so expect to see some prompts. These prompts usually request some permission or inform you of some changes that might occur in you trying to open the file. You need to confirm these prompts before you can do anything else.

Step 4: Change the .dat extension – Now that you have opened your file, and probably edited its contents, it is time for you to save. It is useful to save the file with a different extension name other than .dat, so that it will be easy to open it the next time you try.

Select the file’s icon and click on the ‘file’ tab. Then select ‘Get Info’ from the drop-down menu and go down to the ‘Name and Extension’ tab. At this point, you should be able to see the ‘dat extension where you can edit.

However, if you can’t, it means it is hidden. Uncheck the ‘Hide Extension’ tab and proceed to enter the new extension you desire. Be careful that this new extension is the same as the one for the software. Afterward, click on ‘Return’ and confirm the ‘Use Extension’ when prompted.

How to Open Winmail DAT Files

These files occur because your mailing services had encountered an error that turned attachments into this hard to open .dat format. You can open such files using online services which also shows you the contents of the file.

Go to winmaildat.com and upload your file by clicking on the ‘Choose File‘ tab. After, click on ‘Start‘ to begin analyzing the contents of the file. From this result, you’ll know the type of data as well as what can be used to open it.

How to Convert DAT file

.Dat files are not difficult files to deal with, therefore they use the easiest conversion technique. All you need in most cases is to change the extension to the extension of the destination file format. By doing this, you have converted your files.

Changing the extension names depends on your device (Windows or Mac). It is the same as the procedure explained above in methods 1 and 2.

F.A.Q

Can I convert .dat files to PDF?

Yes, you can, using the same process for converting .dat files described above.

How do I find out the contents of a .dat file?

You can do this by opening the file using the program used to create it or by using generic programs.

Is it safe to Open .DAT Files?

Make sure that you have a strong, functioning antivirus before you attempt to open any kind of file on your device. Also, try to verify the sources of files before you open them on your device.

Conclusion

To open a .dat file, you will need to know some details about the file. You need to know what kind of data the file contains and what program was used to create the file. The ways to find out all these are included in this article for both windows and MacBook users.

However, make sure you take care of handling .dat files as they may contain sensitive data that is critical to the seamless running of your programs.

In this article, we’ll help you to learn how to open ENC File and everything about .ENC file extension. In navigating a computerized world, it is common to come across new phrases, error messages and file extensions that pose challenges to us and disrupt the flow of our work.

As a computer user or internet researcher, you have probably encountered certain files with ‘.enc’ as their file extensions or ‘suffix’. You have tried to open these files and your system provides an error message like, “how do you want to open this file?” or “Windows cannot open this File.” depending on what Operating System you are using.

You’re probably here because you cannot open ENC file and you want to know why and how. let’s begin with some basics.

What is .ENC File Extension?

ENC is an abbreviation that simply means “encrypted”. I know, it is not as complex as you expected. There are five basic types of files that use the .enc extension:

• Encoded File
• Electronic Navigation Chart File
• Cabal Online Data File
• Encore Musical Notation File
• Copysafe Protected PDF File

It is an encoded file that uses different standard or proprietary encodings (mostly UuEncoding technology), usually by the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet in order to prevent unauthorized access to its content.

What this does is that it protects the author of the content from indiscriminate use of his or her intellectual property, it also helps organizations, like the Military to protect confidential information. Furthermore, it helps the author(s) ensure that there are no alterations to the content sought to be protected.

An ENC file is also encoded so that the file can be set up for a particular use, for instance – Internet transfer.

UuEncoding technology is a binary-to-text encoding format from a program (UUEncode) that encodes binary data for transmission across the Unix-to-Unix Copy Protocol (UUCP) mail system.

How to Open ENC File

Opening an ENC file is no big deal once the necessary applications are available. However, it is important to note that, while ENC files with standard encodings can be opened by most Universal File viewing applications, those created with proprietary encodings can only be opened with the application that encoded them.

When you are faced with an encrypted file, the first thing you should do is check out what type of ENC file it is and if you have an application that can open it; this is because some applications can open multiple types of files and most ENC files fall under the category of Page Layout Files.

To figure out what kind of file your ENC file is, right-click on the file name and select ‘Properties’, or ‘More Info’ or ‘Type of File’ or ‘Kind’, depending on what kind of Operating System you are using.

When you have identified the kind of ENC file it is, Search your computer for a program that can open Page Layout Files and try to use it to open ENC File, if it does not open, then it may be time to figure out what program created it.

If you cannot find any program to open my ENC file, the right thing to do would be to contact the Software developer of your program. Some Software Developers and their software are:

• Microsoft Developer  –           BlackIce Evidence Log File, Video File, Dungeon related File.
• GVOX                           –           Encore (Music Notation File).
• ArtistScope                 –           CopySafe PDF Encrypted File
• MPact Technologies   –           My Personal Programmer (Encrypted Distributed Project).

How do I convert ENC File?

This is the process of changing the nature or size of a file in order to make access easier. The most common way to go about this is to get the software to decompress or un-encrypt the file. Some common software includes; WinZip 16 by Corel for Windows users, StuffIt Deluxe 16 from Smith Micro for Mac and Windows users, Decryption Tool, Census of Employment and Wages by Bureau of Labor Statistics, Knowledgeware Encyclopedia, etc.

It is worthy of note that ENC files can be converted to PDF, JPG, MP3, etc. formats.

F.A.Q

What is a File Extension?

Every file name has a dot (.) after it and some letters after the dot. File extension is the suffix after the filename, that is, the letters that come after the ‘dot’. It tells the user the nature of the file and the kind of applications that can open it. For instance, in the file name justin.mp3, the file extension is “mp3”, which indicates that it is a media file and media applications like Windows Media Player, VLC, etc. can open it.

What are examples of programs use the ENC file format?

Yahoo!, Messenger, BlackIce Firewall, etc.

What are applications that can open ENC file?

Windows, Universal File Viewer, SnifferCapture File, My Personal Programmer Encrypted Distributed Project, etc.

What do I do when I cannot tell what type of file my ENC file is?

Simply download a Universal File Viewer. Examples are File Magic, Free File Viewer, etc. However, there are files that can only be opened in binary format.

How can I open ENC file in Android?

Sometimes, after a file (like a RAR file) transfer is done via Whatsapp, it is configured by Whatsapp so that the file extension reads ‘.enc’. When this happens, users may find it difficult to access the file. There are third-party applications that one can use to access ENC files on Android phones, some of them are, Encdroid, Zarchiver, etc. One can also use online converters like extract.me, etc.

Conclusion

It is important to know that this article is not exhaustive as far as solutions to accessing ENC files are concerned, this is not because the article lacks substance, but because, as stated easier, every day, new technology is invented to make life easier for global citizens.

Finally, files are encrypted on purpose, so even after the right application is used, some ENC files may ask for passwords or PINS or other specific information before they allow access to their content.