Cast an MKV file to your TV

Start with the MKV you already have

1. Open Cast to Your TV in desktop Chrome and drop your MKV onto the file area, or choose it from your device.
2. Wait for automatic local preparation. A thumbnail appears when the browser can decode one.
3. Press Cast and choose your Google Cast TV on the same Wi-Fi.
4. Use the playback controls for pause, seeking and volume. Keep the browser open and the computer awake.

Using a phone? Read the Android guide or iPhone and iPad guide first: their connection routes differ from desktop Chrome.

Why one MKV plays differently from another

MKV describes a container, rather than one particular video or audio codec. Two files ending in .mkv can therefore need different preparation. The app checks the actual tracks instead of assuming that their filename establishes compatibility.

Compatible H.264 video can be repackaged into fragmented MP4 without re-encoding its picture data. When conversion is needed, availability depends on the browser decoder, device resources and chosen output. An incomplete file, protected content or an unsupported track can still fail. Renaming an MKV to MP4 does not convert its contents.

Choose the right soundtrack

Open the gear menu to select an available audio track. This is useful for films with commentary, alternate languages or more than one mix. The app prepares the selected track automatically; you do not need to manage a separate converted file.

AC-3, E-AC-3 and DTS tracks have local decoding paths that can keep compatible H.264 video compressed while preparing stereo AAC sound. Converted audio uses 256 kbps AAC. This is not a promise of surround-sound, Dolby Atmos or lossless passthrough. If the picture plays silently, check mute, volume and the selected track, then see the no-sound checklist.

Use embedded or separate subtitles

Open Subtitles to see supported embedded text tracks, switch captions off or adjust text size. You can also add a separate SRT, WebVTT, ASS or SSA file. A sidecar belongs to the selected video; choose the video before adding it.

Embedded text inspection reads supported Matroska records in bounded chunks. It does not impose a 256 MiB cap on the whole video. Converted caption text and sidecar files do have a 5 MiB limit. ASS and SSA shown as selectable text can lose styling. Bitmap subtitles and preserved styling may need burn-in, which takes a more restricted conversion route. The subtitle guide explains that distinction.

Large films and picture quality

Leave Quality in the gear menu on Original to retain source dimensions and frame rate where the playback route supports them. A compatible stream can avoid picture re-encoding during preparation; desktop mirroring still adds Chrome’s own final encoding. Original does not guarantee HDR, lossless transmission or a 4K image on the TV.

Compatible multi-GB MKVs use incremental reads rather than a whole-film buffer. The 256 MiB input and output limit still applies when whole-file fallback conversion or subtitle burn-in is required. If a large MKV cannot prepare, try supported selectable subtitles rather than burn-in, or another compatible copy. For stuttering, compare Original with 1080p or 720p and use the quality and buffering guide.