What is a .mka file?
Matroska Audio · Audio · Matroska · 2002
An .mka file is Matroska audio: the audio-only version of the flexible MKV container. It can hold many audio tracks and codecs in one file, useful for albums and multi-language soundtracks.
What is a .mka file used for?
MKA shares the Matroska EBML header (1A 45 DF A3) with MKV video. It can bundle multiple audio streams, chapters and attachments, which makes it handy for full albums or films' separate audio.
VLC and other Matroska-aware players open it. Extract or convert to MP3 or FLAC for players that do not read Matroska.
How to open a .mka file
The .mka format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .mka file.
Windows
- VLC
- foobar2000
- MPC-HC
macOS
- VLC
- IINA
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- ffmpeg
How to convert a .mka file
You can convert a .mka file to mp3, flac, opus using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.mka file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .mka file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for MKA. For a full breakdown, see the MKA file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1A 45 DF A3 | 0 | EBML header (Matroska) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .mka file?
An .mka file is Matroska audio: the audio-only version of the flexible MKV container. It can hold many audio tracks and codecs in one file, useful for albums and multi-language soundtracks.
How do I open an .mka file?
Play it in VLC, which handles Matroska audio. To use it elsewhere, extract or convert the audio to MP3 or FLAC.
What is the difference between MKA and MKV?
They share the Matroska container. MKV holds video (with audio and subtitles); MKA holds audio only. Both start with the same EBML header.
Why use MKA for music?
It can store many tracks, chapters and codecs in one file with metadata, which suits full albums or audiobooks.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: