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.
What opens 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.
Windows
- VLC
- foobar2000
- MPC-HC
macOS
- VLC
- IINA
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
- ffmpeg
Open a .mka file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .mka. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or foobar2000.
- On Mac, use VLC or IINA.
- On Linux, try VLC or mpv.
- Still stuck? Convert the .mka to mp3, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .mka file?
Almost always because no installed app understands MKA. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .mka at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
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.
What is the .mka file signature (magic bytes)?
A .mka file starts with the hex bytes 1A 45 DF A3. Programs identify MKA by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for MKA. For a full breakdown, see the Matroska / WebM file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | 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
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