How do I disable Microsoft's built in codec for MKV in Windows 10?

[jkbf]

I used to use Media Player Codec Pack in Windows 7. It lets me play MKV files with subtitles in Windows Media Player and it works without problems. I recently upgraded to Windows 10 and I heard that Microsoft now is able to play MKV files natively. The problem with that however, is that the subtitles no longer show up. I tried reinstalling Media Player Codec Pack but it seems it still uses the one Microsoft provides, thus, no subs. Is there a way to get around this problem? I mostly need the subs for watching anime.

I know I can just download VLC and be done with it, but I'd like to keep my original setup. :)

[Baldrick]

Have you tried install lav filters or vsfilter?

[roma_turok]

try Codec Tweak Tool

[AllisOne]

It looks like Media Player Codec Pack https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/ has LAV Filters, xy-VSFilter etc included. Maybe you need to check xy-VSFilter settings.

Another option is to try to change used splitter. Some of them are better in detecting/separating content of video container (.mkv in your case) than others.
I don't have Win10, but Codec Tweak Tool might be helpful:
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Codec-Tweak-Tool
or
http://www.codecguide.com/download_other.htm

Edit: they've just updated it to version 6.0.0: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/k_lite_codec_tweak_tool.html

[jkbf]

It looks like Media Player Codec Pack https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/ has LAV Filters, xy-VSFilter etc included. Maybe you need to check xy-VSFilter settings.

Another option is to try to change used splitter. Some of them are better in detecting/separating content of video container (.mkv in your case) than others.
I don't have Win10, but Codec Tweak Tool might be helpful:
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Codec-Tweak-Tool
or
http://www.codecguide.com/download_other.htm

Edit: they've just updated it to version 6.0.0: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/k_lite_codec_tweak_tool.html

Hi! Thank you for answering. I'm... kinda new to this and I don't have the slightest clue how to use the Codec Tweak Tool? This is what is shown when I click on the Preferred Splitters button.

[AllisOne]

You have LAV splitter for mkv - it seems OK. WMP doesn't display subtitles natively (Has it changed in Win10?). You need external application, for example xy-VSFilter, XySubFilter etc. So check xy-VSFilter settings (I don't use it, so I can't help you here). Can you get there via Start? It might be in Media Player Codec Pack folder. If it's not there, reinstall Media Player Codec Pack and don't forget to tick xy-VSFilter.
Are the subtitles 'inside' the mkv container? You can check it with MediaInfo. If they are outside - are they in the same folder and are their names exactly the same as the names of videos (apart from extensions). What type of subtitles are they - srt, ass, etc? You need to check if they are supported by xy-VSFilter. If not, try XySubFilter for example.

Last piece of advice: uninstall Media Player Codec Pack and install LAV Filters only + Strongene/Lentoid decoder for h.265/HEVC and start using better, more configurable video player like PotPlayer, MPC-HC or MPC-BE, that can play subtitles natively without external apps.

[deadmeow]

I was excited when I tried to play a MKV in windows 10 and it worked, only to be disappointed by the fact the PCM audio does not! haha.

[jkbf]

You have LAV splitter for mkv - it seems OK. WMP doesn't display subtitles natively (Has it changed in Win10?). You need external application, for example xy-VSFilter, XySubFilter etc. So check xy-VSFilter settings (I don't use it, so I can't help you here). Can you get there via Start? It might be in Media Player Codec Pack folder. If it's not there, reinstall Media Player Codec Pack and don't forget to tick xy-VSFilter.
Are the subtitles 'inside' the mkv container? You can check it with MediaInfo. If they are outside - are they in the same folder and are their names exactly the same as the names of videos (apart from extensions). What type of subtitles are they - srt, ass, etc? You need to check if they are supported by xy-VSFilter. If not, try XySubFilter for example.

Last piece of advice: uninstall Media Player Codec Pack and install LAV Filters only + Strongene/Lentoid decoder for h.265/HEVC and start using better, more configurable video player like PotPlayer, MPC-HC or MPC-BE, that can play subtitles natively without external apps.

I managed to get to the xy-VSFilter settings. I've tried setting it to "Always load" instead of "Load when needed". However, that didn't seemed to do anything. I don't believe Windows 10 uses a different version of WMP and it's still using the old one from Windows 7. The subtitles are inside the MKVs.

I'll try uninstalling Media Player Codec pack and installing just the LAV Filters amd Strongene/Lentoid decoder to see if that will work. However, I would like to keep using WMP instead of other video players as I stated on post #1. It's pretty frustrating though that this worked out of the box on Windows 7 and doesn't anymore in Windows 10 when the WMP they use is practically the same.