How to Install Free HEVC Codec for Windows 11

Sum: to install HEVC codec on Windows 11, you can go to the Microsoft Store and pay $0.99 for the HEVC Video Extensions, or choose and download a free HEVC codec for your Windows 11 media players.

"I have some HEVC h.265 videos from a Canon R5 that I want to view/edit on Windows 11 with Davinci Resolve, but cannot open. These files can be viewed on VLC Player but are not recognized by the default Windows Media Player. I've already tried installing HEVC Video Extension (both the free and $0.99) but neither seem to fix the issue with Windows 11 not recognizing the video codec."-- Microsoft Community

"Does anyone know how to get the HEVC codec for free. I'm using win 11 and i know i can just use VLC or something but i need the cast feature that's built in the windows media player." -- Reddit

So, you’ve just upgraded to Windows 11, and now... surprise! Most of your videos from your iPhone, DJI, GoPro, and other gadgets refuse to play. What's the deal? Well, turns out Windows 11 doesn’t come with HEVC (H.265) support right out of the box. Yep, just like its predecessor, you’ll need to grab and install the HEVC codec to enjoy your shiny HD and 4K videos. But don’t worry — we’re here to guide you through the steps of getting that codec installed and even show you how to watch your HEVC videos for free on Windows 11.

Option 1. [Official] How to Download and Install HEVC Codec on Windows 11

As Windows 10 and 11 do not contain the codecs to play HEVC videos, Microsoft provides the required HEVC Video Extensions in the Microsoft Store. All you need is to pay $0.99. If you usually use apps like Microsoft's Films & TV Player app to play videos, it's a worthwhile investment.

Step 1. Launch the Microsoft Store app from your Start menu or go to the Microsoft Store website.

Step 2. In the search bar at the top of the store, type "HEVC Video Extensions" and press Enter.

Step 3. Click on the HEVC Video Extensions result. Click the "Buy" button to initiate the purchase process. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and enter payment details if required (such as a credit card).

Step 4. After completing the purchase, the codec will automatically begin installing on your system.

Step 5. Once installed, you can use the Films & TV app on Windows 11 to play HEVC videos without any issues.

Tips: While most users have successfully installed and used the HEVC Video Extensions, some have reported issues with launching or opening the extension. If you encounter problems, try to restart the computer, ensure your Windows 11 and Microsoft Store apps are up-to-date, and contact Microsoft support if necessary.

Note: Some user have purchased the HEVC codec for Windows 11, but it only works on their primary profile. When they switch to a second profile, the media player prompts them to download the codec again. The HEVC codec is tied to the Microsoft account used for the purchase, so it is likely only available on the profile linked to that account. To resolve this, the user should sign into the Microsoft Store on the second profile with the same Microsoft account used to buy the codec and install it from there. If the issue continues, more details may be needed for further troubleshooting.

Unable to view HEVC (H.265) videos or see their thumbnails in File Explorer on Windows 11, even though you've paid for the official codec extension? You've already tried resetting the app and updating your system, but nothing has resolved the issue.

In such case, try rebuilding the Thumbnail cache. Sometimes, a corrupted thumbnail cache can prevent HEVC thumbnails from showing up in File Explorer. You can rebuild the thumbnail cache by following the steps in this guide: Clear and Reset Thumbnail Cache in Windows 11.

Option 2. [Free] HEVC Codec Packs for Windows 11

1. Free HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer

Instead of paying $0.99, you can get the HEVC extension free for Windows 11 from the device manufacturer. Here are two ways to get it, check which works for you.

Step 1. Click on this link to visit the HEVC Video Extensions page from Device Manufacturer.

Step 2. On the page, instead of the "Buy" button, you will see "Redeem a code." Click on it.

Step 3. Sign in to your Microsoft account when prompted.

Step 4. Close the sign-in page. The HEVC codec will then be downloaded and automatically installed on your Windows 11 PC.

Note that this method has stopped working since October 2020 and the page of HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer is now removed from the Microsoft Store. The link above provides an archived version of it. Try and check if it works.

Note: If you bought a pre-built PC (OEM device), it might already have the HEVC codec support included. If not, you may need to purchase it separately. For custom-built PCs, you’ll likely need to buy the codec, as it’s not bundled with Windows.

Learn how to download HEVC Video Extensions crack.

If you can't download the Device Manufacturer's version of HEVC video extensions for Windows 11 via redeeming a code, don't depress. There are sites offering mirrors of the HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer like free-codecs and codecguide.com. For example, click this link to open the site free-codecs and you'll see HEVC codecs for Windows 11 32-bit and 64-bit. Select and download the correct HEVC video extension version based on your PC system, follow the instructions to install the HEVC codec on Windows 11, and then you can play HEVC videos on Windows 11 PC.

2. Media Player Codec Pack Plus

In addition to the HEVC video extension from Microsoft, you can install third-party free HEVC codecs on Windows 11. Media Player Codec Pack Plus is a free HEVC/H.265 codec pack that will work on Microsoft Windows Media Player as well as any other players that are compatible with DirectShow. With the free HEVC codec installed on Windows 11, you can play videos in HEVC, H.265, 10bit x265, MP4, MKV, AVI, WebM, M4V, and more. HEVC videos in 4K and higher resolutions are supported. It supports GPU hardware acceleration of Nvidia, AMD, ATI, and Intel for smooth HEVC playback.

Download the HEVC codec for Windows 11 here >>

3. K-Lite Codec Pack

K-Lite Codec Pack allows you to play HEVC videos on Windows 11. It has four different variants: Basic, Standard, Full, and Mega. The standard version is free, and it contains codecs to play HEVC, MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WebM, and more. It's very friendly on the Windows environment as it includes the MPC-HC player and works with Windows Media Player and Media Center, as well as other popular DirectShow players such as Media Player Classic, ZoomPlayer, KMPlayer, PotPlayer, GOM Player, etc.

Note: If you have installed the free HEVC codec on Windows 11 but the H.265 videos still won't play, you need to know that the Haali splitter does not support HEVC. You need to stop using the Haali splitter and use the LAV splitter instead.

Download the HEVC codec for Windows 11 here >>

4. Libde265

You can also download the open-source libde265 HEVC/H.265 video codec free on Windows 11 to play HEVC videos with other players, such as VLC, Chrome HEVC player, Windows DirectShow filter, FFmpeg, as well as HEVC/H.265 players from other parties. With libde265 HEVC codec installed, your Windows 11 VLC media player is able to play HEVC 4K Ultra HD videos @30fps without problem. The libde265 is able to decode all common types of HEVC files and can parallelize the decoding of streams to provide smooth HEVC playback on Windows 11.

Download the HEVC codec for Windows 11 here >>

Option 3. [No codec required] Decode 4K HEVC on Window 11 Freely

Play HEVC/H.265 Free on Windows 11

Don't want to bother with extra HEVC codec on Windows 11, you can install a popular third-party video player VLC. It includes built-in HEVC H.265 codecs to play HEVC videos free on Windows 11. Download the media player and set it as the default player, then you can open HEVC videos without the need to seek and download any other HEVC codecs for Windows 11.

In addition to VLC, there are many other free and paid media players that will play HEVC videos on Windows 11 without the help of additional HEVC codecs such as MPV, MPC-HC, 5KPlayer, etc. VLC is a highly reliable, free, and open-source media player that can handle almost any video format, including HEVC. It’s a great option for playing HEVC videos without needing to purchase additional codecs. Check and see the detailed list of the best free HEVC players for Windows 11 here.

Tips: There are some specific issues where the HEVC codec may not be recognized in certain software or for specific file formats, like using a USB TV stick or Adobe software. In such cases, users may have to use other codecs or media players.

Decode 4K HEVC/H.265 for Windows 11 without Installing Extra Codec

Winxvideo AI  - No need to bother with various HEVC codec stuff. Easily convert incompatible HEVC videos in 4K/8K, 10bit, 60fps, any type to MP4, H.264, MPEG4, AVI, WMV, WebM, 3GP, etc. for playback on any Windows 11 players, such as Windows Media Player, VLC, Media Player Classic, KMPlayer, editors, etc. Intel, Nvidia, and AMD hardware acceleration supported to transcode HEVC videos for Windows 11 at a 5x faster speed. Its high quality engine will ensure the best output quality. Play HEVC videos on old hardware without problems.

FAQ

1. Is there a free version of HEVC video extension Windows 11?

Yes. While Windows 11 doesn't include a built-in free HEVC codec, you can easily gain the HEVC video playback capabilities by installing a free HEVC video extension pack. Popular free HEVC video extensions for Windows 11 include K-Lite Codec Pack and Libde265. These packs provide the necessary codecs to decode HEVC videos on Windows 11 PCs, ensuring smooth playback and optimal viewing experiences.

2. How do I enable HEVC extension on Windows 11?

Once you've installed a codec pack like K-Lite Codec Pack or Libde265, you typically don't need to take any additional steps to enable the HEVC extension on Windows 11. The codec pack should automatically register the necessary codecs with Windows Media Player and other compatible applications on your computer.

However, if you're still encountering issues playing HEVC videos, try the following:

1. Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve codec-related issues.
2. Check codec pack settings: If your codec pack has a control panel or settings menu, ensure that HEVC codecs are enabled and configured correctly.
3. Update your video player: Make sure you're using a compatible video player that supports HEVC playback. Popular options include VLC Media Player, PotPlayer, and MPC-HC.
4. Try a different video file: If you're still having trouble, try playing a different HEVC video to see if the issue is specific to a particular file.

3. What is the free app to open HEVC files?

While the Windows Media Player doesn't support HEVC codec, there are some free players that can play HEVC videos on Windows 11 without the need to downloading extra HEVC codecs. For example, there are VLC, 5KPlayer, PotPlayer, MPC-HC, and KMPlayer. All of them are free and contain HEVC codec support.