How to Download and Install Free HEVC Codec for Windows 11

"Media Player frequently declines to play video files from my collection saying it needs me to install "HEVC Video Extensions", which it offers to sell me. Is there any way to get and install this codec for free, confident that it is clean copy, rather than finding it to be compromised with malware? If so, please tell me how."

Many users find that the H.265/HEVC videos suddenly fails to open in Movies & TV or Windows Media Player after upgrading to Windows 11. The fact is that, Microsoft has removed native support for it from the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (build 1709). Since then, all the built-in apps in Windows 11 cannot play or edit HEVC videos. Third-party software without HEVC codec support on its own cannot process HEVC videos, either. They push users to purchase HEVC video extensions in Windows 11.

What if you don't want to pay for it? Fortunately, there are free ways to add HEVC support on Windows 11. In this post, we'll cover all practical ways, including official and free HEVC codec Windows 11 options, using third-party media players and decoding HEVC files. Ensure your H.265 videos work smoothly on Windows 11 without errors, whether you need playback, editing, or system-wide support. Keep on reading and choose the one that works best for you.

Option 1. Install HEVC Video Extensions from Microsoft Store (Paid)

Microsoft provides the required HEVC Video Extensions in the Microsoft Store. All you need is to pay $0.99. Once bought and installed the HEVC Video Extensions app, you can play HEVC/H.265 videos in any software on your Windows 11 devices. For devices that don't have hardware support for HEVC videos, it provides software encoding and decoding.

Meanwhile, these HEVC extensions are developed to utilize hardware capabilities on some newer devices (Intel 7th Generation Core processor and newer GPUs) to support 4K and Ultra HD content. If you usually use apps like Microsoft's Films & TV Player app to play videos, it's a worthwhile investment.

Here's how to install HEVC Video Extensions for Windows 11 from Microsoft Store.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Store, search and find HEVC Video Extensions app.

Step 2. Click Buy and follow the instructions to finish the purchase. It will require your Microsoft account and credit card.

Step 3. Click the install button and wait for it to download and install on Windows 11. If you haven't installed it on your PC before, click Open to activate the HEVC extension.

Step 4. Now you can close the tab. Open any HEVC/H.265 video on your Windows 11 to check if the extension works.

Option 2. Install HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer (Free)

Instead of paying $0.99, you can get the codecs for free from the device manufacturer. To get the free package, click this link of the HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer. Then you will see "Redeem a code" instead of "Buy". Click on it and it ask you to sign into your Microsoft account. Close that page and the HEVC codec will be downloaded on your Windows 11 PC.

Note: This method has stopped working since October 2020 and it may not work on Windows 11 PCs outside of the United States, but it won't hurt to try.

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.

Click this link to open the site and you'll see HEVC codecs for Windows 11 32-bit and 64-bit. Select and download the correct 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.

Option 2. Download HEVC Codec Pack for Windows 11 (Free)

Some of users prefer free HEVC codecs for Windows 11 that also assist in encoding and decoding HEVC or H.265 videos. If you are on the same side of the fence about this issue, take a look at how to install HEVC codecs on Windows 11 for free.

1. Libde265

Libde265 is an open-source implementation of the HEVC video codec. It supports WPP and tile-based multithreading and includes all features of the Main profile of HEVC/H.266. After installing it on your Windows 11 PC, you can open lots of HEVC videos incl. high-quality HD and 4K/8K UHD videos, live streams, and video conferences successfully.

Download site: https://github.com/strukturag/libde265

2. 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, 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 Windows environment as it includes MPC-HC player and works with Windows Media Player and Media Center, other popular DirectShow players such as Media Player Classic, ZoomPlayer, KMPlayer, PotPlayer, GOM Player, etc.

3. 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 site: https://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/Plus/

Option 4. Use a Third-Party Player with Built-in HEVC Support on Windows 11 (Free)

If you don't want to bother with extra HEVC codec on Windows 11, you can install a popular third-party video player VLC with built-in HEVC H.265 codec support. Download the media player and set it as the defualt player, then you can open HEVC videos without the need to seeking and downloading 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.

Option 5. Decode 4K HEVC on Windows 11 [No codec required]

Even you've installed Microsoft's official HEVC Video Extensions or other HEVC codec packs, you may still encounter playback or editing issues. In such situations, Transcoding HEVC to H.264 or other Windows 11 compatible video codecs is another easy workaround.

To do this, you can adopt EaseFab Video Converter for help. It can fast 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, etc.

It can also encode HEVC to high-quality codecs like Apple ProRes, DNxHD, etc. make your editing process (in Adobe Premiere, Avid MC, DaVinci Resolve, etc.) simpler and less resource-intensive.

By taking full advantage of the software and hardware acceleration, it decodes, encodes, and transcodes HEVC/H.265 video at a speed up to 30x real-time faster without any quality loss.

Which HEVC Codec for Windows 11 Should You Choose?

Feel frustrated about choosing a suitable HEVC codec options for Windows 11? Here are some suggestions.

• For simple HEVC playback
  Use VLC Media Player — it's the easiest, safest, and completely free way to play HEVC/H.265 videos without installing additional system codecs.


• For free, system-wide HEVC support
  Consider Media Player Codec Pack Plus or K-Lite Codec Pack. Among them, K-Lite Codec Pack is the most complete and highly recommended for advanced users who need broad compatibility across different players.


• For native Windows 11 apps (Movies & TV, Windows Media Player)
  Go with the official HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99). This option is stable, safe, and hardware-accelerated, ensuring smooth playback within Microsoft’s built-in apps.


• If your editing software struggles with HEVC
  Use EaseFab Video Converter to convert HEVC into more editing-friendly formats, such as H.264 or ProRes. This ensures your videos can be edited or shared without compatibility issues.


• For open-source enthusiasts or technical users
  Choose libde265, which is ideal for developers or users who prefer open-source decoders and want maximum control over playback and integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 11 not support HEVC?

It is due to licensing and royalty issues. HEVC is a standard for video compression that requires licensing fees to be paid to the patent holders of the technology. By providing the HEVC Video Extensions as a separate download, Microsoft ensures that users who require HEVC support can obtain it while managing the licensing and royalty requirements associated with the technology.

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

Yes. 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.

How to check if HEVC is installed on Windows 11?

To make sure if the codec is installed successfully on your computer, open the Movies & TV app from the Start menu. Try playing an HEVC video (H.265, .mp4, .mkv, etc.). If the codec is missing, you'll see a prompt like: "HEVC Video Extensions are required to play this video". This is the simplest way to detect if HEVC support is missing in Windows 11.