Windows 10 and 11
- Cost
- Free to $0.99
- Time
- 2 minutes
How to install the HEVC codec
"A codec is required to play this file": the most searched HEVC error. Pick your system and you will have it sorted in five minutes.
Key points
- Windows: "HEVC Video Extensions" ($0.99 / €0.99) or the free device-manufacturer version if your PC has it; or use VLC.
- Mac: nothing to install since macOS High Sierra (2017); for MKV, IINA or VLC.
- Linux: FFmpeg already includes the decoder; install your distro's codecs and set up VA-API.
- Download only from official sources: "free HEVC codecs" from unknown sites often bundle adware.
Pick your system
macOS
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Nothing to install
Linux
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- 5 minutes
Android, iPhone and TVs
On phones and TVs the codec is built in and cannot be installed separately: if the device lacks a hardware decoder, your only options are an app with a software decoder (VLC for Android or iOS) or converting the video to H.264. See the list of compatible devices.
Before installing: does your hardware decode HEVC?
Intel
- 2015 6th gen (Skylake): 8-bit
- 2016 7th gen (Kaby Lake): 10-bit
NVIDIA
- 2015 GTX 950/960: Main y Main 10
- 2016 GTX 10: up to 12-bit
AMD
- 2015 Carrizo APUs and R9 Fury: 8-bit
- 2016 RX 400 (Polaris): 10-bit
Apple
- 2015 A9 chip (iPhone 6s)
- 2017 macOS High Sierra on Intel 6th-gen+ Macs
- 2020 M1: 8- and 10-bit
Most common errors
| Message or symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "You need a new codec to play this item" | Windows without the HEVC extension | Install the extension or use VLC |
| Audio plays but the picture is black | Video decoder missing | Same as above |
| Video stutters or CPU at 100 % | Software decoding (GPU without HEVC or acceleration off) | Enable acceleration in the player, update drivers or convert to H.264 |
| Green, pink or blocky picture | Driver bug, or 10-bit file on an 8-bit-only GPU | Update drivers; turn off hardware acceleration |
| HEIC photos won't open | HEIF and HEVC extensions missing | See the Windows guide |
| QuickTime won't open an .mkv | QuickTime doesn't support MKV | IINA or VLC, or remux to MP4 |
The universal fix: a player with its own codec
VLC, mpv, Kodi and PotPlayer include FFmpeg's HEVC decoder and work even with nothing installed on the system. Find them all in downloads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HEVC codec free?
It depends on the system. On Mac, iPhone, Android and Linux you pay nothing. On Windows, Microsoft's extension costs $0.99 / €0.99 unless the PC maker preinstalled it; the free alternative is VLC or mpv, which bring their own decoder.
Are codec packs safe?
Only from the official site. Avoid websites offering "free HEVC codec" with their own installers: they are a common adware route. We always link to the original download.