Whereas, Windows Media Player lacks the ability to support H.265(HEVC) codec. Just read on, so that you can play H.265 in Windows Media Player with ease.Īs the successor to H.264 encoding method, an obvious advantage H.265 encoding method has is that, with the same video size, H.265 can offer much clearer and sharper images. In this page, we will talk about some tips and tricks to get H.265 to Windows Media Player with smooth playback.

That's the main reason why H.265 has been slow to roll out. However, the problem is that current tablet/cellphone as well as video player app like Windows Media Player can't quite handle H.265 yet. To keep in pace, H.265 player is necessary to open and play it. H.265 is going to replace H.264 to be the next generation of video encoding method. This fee likely reflects the cost of licensing the codecs for Microsoft.Can Windows Media Player Play H.265 Files If you search the Store for HEVC, you’ll see the $0.99 HEVC Video Extensions package. Both are identical, but one costs $0.99 and one is free. There are actually two different codec packages you can get from the Store. You have no guarantee that they’re safe, even if you run them through antivirus tools like VirusTotal to check. Your only alternative is to try to download the codecs from a third-party website, which is potentially risky. If you use video editing software that relies on Microsoft’s HEVC codecs to import and export H.265 video, like DaVinci Resolve, you’ll need to pay for the codecs. Unfortunately, that means you must now either pay the 99 cents for the other codecs available from Microsoft or opt to use a third-party video player, like VLC, to play back videos encoded with H.265. RELATED: What Is HEVC H.265 Video, and Why Is It So Important for 4K Movies? How to Install the Codecs for Free Update, 4/7/23: Microsoft has finally pulled the free HEVC codec from the Microsoft Store. These codecs are also required for encoding video in HEVC (H.265) format in applications that use Windows 10’s system codecs.

These aren’t included with the latest versions of Windows 10 but must be installed from the Microsoft Store. For built-in support, you’ll need the codecs.

H 265 codec windows media player