This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
Right-click the Windows Start button and select or Command Prompt (Admin) . Type or paste the following command: winget install Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_8wekyb3d8bbwe Use code with caution.
While VLC uses its own codecs, some system-level HEVC files might still struggle if the OS lacks the extension. You can install the HEVC Video Extensions Microsoft Store to improve general system compatibility. 4. Alternative for Older Systems (Linux/Ubuntu)
HEVC is a computationally intensive codec. If your device doesn't support hardware decoding (offloading the work to a dedicated part of your GPU), VLC will rely on software decoding, which taxes your main CPU heavily. To fix this: install hevc codec for vlc
Purchase and install the extension (it usually costs around $0.99). Option B: The Device Manufacturer Alternative (Free)
While VLC comes with built-in support for many formats, certain operating systems and older VLC versions require manual configuration or external codecs to handle HEVC smoothly. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to install and enable the HEVC codec for VLC on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Understanding HEVC and VLC Compatibility
macOS
When prompted to select your preferred media player, you can keep VLC selected or let the installer integrate codecs system-wide.
By ensuring your VLC player is updated, configuring your hardware acceleration, and utilizing system-level extensions, you can seamlessly enjoy high-quality HEVC content without interruptions.
If you prefer not to pay, Microsoft provides a free version of the exact same codec intended for device manufacturers. Open your web browser. This public link is valid for 7 days
However, this efficiency comes with a catch: HEVC is patent-encumbered, meaning companies that distribute it often have to pay licensing fees. To avoid these costs, neither Windows, macOS, nor many Linux distributions include full HEVC decoding support by default. Consequently, while VLC is a powerful, open-source multimedia player that supports a vast array of formats, its default installation on some systems may lack the necessary components to decode HEVC content out of the box.
VLC includes most codecs by default, but on some platforms (especially or macOS without certain system extensions ), HEVC playback may require additional components. On Linux and the desktop version of Windows, VLC usually supports HEVC out of the box.
Method 2: Install HEVC Extensions from Microsoft Store (Windows) Can’t copy the link right now
HEVC has different profiles. (8-bit) is standard. Main 10 (10-bit) is for HDR content. Older VLC versions crash on Main 10.
VLC Media Player is famous for playing almost any video file right out of the box. However, many users encounter a blank screen, stuttering audio, or an error message when trying to play modern 4K or 8K videos encoded in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding / H.265).