Codec and Video Guides
Short, practical guides for Windows 11 and 10.
Find out which codec you really need, fix videos that will not play, and encode with the right settings.
Codec guides
Xvid codec for Windows 11 and 10
Do you still need the Xvid codec? When Windows already plays Xvid AVI files, what to download, and how to fix videos with no sound or no picture.
Read the guideHow to get the HEVC codec on Windows
HEVC videos will not play? Install the free HEVC Video Extensions and get H.265 working on Windows 10 and 11 in minutes.
Read the guideHEVC and encoding
HEVC on Windows - the complete hub
Everything about H.265 on Windows in one place: the codec, GPU support, encoding and playback fixes.
Read the guideHEVC hardware decoding checker
Check whether your NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU decodes and encodes HEVC in hardware, including 4K, 10-bit and HDR.
Read the guideFree HEVC encoder for Windows
Encode video to H.265 with x265, NVIDIA NVENC, Intel QSV or AMD AMF - and which one to pick for quality or speed.
Read the guideBest x265 settings for FFmpeg
Pick a use case - archive, streaming, HDR or mobile - and get the right CRF, preset and FFmpeg command.
Read the guideOne install plays almost everything
Most guides end with the same fix.
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