HEVC on Windows
HEVC (H.265) is the standard format for 4K video, HDR streaming and modern Blu-ray. This hub covers everything you need: checking GPU support, installing the codec, encoding your own videos, and fixing playback problems.
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How to get the HEVC codec on Windows
HEVC files won't play? This step-by-step guide shows you how to install the free HEVC Video Extensions and get H.265 working on Windows 10 and 11 in minutes.
Read the guideHEVC hardware support checker
Check whether your NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU supports HEVC hardware decoding and encoding - including 4K, 10-bit and HDR. Covers 60+ GPU models.
Check your GPUX HEVC Encoder - free Windows app
Encode any video to HEVC with a simple GUI. Supports libx265 software encoding, x265 CLI, NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF and Intel QSV hardware encoders.
Download freeHEVC encoding settings guide
Interactive FFmpeg x265 command builder. Choose your use case - archival, streaming, HDR, mobile - and get the exact settings with live command preview.
Open guideHEVC (H.265) explained
HEVC - High Efficiency Video Coding, also called H.265 - is the successor to H.264 and the current industry standard for high-quality video compression. It delivers the same visual quality as H.264 at roughly half the file size, which is why it is the format of choice for 4K UHD streaming, HDR10, Dolby Vision and modern Blu-ray.
On Windows, HEVC support requires both a software codec and, for smooth 4K playback, a GPU with hardware decode acceleration. Neither comes pre-installed on most Windows machines - which is why this page exists.
Play HEVC files instantly with X Codec Pack
X Codec Pack includes LAV Filters with full HEVC support - 8-bit, 10-bit, HDR10, hardware-accelerated decoding via DXVA2 and D3D11 - for every media player on Windows, not just Windows apps. One install fixes HEVC, MKV, AV1, DTS, TrueHD and 50+ other formats.
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