It also increases battery life if you watch something on a laptop (otherwise, the decoding is done by software, which consumes more resources). Most 4K movies are recorded in this format, so with this application, you'll be able to play them using the native Windows application called Movies and TV.īy decoding HEVC videos by hardware, the consumption of computer resources decreases dramatically because it requires less graphics card and processor power. After installing it, you can play videos and movies recorded with the HEVC (H.265) codec.

Luckily, you can download the codec for free and install it on your own computer. These manufacturers don't have to pay to include the codec. The free one is included on new devices sold by big brands, like laptops that come with Windows pre-installed.

The only difference between them is that one costs money and the other is free.

Microsoft offers two identical applications for playing this codec natively by hardware. HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer is the official application for playing the HEVC (H.265) codec on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Codec pack hevc