High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265 video, is supported by Windows 10. Microsoft, on the other hand, charges a fee for its official codecs, which are not included in Windows 10. If you don’t want to spend $0.99 on a credit card, you can get them for free.
On Windows 10, How Does HEVC Video Work?
The use of HEVC video is growing in popularity. HEVC is now standard on iPhones, and 4K UHD Blu-rays are also encoded in this format.
However, these codecs are only required for Windows apps that use the built-in codecs, such as Microsoft’s Movies & TV video player, which is included with Windows 10, and other Windows apps that use the built-in codecs.
For example, VLC, a popular third-party video player, has its own built-in codecs. Simply install VLC and open HEVC (H.265) videos in VLC to play them.
You’ll need the codecs for built-in support. These aren’t included in the latest Windows 10 versions, so you’ll have to go to the Microsoft Store to get them. In applications that use Windows 10’s system codecs, these codecs are also required for encoding video in HEVC (H.265) format.
How to Install the Codecs for Free
You can actually get two different codec packages from the Store. Both are the same price, but one is free and the other is $0.99.
The HEVC Video Extensions package is available for $0.99 if you search the Store for HEVC. The cost of Microsoft’s codec licensing is most likely reflected in this fee.
The Store, on the other hand, offers the “HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer” package for free. This is a completely free version of the $0.99 package. To install them, click the link and then “Get.” Done!
These codecs appear to be pre-installed on PCs by computer manufacturers. But there’s no reason why you can’t use these codecs on your computer; all you have to do is go to the link and download them.
In the United States, the link above works. According to some reports, it might not work in other countries. The Microsoft Store, like other app stores, has different software listings for different regions. In other countries, it may be different. If you’re not in the United States, try this link instead!
You can also download the Store’s support for the High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF). Simply go to the HEIF Image Extensions folder and install it. This image format is also becoming more popular, as HEIF is now the default format for taking photos on iPhones. Without any pricing tricks, the HEIF package is completely free for everyone.