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MPC-HC

Free plan Windows

Visit MPC-HC Alternatives Pricing

MPC-HC's own site

What MPC-HC is

MPC-HC is a free, open-source video and audio player for Windows, with code licensed under GPL v3. It supports Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. The player handles formats including HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266, AV1 video, and AC4 audio, and supports hardware acceleration. Its interface comes with dark and light themes as well as a classic theme. Keyboard and mouse controls can be configured, playback speed adjusted, and video panning and scanning changed. MPC-HC can remember a playback position so a viewer can resume later.

Subtitle functions include subtitle search, WebVTT support, and loading a second external text subtitle track. For videos from YouTube and other sites, placing yt-dlp.exe in the installation folder enables opening URLs, streaming, and saving copies; that feature also requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86). HDR playback requires MPC Video Renderer or madVR. The project includes and recommends MPC Video Renderer. Blu-ray playback requires a decrypting tool, and Blu-ray menus are not supported. As a DirectShow player, MPC-HC can be extended with third-party filters. Remote control is available through a web interface on the local network, or through an API using window messages. The maintainer describes the player as mature and stable; new feature requests are not currently accepted, though improvements continue and programmer contributions can be submitted as pull requests.

Who it suits

MPC-HC suits Windows users who want a free player for common and newer video and audio formats, with subtitle tools and playback controls. It also fits users who want to extend a DirectShow player with third-party filters or control playback over a local network.

What it does well

  • Free and open source under GPL v3.
  • Supports HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266, AV1 video, and AC4 audio.
  • Offers dark, light, and classic themes.
  • Can remember playback position for resuming later.
  • Provides subtitle search, WebVTT, and a second external text track.
  • Supports hardware acceleration and playback speed adjustment.

What to know first

  • Available for Windows only.
  • Blu-ray playback requires a decrypting tool; menus are unsupported.
  • Website playback requires yt-dlp.exe and a Microsoft Visual C++ package.
  • The maintainer is not accepting new feature requests.

Limits

MPC-HC is free, with no paid plan described. Blu-ray playback requires a decrypting tool and does not support menus; HDR needs MPC Video Renderer or madVR. Website streaming and saving copies require yt-dlp.exe and the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
MPC-HCWindows video and audio player · GPL v3Free

As github.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Visit the MPC-HC project website on GitHub.
  2. Use a system running Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or 11.
  3. For YouTube and other video site playback, place yt-dlp.exe in the installation folder and install the required Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).
  4. For HDR playback, use MPC Video Renderer, which the project includes and recommends, or madVR.
  5. For Blu-ray playback, use a decrypting tool.

Verdict

Pick MPC-HC if you want a free Windows player with broad listed format support, configurable controls, and subtitle options. Look elsewhere if you need Blu-ray menus or want to submit a new feature request.

Questions

Is MPC-HC free?

Yes. The listed plan is free, and the project describes the player as free and open source under GPL v3.

Which Windows versions does it support?

The listed supported versions are Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.

Can MPC-HC play videos from websites?

Yes, with yt-dlp.exe in its installation folder. The feature also requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

What is required for HDR or Blu-ray playback?

HDR playback requires MPC Video Renderer or madVR; the project includes and recommends MPC Video Renderer. Blu-ray playback requires a decrypting tool, and menus are not supported.

Can MPC-HC be controlled remotely?

A web interface allows remote control from a phone or browser on the local network. An API also supports control through window messages.

Is MPC-HC still accepting feature requests?

The maintainer says new feature requests are not currently accepted. Improvements continue, and programmer contributions can be submitted as pull requests.

Facts from MPC-HC's own pages

Blu-ray limitation
Blu-ray playback requires a decrypting tool, and Blu-ray menus are not supported. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Customization
It offers dark and light themes, configurable keyboard and mouse controls, playback speed adjustment, and video pan-and-scan controls. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Dependencies
The README says YouTube and other website playback requires yt-dlp.exe, and notes that Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) is also needed for that feature. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Development
The maintainer says new feature requests are not accepted, while improvements continue and programmer contributions can be submitted as pull requests. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Development status
The maintainer describes the player as mature and stable and says new feature requests are not currently accepted. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Extensibility
As a DirectShow player, MPC-HC supports flexibility and extensibility through third-party filters. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Formats
It supports formats including HEVC (H.265), VVC (H.266), AV1 video, and AC4 audio. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
HDR
HDR playback requires MPC Video Renderer, which is included, or madVR. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Integration
MPC-HC is a DirectShow player that supports extensibility through third-party filters. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Interface
The player offers a simple interface with modern dark and light themes and a classic theme. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
License
The project states that MPC-HC's code is licensed under GPL v3. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Operating systems
The stated system requirements are Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Playback
It supports formats including HEVC (H.265), VVC (H.266), AV1 video, and AC4 audio. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Playback history
It can remember playback position so users can resume later. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Product
MPC-HC is a free and open-source video and audio player for Windows. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose
MPC-HC is a free, open-source video and audio player for Windows. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Remote control
The project describes a web interface for remote control from a phone or browser on the local network, and an API for control through window messages. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Requirements
The listed supported operating systems are Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Streaming
With yt-dlp.exe in its installation folder, it can play URLs from YouTube and many other video sites and save copies. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Streaming integration
With yt-dlp.exe in its installation folder, MPC-HC can open video website URLs, stream videos, and save copies. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Subtitles
It supports WebVTT, libass rendering, and manual or automatic subtitle search. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026

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