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Do you know how to Install HEVC and HEIC Codecs on Windows 11/10? For the same quality, HEVC (H.265) is a more advanced video codec that can compress videos 50% faster than H.264. HEVC is now used to encode a lot of videos from iPhones, Android phones, GoPro cameras, DJI drones, and DSLRs. More than 49% of developers use HEVC, and that number is still going up in 2023. But a lot of people still need HEVC codecs for Windows 11.
The HEIF container has been around for a while, but it didn’t become popular until Apple started using it to store photos on its own devices. Then, other businesses did the same thing and added it to their platforms. One example is Google, which started using this format with the release of Android 9 Pie in 2018. Since the feature update came out in 2018, every installation of Windows 10 has supported HEIF by default. But this is only for the MPEG-H Part 2 image codec. You need to know the steps how to Install HEVC and HEIC Codecs on Windows 11/10.
What are HEIC & HEVC codecs?
HEIC and HEVC are both types of codecs, which are basically compression formats used to store and send digital media like photos and videos. In general, HEIC and HEVC are improvements in multimedia compression that make files smaller and better. As more people use them and problems with compatibility are fixed, these formats could be used to store and send more photos and videos.
How to Install HEVC and HEIC Codecs on Windows 11/10
Using the Microsoft Store (Recommended)
- Open the Microsoft Store app.
- Search for “HEVC Video Extensions” and install it. This will enable playback of HEVC video files.
- Search for “HEIF Image Extensions” and install it. This will enable viewing and editing of HEIC image files.
Using Third-Party Codecs (Optional)
- Choose a reputable codec pack like K-Lite Codec Pack or LAV Filters.
- Download and install the codec pack, ensuring you select the option to include HEVC and HEIC support.
- Follow the installation instructions carefully.
Why Install HEVC and HEIC Codecs on Windows 11/10?
- Efficiency: HEVC compression is much better than older codecs like H.264, which means that higher quality video can be sent at lower bit rates. When HEIC is used instead of JPEG to compress images, the file sizes are smaller without any loss in image quality.
- Compatibility: Because they are so efficient, many new devices, like smartphones and cameras, use HEVC and HEIC by default to record and store media. Installing these codecs makes sure that files made by these devices can be read on other computers.
- Quality: Because it supports HEVC and HEIC codecs, users can enjoy better video and picture quality while using less storage space. This makes it perfect for keeping a lot of media files.
- Future-proofing: As HEVC and HEIC become more common, especially with the rise of high-resolution displays and 4K/8K video content, installing these codecs makes sure that users will always be able to access and watch media without any problems.
Understanding the Importance of Codecs on Windows 11/10
- Compatibility: Different audio and video formats use different codecs. By having a wide range of codecs installed on your system, you ensure compatibility with various media formats, allowing you to play files without any hassle.
- Streaming and Online Content: Many streaming services and online platforms use specific codecs for streaming audio and video content. Having the necessary codecs installed enables seamless playback of online media content without buffering or quality degradation.
- Video Editing and Production: For users involved in video editing and production, codecs are indispensable. They enable the editing software to decode and encode various video formats, ensuring smooth editing workflows and high-quality output.
- Compression and File Size: Codecs also play a role in compressing multimedia files, reducing their size without significant loss of quality. This is particularly important for storing and sharing large media files efficiently.
- System Performance: Efficient codecs can contribute to better system performance by offloading some of the processing tasks related to multimedia playback and encoding. This can result in smoother playback and lower resource consumption.
- Software and Hardware Support: Codecs may be optimized to take advantage of specific hardware acceleration features available on your system, enhancing performance and reducing power consumption during media playback.
Conclusion
The updated version of High-Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) is called a High-Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) file. It is a container that saves space and uses High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) to compress and store your photos and videos across devices. The quality of the pictures and videos gets better with these formats.
Windows comes with HEIF already set up, but that’s only for the image codecs (MPEG-H Part 2). You’ll need the HEVC extension to play H.265 videos. We can help you if you can’t get these codes to open files on Windows 11.
Questions and Answers
You can either change HEIC files to JPG files or use a programme that supports HEIC files to open and view them on Windows 11. Which is better? I think both ways are good if you only want to view HECI files on Windows 11.
There are a few ways to view HEIC files on a Windows 10 PC: Use the Microsoft Photos app to: Your Windows 10 PC should already have the Microsoft Photos app on it. It works with the HEIC format and can show your HEIC pictures.
The reason for this is that Windows doesn’t work with Apple’s new image format. Starting with iOS 11, Apple added the HEIC image format. This format opens fine on your Apple device, but it might not open so easily on other computers, like your Windows PC.