How to Install HEVC and HEIF Codecs on Windows 11 (Don't Pay!)

HEVC and HEIF are codecs that use similar compression techniques to improve the quality of videos and images across devices. If you can't open these files, here's how you can install support for them on your Windows 11 PC.

Why You Don't Need to Pay for HEVC/HEIF Support on Windows

The names of these standards can be a bit confusing, so let me clarify. HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding)—also known as H.265—is for videos, but the videos themselves can come in different file formats. The HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Container) codec is used for images, but you'll commonly see them in the wild as HEIF files.

In many cases, the codecs necessary to view HEVC/HEIF content will already be installed on Windows 11. But if they aren't on your machine yet, you'll have to install them manually.

You can install support for these formats from the Microsoft Store. However, if you're from the US or certain countries, you might be surprised to find that you'll have to pay for them.

That's because these codecs have royalty fees associated with them, and Microsoft charges you for them. Fear not, though, because there are a couple of ways to get support for these formats for free, which we'll cover next.

Alternative Options for HEVC/HEIF Support (Free)

If you don't want to pay to open HEVC/HEIF files on Windows, you can use programs that include these codecs for free or install a codec pack. Your first option is to install media players that already support these codecs.

VLC is a fantastic media player that bundles HEVC/HEIF support with its software. Download and install VLC, and you should be able to watch H.265 videos from the app. Other media players, such as DivX and mpv, also include free support for these formats.

Download: VLC (Free)

To view HEIF images, you can install GIMP, which is a free and open-source image editor that includes support for many image formats, including HEIF.

Download: GIMP (Free)

If you want support for HEVC/HEIF files native to Windows, installing the K-Lite Codec Pack might be a good idea. Multiple downloads are available, but most users will want the Standard pack.

You must be vigilant during installation to make sure it doesn't automatically include unwanted programs. That's why I highly recommend installing the K-Lite Codec Pack via Ninite, which installs Windows software without the bundled junk.

Download: K-Lite Codec Pack (Free)

If you've tried all the methods above and still can't open HEVC/HEIF media, consider converting these files to a different format. You can use CloudConvert to quickly convert your HEIF images online or install any of the best video converters for Windows for HEVC content.

HEIF/HEVC codecs are essential for saving storage space on your PC without compromising the quality of your images and videos. Adding support for these files on Windows 11 will help you get the most out of your device's hardware capabilities.