Come posso ottenere il codec HEVC gratuito?
In 2025, Windows 11 does not natively support HEVC (H.265) video codec; Microsoft removed native support starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. To play HEVC videos, you need to install an HEVC Video Extensions codec [1].
There are two main ways to get HEVC support on Windows 11 as of 2025:
-
Microsoft Store Official HEVC Video Extensions (Paid)
Microsoft offers an official HEVC Video Extensions app in the Microsoft Store for around $0.99. Installing this enables Windows 11 built-in apps to play HEVC videos. It uses hardware acceleration on supported CPUs and GPUs but also provides software decoding for others [1] [3] [4]. -
Free HEVC Codec from Device Manufacturer Package
Microsoft had released a free HEVC Video Extensions version for OEMs like Dell, HP, Lenovo pre-installation. This free version can be obtained unofficially from some archives online. It can be installed manually using PowerShell commands to add the package, offering a free alternative though compatibility may vary, and some newer apps may not accept this version [3] [2].
Additional unofficial sources provide free HEVC Video Extensions downloads that bypass the Microsoft Store purchase, but caution is advised to use trusted sources only for security and functionality [2].
In summary:
| Method | Cost | Official Source | Compatibility Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store HEVC Extensions | ~$0.99 | Microsoft Store | Official, stable, hardware accelerated |
| Free device manufacturer version | Free (unofficial download) | OEM device archives/Internet Archive | May work on some devices, installation via PowerShell, less stable |
To install the free OEM version, a common PowerShell command is:
Add-AppxPackage "Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.0.61931.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxBundle"
For most users, purchasing the official Microsoft Store extension is the reliable method to enable HEVC support in Windows 11 in 2025 [1] [3] [2].
If you want to avoid codec issues without installing extensions, some third-party video players like VLC can play HEVC videos directly without extra codecs.
This is the current situation regarding HEVC extension availability and use on Windows 11 in 2025.