如果您尝试在Windows 11系统上打开(Windows 11)使用 HEVC 编解码器编码的视频文件(video file encoded with HEVC codec)，您可能会注意到一个弹出窗口，通知您缺少HEVC编解码器。这些通常是使用 iPhone、DJI或GoPro设备录制的视频。如果您尝试使用Windows(Windows)内置视频播放器之一，您将收到缺少编解码器的消息，因为(missing codec)Windows 11没有打开HEVC视频的内置功能。您需要在台式电脑或笔记本电脑上手动下载并安装此视频扩展程序。
2023 年初，微软(Microsoft)从其商店中删除了免费的HEVC编解码器。(HEVC)然而，它的价格仅为 0.99 美元。但如果您不想购买此编解码器，也不必担心，还有其他方法可以播放HEVC视频。您可以从非官方来源免费获取编解码器（但我们不建议这样做）或使用预装HEVC(HEVC)编解码器的第三方视频播放器，例如VLC 播放器(VLC player)。
也就是说，您还应该查看我们有关如何在 Windows 上打开 HEIC 文件的(how to open HEIC files on Windows)指南，以了解有关Windows和图像格式的更多信息。
什么是HEVC以及为什么需要它？
HEVC代表高效视频编码(High-Efficiency Video Coding)，也称为H.265视频编解码器。它是目前压缩视频的标准，尤其是那些以 4K 分辨率录制的视频。这种压缩算法可以使大型视频文件变得更小，同时质量下降最小。
由于视频文件压缩，Netflix或YouTube等流媒体服务可以为您播放视频，而不会完全耗尽您的数据。但使用视频编码的不仅仅是流媒体服务。例如， HEVC(HEVC)还用于在电影编辑过程中压缩巨大的视频文件，以便将其存储在蓝光光盘上。
较新的移动设备和Go Pro相机也使用HEVC压缩进行视频录制。苹果的iPhone、iPad和Android(Android mobile)手机，例如谷歌的Pixel都使用HEVC。
如何从Microsoft Store安装(Microsoft Store)HEVC 视频扩展(HEVC Video Extension)？
由于Windows 11上未预安装HEVC视频扩展，因此您必须手动安装它。幸运的是，微软在(Microsoft)Microsoft Store中提供了这个编解码器。您只需(All)花费 0.99 美元即可购买。如果您通常使用Microsoft(Microsoft)的应用程序来播放视频（媒体播放器(Media Player)或电影(Films)和电视播放器(TV Player)），
那么这笔小额费用是值得的。
以下是如何在 Windows 11 上从Microsoft Store 安装官方(Microsoft)HEVC编解码器：
- 打开Microsoft Store应用或网站并登录您的Microsoft帐户。
- 搜索HEVC 视频扩展(HEVC Video Extension)并单击“购买”(Buy)。
- 按照屏幕上的说明完成购买。如果这是你第一次在Microsoft(Microsoft)商店购买应用，则需要设置付款方式。
- 购买完成后，单击“安装”(Install)按钮并等待其安装在您的设备上。
安装完成后，您可以在 Windows 11 设备上
播放HEVC视频。(HEVC)
过去有一个解决方法，您可以使用该解决方法通过Microsoft Store从设备制造商处获取免费版本的(Device Manufacturer)HEVC 视频扩展(HEVC Video Extensions)。但是，此解决方法仅适用于美国用户，但不能保证它在不久的将来仍然可用。尽管如此，你还是可以尝试一下：
- 复制此链接并将其粘贴到浏览器中以打开应用程序商店：ms-windows-store://pdp/? ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq
- 单击(Click)“获取”(Get)按钮并等待HEVC安装在您的设备上。
如果您不是来自美国(USA)，您仍然可以在处理编解码器和视频播放器的网站上搜索来自设备(Device)制造商的(Manufacturers)免费 HEVC 视频扩展(Free HEVC Video Extension)。但是，如果您从非官方来源下载HEVC编解码器，请确保运行防病毒程序。
尽管您必须付费，但Microsoft Store中的HEVC 视频扩展(HEVC Video Extension)是干净且安全的，可以安装在您的 PC 上。
具有内置 HEVC 视频扩展的(Built-in HEVC Video Extension)第三方视频(Video) 播放器(Players)
假设(Suppose)您不想购买和安装HEVC编解码器。在这种情况下，您可能会考虑从Windows Media Player（或类似的Windows应用程序）切换到预安装了(Windows)HEVC H.265的第三方媒体播放器之一。
VLC 媒体播放器(VLC Media Player)是目前最受欢迎的选择。确保安装与您的电脑系统兼容的最新版本。您可以选择将VLC设置为默认视频播放器，然后只需一键单击即可在 Windows 11 设备上
打开HEVC文件。(HEVC)
VLC并不是唯一可以在(VLC)Windows 11计算机上播放(Windows 11)HEVC视频的第三方视频播放器。您还可以获得MPV、MPC-HC或 5KPlayer。
在Windows 11上解码 4K HEVC（不带HEVC）
您可以使HEVC视频与(HEVC)Windows 11兼容，而无需安装编解码器。您只需将HEVC转码为H.264。但要做到这一点，您需要第三方视频转换器，例如EaseFab。它将帮助您将与Windows 11不兼容的HEVC转换为兼容的文件，例如MP4、H.264或AVI。这将使在任何Windows 11(Windows 11)播放器上播放成为可能。
您可以使用视频转换器(use video converters)将HEVC视频编码为高质量编解码器（例如Apple ProRes），并准备在DaVinci Resolve或Adobe Premiere中进行编辑。只需(Just)选择一款能够以最小的质量损失对视频进行编码、解码和转码的视频转换器。例如，
EaseFab使用硬件加速来加速视频转换过程，而不会造成任何质量损失。(EaseFab)
话虽如此，最简单的解决方案仍然是向Microsoft支付0.99 美元，购买适用于Windows的官方(Windows)HEVC编解码器。投资许可的编解码器可确保更广泛的兼容性和长期支持。
How to Install HEVC Video Extensions/Codecs in Windows 11 (Free & Paid)
If you tried oрening a video file encoded with HEVC codec on your Windows 11 system, you may have noticed a pop-up window that informs you about the missing HEVC codec. These are typically videos recorded with iPhone, DJI, or GoPro devices. You’ll receive the missing codec message if you try using one of the Windows built-in video players because Windows 11 doesn’t have the built-in capability to open HEVC videos. You’ll need to manually download and install this video extension on your desktop PC or laptop.
In early 2023, Microsoft removed the free HEVC codec from their store. However, the price for it is only $0.99. But if you don’t want to purchase this codec, don’t worry, there are other ways to play HEVC videos. You can get the codec for free from unofficial sources (but we don’t recommend this) or use a third-party video player with the HEVC codec preinstalled, such as the VLC player.
That said, you should also check our guide on how to open HEIC files on Windows to learn more about Windows and image formats.
What Is HEVC and Why Do You Need It?
HEVC stands for High-Efficiency Video Coding, also called H.265 video codec. It’s currently the standard for compressing videos, especially those recorded in 4K resolution. This compression algorithm can make large video files much smaller with minimal decrease in quality.
Thanks to video file compressions, streaming services such as Netflix or YouTube can play videos for you without completely draining your data. But it’s not only the streaming services that use video encoding. HEVC, for example, is also used to compress enormous video files during movie editing so it can fit on a Blu-Ray disk.
The newer mobile devices and Go Pro cameras also use HEVC compression for video recording. Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile phones, such as Google’s Pixel use HEVC.
How to Install HEVC Video Extension From the Microsoft Store?
As the HEVC video extension doesn’t come preinstalled on Windows 11, you’ll have to manually install it. Luckily, Microsoft provides this codec in the Microsoft Store. All you have to do is buy it for $0.99. This small fee is worth it if you typically use Microsoft’s apps to play videos (Media Player or Films & TV Player).
Here’s how to install the official HEVC codec on Windows 11 from Microsoft Store:
- Open the Microsoft Store app or website and log into your Microsoft account.
- Search for the HEVC Video Extension and click Buy.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the purchase. If this is your first time buying an app in the Microsoft store, you’ll need to set up a payment method.
- Once the purchase is done, click the Install button and wait for it to be installed on your device.
Once the installation is complete, you can play HEVC videos on your Windows 11 device.
There used to be a workaround that you could use to get the free version of HEVC Video Extensions from the Device Manufacturer through the Microsoft Store. However, this workaround is available to US users only, but there is no guarantee it will remain available in the near future. Nonetheless, you can give it a shot:
- Copy and paste this link into your browser to open the app store: ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq
- Click the Get button and wait until HEVC is installed on your device.
If you’re not from the USA, you can still search for Free HEVC Video Extension from Device Manufacturers on websites dealing with codecs and video players. However, ensure you run your antivirus program if you download the HEVC codec from unofficial sources.
Although you must pay, the HEVC Video Extension from the Microsoft Store is clean and safe to install on your PC.
Third-Party Video Players With Built-in HEVC Video Extension
Suppose you don’t want to bother buying and installing the HEVC codec. In that case, you might consider switching from Windows Media Player (or similar Windows apps) to one of the third-party media players with HEVC H.265 preinstalled.
VLC Media Player is currently the most popular option out there. Make sure you install the latest version compatible with your PC’s system. You can opt to make VLC your default video player and open HEVC files on your Windows 11 device with just one click.
VLC is not the only third-party video player that can play HEVC videos on Windows 11 computers. You can also get MPV, MPC-HC, or 5KPlayer.
Decoding 4K HEVC on Windows 11 (Without HEVC)
You can make HEVC videos compatible with Windows 11 without installing the codecs. You’ll just have to transcode the HEVC to H.264. But to do this, you’ll need a third-party video converter such as EaseFab. It’ll help you convert HEVC, which is incompatible with Windows 11, to compatible files such as MP4, H.264, or AVI. This will make the playback on any Windows 11 player possible.
You can use video converters to encode the HEVC videos to high-quality codecs such as Apple ProRes and prepare them for editing in DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere. Just select a video converter that’ll encode, decode, and transcode videos with minimal quality loss. EaseFab, for example, uses hardware acceleration to speed up the video conversion process without any quality loss.
All that being said, the simplest solution remains to pay Microsoft the $0.99 for the official HEVC codec for Windows. Investing in a licensed codec ensures wider compatibility and long-term support.
