You shouldn't need to pay for, or sit through adverts in, an app whose only job is to play a video file. Several free, open-source media players handle virtually every video and audio format you'll encounter, with no subscriptions, no adverts, and none of the bundled "codec pack" nonsense that used to plague this space.
Key takeaway: VLC Media Player is the safest all-round choice for almost anyone — free, ad-free, and plays nearly any file format out of the box — while MPC-HC and MPV suit users who want a lighter or more customisable alternative.
VLC: the reliable default
VLC, made by the non-profit VideoLAN project, is free, open-source, and has no adverts, no bundled toolbars, and no in-app purchases. Its standout feature is format support: VLC includes its own built-in codecs for almost every video and audio format in common use, so you rarely need to install anything extra to get a file playing, unlike Windows' own Media Player, which can be pickier about less common formats.
MPC-HC: a lighter alternative
Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC) is a lightweight, low-resource player that appeals to users on older or lower-spec hardware, or anyone who prefers a minimal interface closer to the classic Windows Media Player look. Note that the original MPC-HC project was discontinued for a period; the actively maintained fork is now hosted on GitHub under the clsid2/mpc-hc name, so make sure you're downloading the current maintained version rather than an old, unpatched build.
Tip: If you regularly watch high-resolution video (4K, HDR) on an older or budget PC and notice stuttering, try MPV or MPC-HC with hardware acceleration enabled in the settings — both can offload decoding work to your graphics card, easing the strain on an older processor.
MPV: minimal and highly customisable
MPV is a keyboard-driven, no-frills player popular with more technical users. It has almost no visible interface by default — most control happens via keyboard shortcuts and an optional configuration file — which makes it extremely lightweight, but noticeably less approachable for anyone who just wants to double-click a file and use on-screen buttons. It's an excellent choice if you're comfortable with a bit of configuration, less so as a first player for a less technical household member.
Getting set up
- For most people: download VLC from the official videolan.org site — it works identically on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Install it and, during setup, optionally set VLC as your default player for video/audio file types if prompted.
- If you want a lighter alternative, download MPC-HC from the actively maintained GitHub release page (search "mpc-hc github releases" to find the current fork) rather than an old mirror site.
- For MPV, download the Windows build via the official mpv.io site's recommended builds page — it's a portable app, so simply extract the folder and run mpv.exe on a file.
- Test playback with a couple of your trickiest files (an old .avi, an .mkv with subtitles) to confirm everything plays smoothly.
| Player | Best for | Interface style |
|---|---|---|
| VLC | Everyone — broadest format support | Full graphical interface, beginner-friendly |
| MPC-HC | Older/low-spec PCs, classic look | Lightweight graphical interface |
| MPV | Technical users wanting minimal overhead | Mostly keyboard-driven, minimal UI |
Before you start: download only from videolan.org, the maintained MPC-HC GitHub page, or mpv.io. Older "codec pack" downloads from unrelated sites are a common source of bundled adware and should be avoided entirely — VLC and MPV make separate codec packs unnecessary anyway.
Frequently asked questions
- Does VLC really play every video format?
- Not literally every format that has ever existed, but it covers the overwhelming majority of common video and audio formats out of the box, including older and more obscure ones that Windows' built-in player often can't handle.
- Is VLC available on Linux?
- Yes, VLC is fully cross-platform and available for Windows, macOS, and most Linux distributions, typically through your distribution's own software centre or package manager.
- Do I need separate codec packs alongside VLC or MPV?
- No — both include comprehensive built-in codec support, which is exactly why installing a separate third-party "codec pack" (a common source of bundled adware in the past) is unnecessary and best avoided.