MPC-HC
MPC-HC (Media Player Classic Home Cinema) is a lightweight, open-source media player for Windows. It provides native playback support for all common audio and video file formats without requiring extra codec packs.
github.com · Official website
- ✓ Official source (winget)
- ✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 2.8.4
- Release date
- Oct. 18, 2026
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Installer type
- inno
How do I use this?
Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.
winget install --id clsid2.mpc-hc -eSHA256 (file verification)
8340eb8847006ee1efe154e3172e324565f05659439e31579ce9dff9bb6816b8We couldn't find a macOS version of MPC-HC in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
We couldn't find a Linux version of MPC-HC in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
We couldn't find a Android version of MPC-HC in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
MPC-HC 2.8.4: what's new?
- Improved HDR to SDR tone-mapping algorithm in MPC Video Renderer.
- Fixed a regression that could cause the player to hang when first showing the seek preview.
- Fixed an issue where exiting fullscreen on a monitor with different DPI could shrink the window size.
- Updated the status bar audio icon, which now also displays the channel count.
Summarized from the publisher's release notes.
Highlights
- Native playback for common audio and video formats
- Extremely low processor and memory usage
- Customisable interface and toolbar options
- Built-in subtitle renderer and audio track switching
Who is it for?
Windows users seeking a fast, unobtrusive media player for local audio and video playback, particularly on older or resource-constrained PCs.
Good to know before installing
- Available exclusively for Windows systems.
- Traditional interface with minimal modern visual customisation.
- Lacks a built-in media library organiser.
How to install
Windows
- Click the official download button on this page or run 'winget install --id clsid2.mpc-hc -e' in your terminal.
- Open the downloaded setup executable and select your language.
- Follow the on-screen installation wizard steps.
- Launch MPC-HC and select your default file associations.
Alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is MPC-HC completely free?
Yes, MPC-HC is free and open-source software distributed under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Does MPC-HC require separate codec packs?
No, it comes with internal codecs that decode most common media formats natively.
Can MPC-HC run on macOS or Linux?
No, MPC-HC is developed exclusively for the Windows operating system.