How to obtain free HEVC and HEIC extensions from the Microsoft Store

Compumind said:

Hi all -

Wanted a simple way to open my Apple HEIC photos on W10 directly within the Photos App.
So Microsoft wanted me to spend $0.99 to download their extensions, but I like free ones.

There was a package "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" which was free to download on Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store.

However, that version is no longer available. But you can still get it for free. Here's how:

Copy/paste this link into your internet browser:

ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq

Otherwise, open a command prompt, and type/paste:

start ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq

If it asks you to launch your Microsoft store, just open it.

Click the Install button and it will then ask you to enter your Microsoft Account.
Just close that window and it will still continue to install the HEVC video codec free on Windows 10.

Hope this helps!

Wow - refusal to pay 99p. I guess you do not have a partner LOL.

Package versions from each of the 4 sources:

9NMZLZ57R3T7 -> Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtensions_2.0.61933.0
9N4WGH0Z6VHQ -> Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.0.61931.0
VLSC .msi installer -> 2.0.51122.0
HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer -> Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.0.61931.0

CORRECTION: Fixed the version returned by the the URL post, I was picking Fast Ring by mistake. The URL method and 9N4WGH0Z6VHQ both return the same results.

cereberus said:

Wow - refusal to pay 99p. I guess you do not have a partner LOL.

Post reported for being offensive and personally attacking.

You seem to be missing the point here. It is not about the 99p cost. See the broader picture. Windows is not a free product, in fact it's a paid one. Therefore I believe OP's desire to have this functionality for free isn't unreasonable.
Also don't only consider home users. What if you're running a school lab with 100+ computers, or an office building with 300? You need this codec otherwise you can't play videos the clients send you, or the students can't complete their video editing studies assignments. Are you going to pay 100 x .99 out of your pocket? Because the government here definitely won't, and they shouldn't: they have already brought the computers and the Windows licenses, which really should cover basic features such as playing a video. We can't just be stuck in the past.

As others pointed out, some companies such as Apple, and actually every major phone manufacturer caved in and now includes this codec for free in their devices. As well as TV manufacturers such as LG.
Even Microsoft did, more or less, on their Xbox series as well as Sony for PlayStation.

Why can't Microsoft just bite the dust and have HEVC codecs included in the Windows license product? If one is worried about that Windows can be used without activation, technically for free, without ever purchasing a license, you'd be correct BUT then access to this codec could be tied behind a paywall, much the same way as you are unable to use certain functions without activating Windows, such as changing the wallpaper, screensaver etc.

Now to address the concern as why HEVC codec support is a must-have. First of all, this is the 21st century, and the era of DVDs, AVIs and other lesser quality formats is long gone. Even H.264, as popular as it may be, should be soon considered outdated, in favor of H.265 aka HEVC. You must know that HEVC delivers the same, or in some cases better (think HDR) image quality at a lower file size, thanks to much better conpression, if you have the right hardware. Having H.265 compatible hardware isn't a luxury anymore, every major smart TV from the past 5 years include it (as far as I know) as well as every modern gaming console as well as every recent smart phone from the past few years, Android and iPhone alike. It is even set as the default video codec for movie recording on many new phones.

Not having this codec on your PC feels like using Windows 98. It is no wonder that almost every major OEM (computer manufacturer) bundled this codec for free with their pre-builr PCs and notebooks. No one wants bad ratings on their product. It was about time Microsoft caved in and got in line, which they did; Windows 11 includes this codec by default. Byt since this is TenForums: the problem still stands, I wish Microsoft did a retrofit and included this codec into a Windows 10 Update but chances are next to zero on that,because soon Windows 10 will be retired, in just a year it is set to lose support unless they extend it.

A few words on claims that VLC is providing this codec for free: I wouldn't be so sure on that. It doesn't appear to be the same codec at all. VLC plays H.265 HEVC for sure, but not with the same efficiency. My CPU usage is much higher, GPU usage much lower and the video lags in VLC, also HDR support is poor in some cases.
I believe that's the best you can offer for free. However, the level of quality you get with the Microsoft codec (given that you have compatible hardware) is lightyears ahead. You don't even have to download anything , the stock Movies & TV app is enough.

If you want to check out a proper alternative implementation of H.265 HEVC codecs, check out Splash Player from Mirillis. It is now a free product and includes great hardware acceleration support. They have paid products as well and I guess those pay the bills for this codec.

Windows is not a free product, in fact it's a paid one.

Windows does not charge for the codec, the dev does. MS includes free AV1 instead.

You need this codec otherwise you can't play videos the clients send you, or the students can't complete their video editing studies assignments.

So if students can not afford software they need like MS office or Adobe, they should steal it, interesting.

TairikuOkami said:

Windows does not charge for the codec, the dev does. MS includes free AV1 instead.
So if students can not afford software they need like MS office or Adobe, they should steal it, interesting.

You are twisting my words in a way that is almost defamatory. Saying things that I never said and never even implied. However, I will still address your concerns. May I please bring this sentence to your attention?

ish4d0w said:

they have already brought the computers and the Windows licenses, which really should cover basic features such as playing a video

TairikuOkami said:

MS includes free AV1 instead.

That is true, but how is this relevant? AV1 is a different codec. While it is great, and it can play a lot of modern videos, it doesn't help you to play H.265 HEVC videos. They are two entirely different things, hence two different packages in the MS Store.

TairikuOkami said:

Windows does not charge for the codec, the dev does

That is correct. My point is that Microsoft should include the paid codec (HEVC) in Windows. And Microsoft should pay for it. My opinion is that, since Windows is not a free product, the price I pay for the Windows license should cover for such a sub-license cost. I initially thought that it wasn't possible for Microsoft to license & include this codec into Windows but then again, if Apple could do it, and even Microsoft did it for Xbox, then why not for Windows?

But then again, I might be wrong. There is one possible argument on that I can think of, on why they are not including it: Windows 10 supports a lot of older computers that are not capable of rendering H.265 (HEVC) in a hardware-accelerated way, and also not powerful enough to render it on the CPU with an acceptable framerate. If I wanted to be greedy I could say that maybe it isn't worth for them to license that codec because a number of customers (older PC owners, basically with Windows 7 hardware) wouldn't be able to use it anyway.

On the other hand, Windows 11 has much higher system requirements, including gen 8 or later Intel and comparable AMD chips, which include the necessary hardware support for hardware-accelerated H.265 HEVC playback so it makes sense to include the codec. I'm really glad they finally did!

TairikuOkami said:

So if students can not afford software they need like MS office or Adobe, they should steal it, interesting.

I'm merely curious, could you please tell me why do you think that? Specifically, where did I ever recommend stealing?
What part of my comment led you you to believe that I think, or even imply that anyone should steal software? I criticised Microsoft for not including this license for free (meaning I think they should bear the sub-licensing costs), I never proposed any other ways to "solve" this problem. Only Microsoft can, or rather could have, solved it.
I highly condemn piracy. I make software myself. Not particularly for Windows but for Android and I know how bad it hurts developers to have their property stolen.

TairikuOkami said:

MS office

is optional software. Not needed for such basic tasks like playing a video. Also there are free alternatives. Still, of course, MS Office is the most popular choice, perhaps the best, we use it as well. We have a license for each one of us (both me for my personal computers at home and at my workplace too, for every employee's computer)
Schools buy it too, they have governmental contracts with Microsoft in many countries. They even give a subscription to students to use for as long as they are students. It's a scheme that works remarkedly well and is profitable for Microsoft too. There are ways to solve such an issue, even for an expensive piece of software too. But where is the $0.99 H.265 (HEVC) codec compared to Office licenses? If you were to say that it isn't fair for Microsoft to include Office for free with every Windows subscription, I'd agree with you. The same goes for Adobe. While their products are incredibly useful for students, no one (not even me) are expecting anyone to give it away for free or with the Windows license. But this is not needed, because (as you must know) Adobe is offering excellent deals for student subscriptions. I believe those are worth it because they always get the latest version.
On the $0.99 codec though, whether that should be included with Windows, I'm afraid our opinions do not align. But it doesn't really matter anymore since Microsoft seems to have gone the way I hoped they would, and HEVC codec is included by default on Windows 11. (At least it seems to me)


EDIT: I believe this discussion is no longer helping OP with the original question of the topic so I'm done with this. Unsubscribed. Have a nice day everyone!