How to Play FLAC Files in Windows Media Player
Which Windows versions play FLAC in Media Player without a codec, which ones need one, and how to fix a library that files every album under Unknown Artist.
CODECS.COM articles
Guides and News on Codecs and Multimedia
550 guides and news articles on codecs, media players and the tools around them, newest first.
How to Play HEVC Files in VLC Media Player
The complete VLC setup for H.265 video, from hardware acceleration to fixing choppy 4K playback, green screens and audio that drifts out of sync.
How to Install FFmpeg for Audacity
The two-minute fix for Audacity refusing to open M4A, WMA and AC3 files, including what to do when it cannot find the FFmpeg library.
MPEG-1 vs MPEG-2 vs MPEG-4: What the Difference Actually Is
A plain-English map of the MPEG family, from MPEG-1 and MP3 through DVD-era MPEG-2 to MPEG-4, H.264, HEVC and the .mp4 container itself.
Don't Open a .xmpeg File Before Reading This
What a .xmpeg file really is, why the Efimer Trojan uses the extension as bait, and how to check or delete one without infecting your PC.
It Is Not Your Download - Why Some APKs Refuse to Open
Why some Android apps install perfectly and then refuse to open, and how to check a file before you download it.
'Get This App From Play Store' Error on Android - How to Fix
A plain-English fix for the Android error that lets an app install and then refuses to let it open.
The 3 Most Popular Video Codecs Used Worldwide in 2026
A plain-English look at the video codecs that actually carry the world's video in 2026, and which one you need installed on your PC.
StaxRip vs HandBrake: Which Free Video Encoder Should You Install?
A straight comparison of StaxRip and HandBrake, covering what the two free encoders actually share, where they really differ, and which one fits your machine.
FFmpeg vs Adobe Media Encoder: Which One Should You Actually Use?
A practical comparison of FFmpeg and Adobe Media Encoder, with real commands, real subscription costs, and the free middle option most people actually want.
How to Use Kalmuri: Screen Capture and Recording
A plain-English walkthrough of Kalmuri, the free portable Windows tool that takes screenshots and records MP4 video from the system tray.
MakeMKV's Site Keeps Going Down - Here's What the Error Means
Why makemkv.com throws Cloudflare errors, what they actually mean, and where to get MakeMKV and its beta key while the site is unreachable.
How to Stream With VLC: Open a Stream URL or Send Your Own
How to open a stream URL in VLC in about ten seconds, and how to broadcast your own video without picking the profile that silently fails.
The Best Media Player for Subtitles
A straight comparison of five free media players on the things that actually differ for subtitles - rendering quality, sync controls and built-in subtitle search.
GUI vs CLI: Which Interface Should You Actually Use?
A plain-English look at when a graphical interface saves you time, when the command line is faster, and why most media tools quietly use both.
How to Fix Out-of-Sync Subtitles
Work out whether your subtitles are simply late or slowly drifting, then fix either one - with a keyboard shortcut while you watch, or permanently in a subtitle editor.
How to Install an APK Safely on Android (2026)
How to install an APK on Android without taking risks - the checks to run first, the permissions that should stop you, and what Google's September 2026 rules change.
How to Record Your Screen With VLC
How to record your screen with VLC, set a frame rate that is not a slideshow, and add the system audio VLC leaves out by default.
How to Get DirectX 11.3 and 12 - No Offline Installer Exists
Why there is no DirectX 12 offline installer, how to get DirectX 11.3 and 12 on Windows 10 and 11, and how to read what dxdiag tells you.
DirectX and D3D11 Video Decoding, Explained Simply
How DirectX and Direct3D 11 hand video decoding to your graphics card instead of your processor, and what you need for it to work.
Latest comments
AllInteresting development with the Fire TV Stick 4K — losing Kodi sideloading is a big deal for a lot of users. For those ...
News: The New Fire TV Stick 4K Can't Run Kodi - Here's Which Fire Stick Still Can 3 commentsThanks genius, it worked for me. v2.4.149.0 on windows 10
Guide: How to Download HEVC Video Extension for Free 181 commentsXMediaRecode gives only the option to Copy (No convert) in Audio Mode drop down. I am trying to convert/recode the EAc3 ...
Team replied Guide: How to Convert EAC3 Audio to AC3 or AAC With XMedia Recode 1 comment