Media Foundation Codecs 2026-01-17

Seeing "This item was encoded in a format that's not supported" when opening videos on Windows?

Media Foundation Codecs delivers the complete collection of Microsoft extensions that restore full playback functionality to your system.

This free download pack solves the codec gaps that prevent Windows Media Player and the Movies & TV app from playing modern video formats.

Microsoft stripped several essential codecs from Windows to reduce licensing costs.

The result leaves users unable to play iPhone videos, 4K streaming content, and files downloaded from YouTube without encountering error messages.

Media Foundation Codecs packages every missing extension into a single installer that registers directly with the Windows media pipeline - no technical knowledge required.

Why You Need Media Foundation Codecs

Microsoft Media Foundation Codecs contains four possible missing codecs that cause the "This item was encoded in a format that's not supported" that appears primarily in the Movies & TV App when playing videos. 

These codecs were once included free with Windows but are now missing or require separate installation.

What's Included

The bundle contains all official Microsoft codec extensions:

Video Extensions:
HEVC Video Extension enables H.265 playback with hardware acceleration - essential for iPhone recordings and 4K content.

VP9 Video Extension handles YouTube downloads and WebM files.

AV1 Video Extension supports the latest efficient codec used by Netflix and streaming platforms.

MPEG-2 Video Extension plays DVD rips and legacy broadcast recordings.

Web Media Extensions adds Ogg Vorbis and Theora support for older web content.

Image Extensions:
HEIF Image Extensions opens iPhone photos in Windows Photo Viewer and File Explorer.

WebP Image Extensions displays the web's most common modern image format.

Raw Image Extension previews camera RAW files without third-party software.

JPEG XL Image Extension supports the emerging next-generation image standard.

For the free HEVC version, see our guide: How to Download HEVC Video Extension for Free.

Problems This Solves

Error code 0xc00d5212 in Movies & TV disappears immediately after installation. Videos that previously showed only audio or failed to load entirely will play normally.

iPhone recordings transferred via USB or iCloud work in any Windows application.

YouTube downloads in VP9 or AV1 format open without conversion. Windows N edition users regain full media functionality that Microsoft removed from their installation.

The extensions integrate at the system level, meaning every application gains codec support automatically. MPC-HC, MPC-BE, PotPlayer, and VLC Media Player all benefit from native Windows codec registration alongside the built-in apps.

Hardware Requirements

Windows 10 version 1709 or Windows 11 is required. HEVC hardware acceleration needs a compatible GPU - check our Best GPU for Video Encoding guide to verify your graphics card supports HEVC decoding.

Systems without hardware support fall back to software decoding, which may cause stuttering on 4K content with older processors.

Alternative Solutions

Users wanting comprehensive codec support beyond Microsoft extensions should consider K-Lite Codec Pack - it includes all Media Foundation codecs plus LAV Filters, MPC-HC, and DirectShow components for maximum compatibility.

The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack adds encoding capabilities for content creators.

For standalone image viewing with built-in codec support, IrfanView and FastStone Image Viewer handle HEIC, AVIF, and WebP files without requiring system extensions.

The WIC for HEIC codec provides an alternative HEIC solution for Windows imaging applications.

Learn more about the technology behind these codecs in our Media Foundation guide or explore codec comparison guides like Best HEVC Players and Best Codec Packs.

Troubleshooting

If videos still fail after installation, ensure Windows received a full restart rather than a fast shutdown. Update your GPU drivers to the latest version for optimal hardware acceleration.

Users experiencing persistent issues can try the Codec Troubleshooter tool or install LAV Filters as a DirectShow fallback for applications that don't use Media Foundation APIs.