updated
Sep 4, 2026
25.6MB
file size
301.9K
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Shark007 Codecs is a free 64-bit codec pack from developer Shark007 that gives media players and File Explorer what they need to handle MKV, MP4, FLV and HEVC, and it runs from a folder rather than an installer, with no paid version.
Shark007 Codecs gives Windows the decoders it needs to open the video and audio files it refuses to touch on its own.
It arrives as a compressed archive rather than an installer, so nothing is written into your system folders and nothing is left behind when you delete the folder.
That one design choice explains most of what follows, including the extra step you have to take before Windows Defender will leave the files alone.
What You Actually Download
The file is Shark007Codecs.7z, roughly 25MB, and it contains a folder of components plus one small program called Allow.exe. Windows 11 can open .7z archives in File Explorer; on Windows 10 you will need 7-Zip or a similar tool first.
There is no setup program inside, and there is no 32-bit build. If your copy of Windows is 32-bit, this pack will not run at all, and the section further down points you somewhere that will.
BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD
The download page also lists ADVANCED Codecs and STANDARD Codecs alongside the current release. Both were retired at version 17.5 and replaced by Shark007 Codecs, and the installer-based and 32-bit builds went with them, so those entries are archived copies for old machines rather than alternatives you should be choosing between.
Run Allow.exe Before You Extract
Windows Defender objects to parts of every codec pack, and Shark007 ships Allow.exe so you can clear the folder in advance. The order matters: run it after extracting everything and Defender may already have quarantined components while you were unzipping.
- Pick a permanent home for the pack, such as a folder called Shark007 on your C: drive. Moving it later means repeating this.
- Open the archive and extract only Allow.exe into that folder.
- Run Allow.exe. It tells Defender to leave that location alone.
- Now extract the Shark007Codecs folder into the same place.
- Open the settings application inside the folder and tick the suggested settings box for your player.
- Use the AutoUpdate button on the Help tab from then on, rather than downloading the archive again.
The vendor's own setup and usage thread covers the command line switches and the save and restore options if you are deploying this on more than one machine.
What Is Inside the Pack
Version 20.8.8 bundles five well-known components, each of which is a real project with its own release history rather than something written for this pack.
| Component | Version | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
| LAV Filters | 0.83.0.4 | The main decoding and splitting engine, built on FFmpeg. This is what actually plays H.264, HEVC, AV1, AC3 and the rest. |
| MPC-BE filters | 1.9.1.38 | Additional source filters for formats LAV leaves alone, including some older and less common containers. |
| Icaros | 3.3.6 | Full colour thumbnails and Explorer property columns for MKV, FLV and 10-bit files. |
| MediaInfo DLL | 26.5 | Reads what is actually inside a file, so Explorer and the settings app can report it accurately. |
| VSFilter | 2.47.0.232 | Renders external and embedded subtitles, including styled ASS and SSA files. |
What It Fixes That Windows Will Not
Most codec packs stop at playback. The reason people keep coming back to this one is the Explorer side, which is the part Windows has quietly got worse at.
- Thumbnails for MKV, FLV and 10-bit files, with a setting for how far into the video the frame is grabbed.
- The preview pane starts working for file types Windows does not recognise, FLV included.
- Right-click properties show duration, resolution and codec on non-native formats.
- M4A files containing ALAC play instead of failing silently.
- Windows Media Player handles files the newer Media Player app refuses, 4K included, once the suggested settings box is ticked.
- Codecs already on your system can be switched off individually, which is the fastest way to find a conflict.
If a file still refuses to open after all that, the problem is usually further up the chain. Our guide to the Class Not Registered error covers the most common one.
Shark007 Codecs or K-Lite
These two are not really competing for the same person. K-Lite Codec Pack is an installer with a configuration wizard, a bundled player and decades of defaults tuned for people who want to answer a few questions and be done.
Shark007 is the one to pick if you want the components in a folder you control, updated from inside the app, removable by deleting that folder. If you want neither a player nor an installer footprint, K-Lite Codec Pack Basic and DirectShow FilterPack sit between the two.
There are another fifty or so packs in the archive if neither of those is right, and you can browse the full codec packs category to compare them.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
The tell is in Settings, under System then About. If "System type" reads 32-bit, stop here.
- 32-bit Windows. No current build exists and none is coming, so use K-Lite Codec Pack instead.
- Anyone who wants an installer, a Start menu entry and an uninstaller. That is a reasonable thing to want and this is not it.
- People who only need one format. If HEVC is the whole problem, the HEVC Video Extension is a smaller answer, and our guide on whether HEVC is worth it explains when you need it.
- Anyone chasing image quality rather than compatibility. That is a renderer question, and which video renderer to use answers it better than any pack can.
- Mac users. Nothing here applies, and the media players category is the better starting point.
About Those Old Reviews
The rating on this page is dragged down by comments about a product that no longer exists. The one-star "installs a lot of unwanted crap" is from September 2015 and refers to ADVANCED Codecs 5.46, which had a bundled offer in its installer.
That was removed in version 6.1 in 2016, and since 17.5 there has been no installer at all, so there is nothing left to opt out of. The eight reviews on file are worth reading with their dates and version numbers attached.
Quick questions
Is Shark007 Codecs free?
Yes. It is freeware with no paid edition, no trial period and no feature held back, and the developer asks only for an optional donation.
Do I need to install anything?
No. You extract a folder and run the settings application from inside it, which is why there is no entry in Add or Remove Programs and no uninstaller.
Why does Windows Defender flag it?
Codec components look like the sort of thing malware bundles, so they attract false positives. Running Allow.exe in the destination folder before you extract the rest clears the location in advance.
Does it work on 32-bit Windows?
No. The 32-bit builds were discontinued and only 64-bit is maintained, so use K-Lite Codec Pack on a 32-bit machine.
Will it play 4K and HEVC?
Yes, through LAV Filters, and you can check a file in our HEVC Player before downloading anything. Hardware decoding works if your driver supports it, which on an AMD system means keeping the Radeon Adrenalin drivers current.
How do I tell which codec a file actually needs?
Drop the file into our Codec Finder and it will name the codec and point you at what plays it. The codec identifier tools in our downloads section do the same job offline.
Download Shark007 Codecs 20.8.8 and see how it handles your files, or tell us how you got on if you have used it before.
SH
The x64 version offered for download here is actually a Portable release. No installer is used.
Admin's note: it has been updated. Thanks!
Admin's note: it has been updated. Thanks!
SH
Shark removed all Adware and distributes a 100% clean installer beginning with version 6.1
AN
Installs a lot of unwanted crap. Stay away from this.
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