updated
Oct 11, 2026
26MB
file size
27.9K
downloads
Splash is Mirillis' free HD video player for Windows, known for AVCHD camcorder playback, built-in codecs and DVB-T TV, but frozen since its 2019 release, with VLC Media Player as the maintained alternative.
Splash is Mirillis' free HD video player, best known for smooth AVCHD camcorder playback and built-in codecs.
It still installs and plays files, but it has not had a new release since 2019, so it misses years of codec and security fixes.
For most people a maintained player is now the better choice, and this page explains which one and when Splash still makes sense.
What Splash Does - in Plain Terms
Splash was built to play high-definition video smoothly on ordinary PCs, especially footage straight from AVCHD camcorders. It carries its own decoders, so you do not need to install a codec pack first.
- Camcorder video. Full AVCHD support, the format many Sony, Panasonic and Canon camcorders record in.
- Picture processing. Mirillis' Picture2 engine sharpens and scales video, with Smart Seek for jumping between scenes.
- Digital TV. Watch, record and timeshift DVB-T broadcasts with a compatible TV tuner.
- EcoMode. A power-saving playback mode that stretches laptop battery life.
- Hardware decoding. Uses Intel, NVIDIA and AMD graphics to take the load off the processor.
Splash has been completely free since version 2.3, with no Lite or Pro split any more.
Which Download to Take
The Splash download page carries two installers. The difference matters, because one is a test build that was never finished.
| File | What it is | Take it if |
|---|---|---|
| Splash 2.7.0 | The final stable release, from June 2019, adding AV1, VP9, software HEVC and Opus playback | You want Splash as it was finished - the safe choice |
| Splash 3.0 beta | A test build with a new DirectX 11/12 renderer, motion smoothing and a new subtitle renderer, never followed by a final 3.0 | You are curious about the motion smoothing and accept bugs, such as stutter on slower processors |
About old bundled installers:
Some early Splash Lite installers came with toolbar offers. The 2.7.0 and 3.0 beta files here are the later, fully free releases, but read every setup screen anyway and untick anything you did not ask for.
Why a Maintained Player Is Usually Better Now
Video formats keep moving. A player that stopped in 2019 has no fixes for newer HEVC, AV1 and HDR files, for modern subtitle styling, or for security problems found in decoders since then.
| If you want | Use this instead |
|---|---|
| A player that opens everything with nothing extra to install | VLC Media Player |
| A light, fast Windows player with fine control over picture and sound | MPC-BE or MPC-HC |
| Splash-style picture enhancement and lots of settings | PotPlayer |
| The best scaling and HDR handling, if you do not mind a minimal interface | mpv player or SMPlayer |
| Watching and recording DVB-T television | ProgDVB or MediaPortal |
| A full media centre for a TV-connected PC | Kodi |
When Splash Still Makes Sense
The tell is your footage. If you mostly watch your own AVCHD camcorder clips on an older PC and Splash already plays them well, there is no urgent reason to switch.
It is also a reasonable pick for an offline PC that only plays your own files, where missing security updates matter less. For anything downloaded from the internet, use a maintained player.
If Videos Will Not Play
Newer phone and camera videos are often HEVC or AV1. Splash 2.7.0 added both, but heavy files can still stutter on older PCs. VLC plays them smoothly, and Windows' own apps play them with the HEVC Video Extension and the AV1 Video Extension.
Classic players such as KMPlayer and GOM Player are other familiar options.
For players that rely on the codecs installed in Windows, K-Lite Codec Pack fills the gaps.
What Mirillis Makes Now
Mirillis' active product today is Mirillis Action!, a screen and game recorder, which is where the company's development has gone since Splash stopped. The Media Players category has the rest of the maintained players.
Quick questions
Is Splash still being updated?
No. The last stable release is 2.7.0 from June 2019, followed by a 3.0 beta that never became a final version.
Is Splash free?
Yes. It has been fully free since version 2.3, and the Lite and Pro editions no longer exist.
Should I install 2.7.0 or the 3.0 beta?
2.7.0, unless you specifically want to try the beta's motion smoothing. The beta can stutter on processors with fewer than six cores.
Does Splash play 4K and HDR video?
It plays 4K, and HDR needs Windows 10, a DirectX 12 graphics card and an HDR monitor. Newer HDR files may still play better in a maintained player such as VLC or mpv.
What is the best replacement for Splash?
VLC Media Player for most people, and PotPlayer if you liked Splash's picture enhancement and want plenty of settings.
Can Splash still record TV?
Its DVB-T recording and timeshift still work with supported tuners, but for an actively maintained TV app, try ProgDVB.
Download Splash 2.7.0 if you still need it for your camcorder clips, or tell us what you used it for if you have history with it.
RA
5/5Excellent
best player shot to watch HD movies.
NA
5/5Excellent
There are a few media players out there now that offload video to the graphics card. Splash is one of them and my favourite.
The interface is very clean, simple and "just works". you don't have to mess about with any codecs or settings. It loads very fast and plays most popular videos.
I ended up forking out for the Pro version for the video enhancements and that has cemented it as my favourite video playing software, beating the former champ VLC!. It smooths out low frame-rates, enhances the image quality and colours. It makes even standard definition videos look vibrant and HD.
The only criticism I have is that enabling the Pro enhancements does eat into the processor a little. If you have an Atom grade CPU or less (with an ION or other GPU) then stick to the lite version, which will still offload to the GPU.
The interface is very clean, simple and "just works". you don't have to mess about with any codecs or settings. It loads very fast and plays most popular videos.
I ended up forking out for the Pro version for the video enhancements and that has cemented it as my favourite video playing software, beating the former champ VLC!. It smooths out low frame-rates, enhances the image quality and colours. It makes even standard definition videos look vibrant and HD.
The only criticism I have is that enabling the Pro enhancements does eat into the processor a little. If you have an Atom grade CPU or less (with an ION or other GPU) then stick to the lite version, which will still offload to the GPU.
NA
4/5Good
Well it play files good enough with nice interface to warrant a good review, HOWEVER :
- Subtitle not automatically loaded even when set
- NO styled subtitle support (fail for anime)
- Some missing code, try playing vorbis with this
- Very crude playlist, try dragging file from explorer to the playlist (not the main window)
Still it has come a long way for such a young player. Personally, I'd like a DS filter support...
- Subtitle not automatically loaded even when set
- NO styled subtitle support (fail for anime)
- Some missing code, try playing vorbis with this
- Very crude playlist, try dragging file from explorer to the playlist (not the main window)
Still it has come a long way for such a young player. Personally, I'd like a DS filter support...
Share your thoughts on Splash 3.0 beta
Thanks, it's in!
Your review will appear once it has been checked.
