# MPC-HC

Application: MPC-HC team

Also called media player classic, mpc hc, mpc-hc clsid2

MPC-HC team, System

Media Player Classic Home Cinema, usually the clsid2 Windows fork. The process is mpc-hc64.exe. It is not VLC.

## What you need to know

MPC-HC is the Classic fork. VLC is a different decoder and a different icon.

mpc-hc64.exe is a compact player. Current Windows builds come from the clsid2 fork. A VideoLAN installer is a different product with a different process name.

- **What is it?**: A compact Windows video player

  **Same as VLC?**: No. Different project and decoder story

  **Which build?**: clsid2 GitHub releases are the usual current ones

Feex says

If someone sent you an mpc-hc64.exe from a codec pack, I would delete it and take the clsid2 release instead. That is still not VLC, and I would not install a filter pack just because a 2011 forum said so.

## What is MPC-HC?

MPC-HC is a compact Windows video player. Current PCs usually run mpc-hc64.exe from the clsid2 fork.

## If you have never used it

If a file will not play in Films & TV and you want a small player with a right-click menu, this is MPC-HC. Get the current Windows build from the clsid2 GitHub releases the project points to, not a 2017 SourceForge leftover. It is not VLC. It does not ship the orange cone, and it historically leaned on LAV and system filters instead of VideoLAN’s all-in-one decoder.

## What is it used for?

**Local video**

Open MKV, MP4, and AVI from Explorer. VLC covers the same files with a different UI and decoder story.

**External filters**

LAV and other DirectShow filters still show up in MPC-HC talk. VLC does not ask you to install those filters first.

**Minimal chrome**

Fullscreen and a thin context menu. There is no VideoLAN playlist-first window.

## Who is it for?

- People who still say Media Player Classic when they mean a small video window
- Users following a guide that names mpc-hc64.exe
- Anyone who should skip a 2010s codec pack that bundled an old MPC

## Current status

MPC-HC (2006) is a current video player from MPC-HC team. The vendor still points Windows users at https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases.

## How old is it?

Media Player Classic started as a compact clone of the old Windows player. Home Cinema forked it in 2006. Upstream stalled, and clsid2 builds are the usual living Windows download. A 2012 codec-pack CD that bundled MPC is not this fork.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

clsid2 64-bit

Upstream (stalled)

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Light for 1080p. 4K decode wants more RAM and a working GPU          |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Software decode of heavy files

  **GPU demand**: When hardware decode is on

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| mpc-hc64.exe | 64-bit player window |
| ------------ | -------------------- |

## Startup components

MPC-HC should not start with Windows unless you added a file association shortcut. Opening a video starts mpc-hc64.exe.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\MPC-HC\\ |
| --------------- | ------------------------- |

## File formats

MKV, MP4, AVI, other containers LAV or the build lists

## Common problems

### Old SourceForge build

Upstream MPC-HC stalled. A 2017 installer is stale. clsid2 releases are the usual current Windows path.

### Black video after a GPU driver change

Renderer and hardware decode are player settings. Try another renderer before you reinstall Windows.

## Getting unstuck

### Confirm you have a clsid2 build

Help > About should match a recent GitHub release. A random mpc-hc.exe in Downloads from a pack is the wrong file.

### Switch renderer if the picture is black or green

View > Options > Playback > Output. That is an MPC-HC setting, not a dying GPU by itself.

### Do not add a codec pack beside it

Current builds already cover common files. Extra filter exes from a portal are the usual mess.

## Alternatives

VLC if you want one decoder without filter talk. mpv if you want a keyboard-first window. Films & TV if the file is a simple MP4.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases ](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [mpc-hc.org/ ](https://mpc-hc.org/)Vendor support                                                                |
| Official site | [mpc-hc.org/ ](https://mpc-hc.org/)Start here, not a random exe host                                             |

## Related hardware

Hardware decode helps 4K. An older iGPU can still play 1080p in software.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[mpv: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/mpv)[VLC media player: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/vlc-media-player)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [MPC-HC official site ](https://mpc-hc.org/)· Vendor product page
- [MPC-HC help ](https://mpc-hc.org/)· Vendor support
- [clsid2 MPC-HC releases ](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases)· Usual current Windows builds
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: MPC-HC team

  **Category**: Video player

  **Process**: mpc-hc64.exe

  **License**: Open source

  **First released**: 2006

  **Official site**: [mpc-hc.org](https://mpc-hc.org/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/mpc-hc/)

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