6 Best HEVC Media Players for Windows and Mac in 2024

HEVC is an abbreviation for High-Efficiency Video Coding (H.265), a video codec that is gaining popularity due to its compression capabilities. If you're familiar with AVC (Advance Video Coding, H.264), think of HEVC as its successor. But what makes it so popular? Compared to AVC, HEVC retains and even improves video quality at the same bitrate. On the other hand, playing them can be tricky; you'll need HEVC codecs to see these videos. Don't worry if you're unsure how to install them; we have a list of the best HEVC players in 2024 to make things easy for you!

Part 1. 6 Excellent HEVC Players on Windows and Mac

1. Tipard Blu-ray Player (Windows)

Tipard Blu-ray Player is your top choice for playing HEVC videos, Blu-rays, and DVDs. This free software can also play music, CDs, and ISO files, making it your ultimate media player! Plus, you can personalize playlists and control playback. Its hardware decoding makes it work smoothly with high-quality videos such as HEVC. Furthermore, you can rely on this media player since it easily handles HEVC videos.

Pros:

• • Supports Blu-rays and DVDs
• • Compatible with Windows and Mac
• • Supports HEVC and 4k Videos
• • Interactive features: snapshot, video ratio, video effects, customized playlist

Cons:

• • Basic interface
• • Advanced features come at a price

2. VLC (Windows)

VLC is a widely used media player that's free and open-source. It supports popular codecs like MP3, MP4, HEVC, WMV, and MKV. It also offers conversion features across its supported formats. VLC developed much better with version 2.1 and above, especially for playing 4K videos at 60 fps. To make sure HEVC videos work well, choose the correct VLC version.

Pros:

• • Available on all platforms
• • Open-source and available for free
• • Conversion feature

Cons:

• • Updates occur less often
• • Lacks video editing capabilities

3. PotPlayer (Windows)

PotPlayer is a well-known Windows media player that is available for free. It's unique in that it supports several codecs (including HEVC) and eliminates the need for you to download extra codecs. The ability of this player to remember where you left off in a movie and continue is everyone's favorite feature. It also makes watching movies flexible and easy by enabling you to watch many movies at once in various sizes.

Pros:

• • User-friendly interface
• • Available for free
• • Minimal resource usage

Cons:

• • No official version for the Mac
• • Updates occur less often
• • There are many options for settings

4. 5KPlayer (Mac)

5KPlayer is a media player and online media downloader in one. It can play MP3, AAC, APE, FLAC, 4K movies, HEVC, DVDs, and Blu-rays, among other formats. It consumes minimal device resources and performs effectively using hardware acceleration like other top media players. One of its distinguishing features is its versatility since it supports over 300 online video and music hosting providers. Users may also easily download audio and video files from the player due to compatibility.

Pros:

• • Multimedia player and online downloader
• • Available for free
• • Minimal resource usage

Cons:

• • There are too many features
• • Complex Interface

5. IINA (Mac)

IINA is a free Mac media player that works well with the latest macOS applications. It differentiates itself by providing YouTube-DL internet streaming. Furthermore, it appears to be quite modern in terms of accessibility and supports almost every format. It doesn't end there; this tool is open-source and free to use, making it easy to play HEVC files.

Pros:

• • Free and open-source
• • User-friendly interface
• • Highly customizable

Cons:

• • High resource usage
• • Exclusively for Mac

6. Elmedia (Mac)

Elmedia is a superb media player with advanced features for easy streaming and playback. It supports over 70 video and audio formats and provides several choices. It plays anything, including HEVC, thanks to the embedded codecs. It is not only useful, but it also has an outstanding UI and a visually stunning player. Ultimately, this player is an excellent choice for a powerful and user-friendly media player.

Pros:

• • User-friendly Interface
• • Built-in Codecs
• • Free and open-source

Cons:

• • Exclusively for Mac
• • Updates occur less often

Part 2. Troubleshooting HEVC Video Cannot be Played

The downside of using HEVC is that not all players are updated to support this codec. Your video might still refuse to play even after trying the listed apps above. The problem might be with the video itself, whether it is corrupted, improperly compressed, has broken recordings, or is damaged. Don't worry; we've got you covered! We have two solutions to help you fix your HEVC video.

1. Tipard FixMP4

Tipard FixMP4 is an easy way to fix your videos. It has a high success rate of up to 99% in repairing unplayable or damaged videos, especially when your reference is perfect. Even if the reference isn't exact, it smartly corrects damaged videos. The intriguing part is that you may preview your fixed video before saving it. Furthermore, using Tipard FixMP4 will solve your unplayable videos in HEVC effortlessly.

Step 1To acquire the application, simply click the Download button below. Install the file on your device and launch it.

Step 2Click the + button to import the video and then the reference button. The file finder will pop up, allowing you to select the file.

Step 3The details of the video are shown; confirm that the damaged and reference videos have the same codecs and information. After that, click the Repair button.

2. Tipard Video Converter Ultimate

Tipard Video Converter Ultimate is the ideal tool for converting media files effortlessly. If your HEVC videos don't play, consider changing the format with this versatile app. While AVC isn't identical to HEVC, it's a great alternative for handling 4K content. The app supports popular codecs like H.265/HEVC, H.264, Xvid, VP8, VP9, and more. Plus, it covers over 500 file formats and includes a handy tool for ripping Blu-rays and DVDs. It also comes with media file processing tools.

Step 1To acquire the application, click the Download button below. Install the downloaded file by clicking it twice. Then, launch the application.

Step 2In the converter tool, click the + button to import the file or drag it directly into the app. Click the Format button, and choose the format you like. Lastly, click the Convert All button.

Further Reading:

Understanding How to Convert HEVC Videos to MP4 & Others

5 Best 4K Player to Play 4K Videos on Windows and Mac

Part 3. FAQs About HEVC Player

Conclusion

Selecting the best HEVC media player might be challenging because each one has pros and cons. You need a player that can play a variety of formats, including DVDs and Blu-rays, for an enjoyable experience. You don't need to search anymore since Tipard Blu-ray Player is the best option available for flawless media playback. Moreover, remember to have the troubleshooting software listed above on hand in case of any issues.