Media Player Classic is a free, open-source video and audio player for Windows. Today the name refers in practice to Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC), the maintained branch of the player. It handles common and recent video and audio formats, renders subtitles and can stream online video. It runs on Windows 7 through Windows 11 and is released under the GPL v3 license.
From the original player to MPC-HC
The Home Cinema edition grew out of the Guliverkli project, the codebase of the original Media Player Classic, and added its own features and fixes. Among them were tearing removal, 32-bit and 64-bit builds, EVR and EVR-CP video renderers, wide subtitle support including Blu-ray .sup files, TV tuner playback and recording, multi-monitor support, pixel shaders and color management.
The original MPC-HC team stopped development, and its repository was later archived as read-only. Work continued in a fork of that repository. Its current maintainer has led the fork, which is the version that receives updates now. This continued MPC-HC keeps the familiar interface and adds support for newer formats, renderers and online sources.
DirectShow playback and LAV Filters
Media Player Classic is a DirectShow player. Playback runs through a chain of filters that split the file, decode the streams and pass them to a video and an audio renderer. Because the chain is open, third-party filters can be added to extend what the player handles.
MPC-HC does not ship its own set of decoders. Its internal codecs come from the LAV Filters project, which the player updates periodically. Through them it supports newer formats such as HEVC (H.265), VVC (H.266) and AV1 video and AC4 audio. It also supports the common formats older versions already played. Other external code, such as MediaInfo, provides file information.
Video renderers and HDR output
The renderer decides how decoded frames reach the screen. MPC-HC includes MPC Video Renderer, and it can also work with madVR when that renderer is installed. Both are used for HDR playback. The choice sits under Playback > Output in the options, together with the audio renderer.
Users can change the picture itself during playback. The Pan&Scan menu rotates, flips, mirrors, stretches and zooms the video, which helps with clips recorded in the wrong orientation or with black borders.
Audio renderers and playback speed
Media Player Classic can play back faster or slower than normal. Users can set the size of each speed step under Playback > Speed step. When users select SaneAR or MPC Audio Renderer as the audio output, the player corrects pitch at changed speeds. This keeps voices from sounding higher or deeper.
Subtitle rendering and search
MPC-HC draws subtitles with its own renderer, which has been reworked for better performance. It can optionally use libass for styled ASS/SSA subtitles. WebVTT files are also supported.
When a video has no subtitle file, the player can look for one online. Pressing D starts a manual search for the current file. Users can switch on automatic search under Options > Subtitles > Misc. The player then searches when a file opens.
Online video through yt-dlp
Media Player Classic can open YouTube and other site addresses when yt-dlp is available. The player passes the link to yt-dlp, which fetches the stream, and MPC-HC plays it like a local file. Installing ffmpeg alongside yt-dlp gives the best available quality. The Save a copy command downloads the video instead of only streaming it. The Advanced settings contain further yt-dlp options.
Seeking, repeat and resume
Several functions control where playback goes next:
- Seekbar preview shows a frame from the video while the mouse is over the seekbar, so users can find a scene before jumping to it.
- A-B repeat loops a segment. The [ key sets the start marker and ] sets the end.
- Resume remembers the last position in a file so playback can continue there later. Users can set it up under Options > Player > History.
- After playback actions move to the next file automatically or close the player when a file ends.
- Folder navigation with PageUp and PageDown opens the previous or next file in the same folder. Ctrl with the mouse wheel seeks quickly.
Themes and keyboard controls
The interface of MPC-HC offers a modern dark or light theme. Users can adjust the seekbar height and toolbar button size. These settings, along with the seekbar preview, are under Player > User Interface.
Keyboard and mouse actions are customizable. Player > Keys holds the hotkey assignments and includes a search box for finding a command before assigning a new key.
Development status
The current maintainer of Media Player Classic – Home Cinema does not accept new feature requests but accepts patches submitted as pull requests. The player continues to receive fixes, codec updates and smaller improvements.
