MPC-HC

Last updated: September 16, 2026

Version 2.8.1 Size 21.9 MB License Open Source OS Windows

Direct download from the publisher’s own server — no repacks, no bundled installers. By clsid2. Report a broken link

MPC-HC — MPC-HC is the legendary lightweight video player for Windows, actively maintained again with a modern fork.

Media Player Classic - Home Cinema is the player you install when you want videos to just open, instantly, in a window that looks like Windows and uses almost no memory. The actively maintained clsid2 fork bundles up-to-date codecs, so virtually every file plays out of the box.

Key features:

Instant startup, tiny memory footprint
Plays practically everything via bundled LAV Filters
Modern dark theme, high-DPI support
Built-in subtitle search and download
No ads, no telemetry, fully open source
Portable-friendly: works from a folder without installing

Frequently asked questions

Is MPC-HC still maintained?

Yes. Original development stopped in 2017, but the clsid2 fork on GitHub is actively updated with modern codecs and fixes, and that is the version we link.

MPC-HC or VLC?

VLC has more extras (convert, stream); MPC-HC is lighter and feels native on Windows. Media playback quality is excellent in both.

Does it need codec packs?

No, it bundles LAV Filters and plays practically everything out of the box.

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