Download best Video & Audio Codecs for Windows 8, Windows 10

This useful guide tries to explain how you can download your needed audio and video codecs for Windows 10. Codecs play an important part in the good playback of our computer’s media collection. They allow users to view formats that usually could not have been played on their computer. And as with older versions of Windows, Microsoft didn’t include too much information on their website about codecs and how to get them.

In Windows 8 and Windows 10, as with other versions of Windows, users have to track down and install codecs so they can play certain content on their computers. Although codecs are plentiful around the Internet, there are not that many of them optimized for Windows 8 and Windows 10. We tracked those that are and we give them to you, so you can play any content you want on your Windows 8 and Windows 10 computer.

Windows 8, Windows 10 optimized codecs

On this list, we will feature the best Windows 8, Windows 10 codecs that you can use on your computer, although, if you don’t use codecs normally, then you can always go back to the great VideoLAN player that we know and love.

Windows8 Codecs is codec package that contains both audio and video codecs, and it provides users with an invaluable resource. The program is free to download and it can be easily installed on any Windows 8, Windows 10 computer (supported on both x86 and x64 computers). Keep in mind that the package does not contain any video player and it does not make any file associations, but it will offer support for the following file types: amr, mpc, ofr, divx, mka, ape, flac, evo, flv, m4b, mkv, ogg, ogv, ogm, rmvb, xvid.

Download Windows8 Codecs for Windows 10, Windows 8

win8codecs Powered by Shark007 is powerful tool that can make you forget about not having the proper codec installed, for a specific file. The package will install all the necessary codecs for running any media on your computer, but in the process, it will uninstall your older codecs. The program has a update notifier, so you will be able to always run the very latest codecs on your computer, and thanks to its excellent choice of codecs to offer, you will never want for any other.

K-Lite Codecs have been around for a long period, and many users can attest to their usefulness. In wake of the release of Windows 10, Windows 8, K-Lite has been upgraded to suite Windows 10, Windows 8 users and allow them to play any time of multimedia file, just like before. The package can be downloaded for free and it suits any type of user, as well as x64 and x86 computers. There is not much to tell that you don’t already know about K-Lite codecs, think to the success that it has received.

Download K-Lite Codecs for Windows 10, Windows 8

Codecs fully compatible with Windows 10

K-Lite

For Windows 10 users we have great news: the old codecs are supported by the newest version of our favorite OS. K-Lite is the best at this moment and has all the features from its previous version. You can find it in free access and it’s totally safe to download and install on your PC.

Shark 007

Shark 007 has also upgraded its codecs pack and gives you the possibility to access some features that other codec packs don’t have: use of the PowerDVD decoders for 32bit LiveTV in Media Center, supports playlists creation in Media Center and supports ‘Add to Windows Media Player List’ for all files types, such as MKV files. You can find it on the official webpage.

Update – Windows 10 DVD codecs issues

Some users reported issues with playing files in format DVD. One of them complained about DVD codecs in Windows 10:

“It’s a long story, so to make it quick… WMP in Win 10 will not play DVDs by intention due to licensing issues…
MPEG2 codecs is very similar to the .vob file used in DVD movies, and as a result, will not play them properly…
Another issue is that the needed codecs were part of Windows Media Center, and it has been removed…” 

It seems that the only way to play DVD files on your Windows 10 PC is to install a third-party player. In this case, we suggest checking our list of DVD players for Windows 10 devices.

Now you have all the tools for playing any type of digital media on your Windows 8, Windows 10 computer. All there is left to do is kick back and let the movies play! Also, please let us know if there is any other codec package that you think should be on this list by leaving a comment.