The K-Lite Codec Pack is a free bundle of DirectShow codecs and tools for Windows, published by Codec Guide. It lets DirectShow-based players open common audio and video formats such as MKV, MP4, HEVC video, FLAC and Opus. The Standard edition includes the MPC-HC player. Version 20.0.0 was released on September 17, 2026.
Which variant do you need?
| Variant | Contents (per codecguide.com) |
|---|---|
| Basic | Essential DirectShow filters only; no player |
| Standard | Everything for common formats, plus MPC-HC; the one Codec Guide recommends |
| Full | Standard plus madVR and a plugin for 3D (H.264 MVC) video |
| Mega | Full plus ACM/VFW codecs for editing tools, GraphStudioNext and rarely needed filters |
Every component, including the player, is optional in the installer.
What it does not do
- It does not help the modern Windows Media Player in Windows 10 and 11, which does not use DirectShow. Codec Guide points to Media Foundation codecs for that.
- It does not add import formats to professional editors such as Adobe Premiere or Vegas Movie Studio.
- It plays DVD and Blu-ray only after decryption.
Get the official version and verify it
Download only from codecguide.com. The Standard download page links to Codec Guide’s own servers (files2 and files3.codecguide.com) and publishes the expected values for 20.0.0 Standard:
- File name:
K-Lite_Codec_Pack_2000_Standard.exe - Size: 40,277 KB
- SHA-256:
1cc18f454a836ae59db6305ae08bd8b0001ba5ecc5679a60841dd5d794a2ce52
Codec Guide states that genuine K-Lite files always have exactly the file name, size and hashes shown on its site, and that you should not install files with different values. On Windows, check with Get-FileHash .\K-Lite_Codec_Pack_2000_Standard.exe.
Requirements
Windows 7, 8.x, 10 and 11. The packs contain both 32-bit and 64-bit codecs. Older versions for XP and Vista exist in the site’s archive.
Questions
Do I need a codec pack at all?
Not if your player already plays your files. The pack matters for DirectShow players such as MPC-HC or the legacy Windows Media Player.
Is there an update installer?
Yes. Codec Guide publishes small updates that require the latest full version to be installed first.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install CodecGuide.K-LiteCodecPack.Standard. Basic, Full and Mega have their own IDs.
