MPC-HC (Media Player Classic – Home Cinema) is a free, open-source video and audio player for Windows. It is a DirectShow player with a simple interface, and it can be extended with third-party filters. The actively maintained version is the fork at github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc; version 2.8.2 was published there on September 17, 2026.
Who it suits
Windows users who want a straightforward player that still handles modern video, including HDR and Dolby Vision through its bundled renderer. The maintainer describes the player as mature, stable and reliable, with a large set of features already in place. It is Windows-only, with separate 64-bit and 32-bit builds.
Get the official version
- GitHub: the latest release page has x64 and x86 installers (.exe) and portable zips.
- K-Lite Codec Pack: the Standard, Full and Mega editions from codecguide.com include MPC-HC as an optional component, together with LAV Filters.
Get current versions from the GitHub page above or from K-Lite; other sites may carry outdated builds.
What’s new in 2.8.2
- LAV Filters updated to 0.83-5-gd65a9 and MPC Video Renderer to 0.10.8.2587.
- ReplayGain support, with options in the audio switcher.
- Keyboard shortcuts can be edited without a mouse.
- Improvements to ATSC/DVB channel scanning and many small fixes.
HDR playback
The release notes say HDR video needs either MPC Video Renderer (MPCVR) or madVR, selected under Options > Playback > Output; with other renderers the colours will be wrong. MPCVR is included, is the default on modern systems, and also supports Dolby Vision. madVR must be installed separately.
Price and licence
Free and open source under the GNU GPL v3. The maintainer accepts donations, including via PayPal.
Verify your download
Compare the SHA-256 of your file with the table below, for example with Get-FileHash .\MPC-HC.2.8.2.x64.exe. The values come from the GitHub release page.
Questions
Installer or zip?
The .exe installs MPC-HC like a normal program. The .zip is a portable copy you extract and run from its folder.
Is MPC-HC still developed?
Yes, in the clsid2 fork. The maintainer describes the player as mature and says new feature requests are not accepted, but improvements and fixes continue.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install clsid2.mpc-hc.
