▷ What are the best codecs for windows 10

Today in this article we are going to investigate the best codec packs for Windows 10. Practically all of us like to watch movies and other types of multimedia content on our computer. It is possible that we have sometimes encountered problems when playing a video, either because it is in an unsupported format or because it is not viewed correctly for some unknown reason. Quite possibly the solution is precisely in the installation of new codecs to play the multimedia content.

Index of contents

Currently the codec packages that we can find online have less prominence than in the past. At the time of Windows XP these were practically indispensable to be able to reproduce any file since Windows media was really limited. But luckily this changed with successive versions of Windows. Until today, when Windows 10 is capable of playing practically any format. But watch out! Not all of them either.

What is a codec pack

A codec pack is a collection of libraries, filters, encoders and tools that are capable of encoding and, where appropriate, decoding existing audio and video formats. These sets of tools are installed in the operating systems so that they are capable of reproducing formats that are not natively readable by the system itself.

There are many playback formats, such as.WMV is the property of Microsoft, we also find formats such as.MOV that belong to the Mac system. By using a codec pack we will be able to reproduce this type of files without any problem.

Do I need codecs for Windows 10?

It is true that Windows 10 has a series of codecs already installed natively to play virtually any video. Although we can find the possibility that due to updates or errors that the system has suffered such as malware attacks, we may encounter problems with reproduction.

It is also possible that our version of Windows 10 is of type N or KN. If you want to know what Windows 10 N is, visit our tutorial that explains this in detail. Well, in these versions of the system we do not have native multimedia support, so we are going to need to install both audio and video players independently and with it, codecs for Windows 10.

List of best free Windows 10 codec packs

We have already discussed the reasons why at a given moment we may need these codec packs for Windows 10. So now we are going to comment on the ones that have the most fame and impact on the web.

K-Lite Codec Pack

If we talk about codecs it is mandatory to do it from the K-Lite Codec Pack. This is one of the longest running packs, since Windows XP they offer magnificent results and functionality. For this reason they have earned first place for so many years.

This tool has everything you need so that we can reproduce anything on our Windows and in perfect quality. From their website we will be able to download the different packages they offer us completely free of charge, according to our needs:

Basic: in this version we have all the necessary codecs to play the most common audio and video formats, such as MKV, MOV, MP4, FLAC, OGG, etc. In addition to Blu-Ray and DVD. It is a pack that comes with the essentials to offer maximum utility to a user who already has a player installed. Standard: This version also adds the Media Player Classic Player. Full: this pack offers more codecs already for decoding advanced audio formats. Mega: also implements codecs for video editing, such as VFW and ACM

Thanks to this division, it ends up with the reputation of being the largest and heaviest package, and it is also absent from those annoying advertising windows in the installer.

Shak007

Another of the most valued, and best known codec pack for Windows 10 is Shark007, the famous shark with flow. This package, like the previous one, has a list of tools capable of reproducing any audio format that is placed in front of it. It has perfect compatibility for all versions of Windows 10 and also for previous versions such as Vista or XP.

We will also have two versions available to download:

Standard version: it has the codecs to play basic video and audio formats, and filters for subtitles such as LAV or VSFilter. Advanced version: it is the complete pack of functionalities available to the creator.

In addition, it has a friendlier interface than K-Lite in terms of managing codecs and configuring these to play certain formats and also in Spanish.

Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP)

Our fourth option is a pack of codecs for Windows 10 of Russian origin, as you hear it. This pack at the time offered something that others could not give, and it is the absence of errors in Windows 8 and 10 operating systems. It was one of the first to offer compatibility with these.

We can download it from its official website, which we can see that it does not download for its graphic design or detailed information. Overall, they are Russian, they are different. During the installation, check what codecs we already have installed so that we don't overwrite them again, unless we decide yes.

A negative aspect of this pack is that it has not been updated since the end of 2015, although to play multimedia files you will have no problem.

X Codec Pack

Next on our list is X Code Pack. With a basic interface for the selection and association of file extensions we must not be fooled, they are also the best we can find. We can download them for free from their official website

The origin of its name dates back to Windows XP, previously it was called XP Codec Pack, perhaps with this name it sounds familiar to you. X Codec Pack stands out for its simplicity and easy installation. In addition, it is lighter than K-Lite and also has everything you need.

One aspect that we must take into account is that it offers maximum compatibility with windows 8 but not with Windows 10. So if you are a Windows 8 user, it may be your ideal pack at this time.