Is your GPU hardware-accelerating video?

Find out in one click whether your device decodes AV1, H.265/HEVC, H.264 and VP9 in hardware - or is burning battery doing it in software.

H.264 / AVC H.265 / HEVC AV1 VP9 / VP8 HDR / 4K WebCodecs API WebGPU

Queries your browser's MediaCapabilities, WebCodecs and WebGL APIs - the browser equivalent of DXVA Checker. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is installed.

Initialising...

Your results

GPU Information

Decode Support

Encode Support

Understanding the results

Hardware GPU-accelerated - fast, cool and power-efficient.
Software CPU-only - works, but uses far more power.
Not Supported This browser cannot handle the codec at all.
Likely canPlayType() says yes, full capability unknown.
Power Efficient = Yes means the browser reports hardware acceleration is active.
Results reflect browser capability - a desktop player may still do better.

A "Software" result has two possible causes. Either your chip has no decoder for that codec, or your browser is not using the one you have - a missing driver, a disabled flag, or on Windows a missing codec extension. If your GPU is newer than 2022 and AV1 still shows Software, suspect the browser first. See Does AV1 drain your battery? for the fix.

What is hardware video decoding?

Modern GPUs include dedicated video decode engines - Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVDEC, AMD VCN - that can decompress H.264, H.265 and AV1 streams entirely on the GPU without touching the main CPU. The result is smoother 4K playback, lower CPU temperature, and longer battery life on laptops.

This tool is the browser equivalent of the Windows desktop utility DXVA Checker. It uses the MediaCapabilities and WebCodecs APIs introduced in modern browsers to query exactly what your GPU supports at each resolution and profile - useful for diagnosing video playback issues or confirming HDR and 4K decode support before buying or configuring software.

Why does AV1 matter most here?

AV1 is the newest codec of the group and the one most likely to fall back to software. YouTube, Netflix and Instagram all serve AV1 heavily, so a device without an AV1 decoder does that work on the CPU - which on some machines uses many times more power than hardware decoding. If the AV1 rows above say Software, that is the single most likely explanation for a hot, loud, fast-draining laptop during video playback. Our guide on AV1 and battery drain covers what to do about it, and the K-Lite Codec Pack handles local files properly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if my GPU supports AV1 hardware decoding?

Click Run Check above. The tool queries your browser MediaCapabilities and WebCodecs APIs and reports whether AV1 decodes in hardware or in software. Nothing is installed and nothing leaves your device.

Why does AV1 show Software when my GPU supports AV1?

A Software result means your browser is not using a hardware decoder, which is not always the chip at fault. Common causes are an outdated GPU driver, hardware acceleration switched off in the browser, a missing AV1 Video Extension on Windows, or a Linux build of Chrome without working VAAPI. If your GPU is newer than 2022, suspect the browser before the hardware.

Which GPUs support AV1 hardware decoding?

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 and 40 series, AMD Radeon RX 6000 (RDNA 2) and newer with the exception of the RX 6500 XT, Intel 11th generation Core with Iris Xe graphics, and every Intel Arc card. On Apple, the M3 and later Macs and the A17 Pro and later iPhones. Most laptops and smart TVs from 2022 onward include a decoder; older hardware generally does not.

Is this the same as DXVA Checker?

It answers a similar question with no install. DXVA Checker inspects what your Windows system exposes to desktop players. This tool reports what your browser can actually use, which is what decides your battery life on YouTube, Netflix and other streaming sites.

Why can Chrome and Firefox report different results?

The two engines expose different signals, and each is trustworthy on only one of them. Chromium treats the WebCodecs prefer-hardware hint as a hard requirement, so it is reliable there. Firefox ignores that hint, but its powerEfficient flag genuinely means hardware accelerated. This tool reads whichever signal is authoritative for your browser rather than trusting one everywhere.

What does Power Efficient mean?

It is the browser reporting that a hardware decoder is active for that format. Chrome can report it optimistically before it has recorded any playback statistics, so the HW Accelerated column cross-checks it against WebCodecs instead of trusting it on its own.

Does hardware decoding really save battery?

Yes, and the gap is large. A dedicated decode block uses a fraction of the power the CPU needs for the same stream. On a device with no AV1 decoder, software decoding AV1 has been measured using many times more power than hardware decoding the same clip.

Are my results uploaded anywhere?

No. Every check runs locally in your browser using standard JavaScript APIs. No file is uploaded and no result is stored on our servers. Copy Results simply places a plain-text summary on your clipboard.