How to Install FFmpeg on Windows 11 (and Actually Use It)
Get FFmpeg working on Windows in minutes - one-command or manual install, the PATH fix, ten everyday commands and free GUIs if you prefer buttons.
CODECS.COM articles
Guides and News on Codecs and Multimedia
543 guides and news articles on codecs, media players and the tools around them, newest first.
DivX 11.16 Drops Media Server - How to Keep Streaming Your Videos to the TV
DivX 11.16 removes Media Server and with it casting to smart TVs, consoles and Chromecast - here are the free ways to keep streaming.
The CD Turns 44: Sony's $3,700 First Player, and How to Rip Your CDs for Free Today
Sony's first CD player turns 44 - how the disc led to MP3 and LAME, and the free tools that rip your CDs today.
How to Run Chrome Portable From a USB Drive - No Install, No Admin
Put Google Chrome on a USB stick and use it on locked-down work, school or public Windows PCs, with the privacy settings and update routine that keep it safe.
DivX for Mac Still Can't Play HEVC - What Mac Users Can Use Instead
DivX 11.16 for Mac still can't open HEVC video or HEIC photos, nearly two years on - and the free Mac players that can.
Play H.265 Videos Free on Windows Using LAV Filters
How to get H.265 video playing in MPC-HC, PotPlayer and other DirectShow players with LAV Filters, GPU decoding switched on and the usual black-screen fixes.
Convert WAV to MP3 Without Losing Quality: The Right LAME Settings
The exact LAME setting and commands to turn WAV into MP3 with no audible loss, plus no-typing options and the one case where sample rate matters.
The New Fire TV Stick 4K Can't Run Kodi - Here's Which Fire Stick Still Can
Amazon's $60 Fire TV Stick 4K runs Vega OS, so Kodi, TiviMate and other sideloaded apps won't install. See what it plays and which Fire Stick still sideloads.
Chromium vs Chrome: What Google Adds - and Which One You Should Use
What Chrome adds on top of Chromium - codecs, Netflix DRM, auto-updates and Google tracking - and which of the two, or Brave, fits the way you browse.
BitLocker Is Probably Already On: Find Your Recovery Key Before You Need It
Windows 11 can encrypt your drive during setup without saying a word - check if it did, save the recovery key and stay out of the lockout screen.
Windows 11 Setup Is Testing TikTok and Netflix Picks - Here Is How to Skip Them
Microsoft's new Windows 11 Assisted Setup test suggests apps like TikTok and Netflix at the end of setup, and one click skips it.
Official User Guides and Manuals for Free Media Software
Where to find the official manual for VLC, HandBrake, Audacity, DaVinci Resolve, OBS Studio and more - online guides and free PDF downloads in one list.
Best 4K Video Players for PC That Actually Work: 6 Free Picks
Six free Windows players that play 4K HEVC, AV1 and HDR smoothly, plus the graphics cards each codec needs and a fix list for stuttering video.
Windows 11 26H2 Is Out - How to Get It Now, ISO and USB Included
How to get the free Windows 11 26H2 update today, from the one-restart Windows Update route to the full ISO and a Rufus USB installer.
Best Linux Distros for Beginners: 5 Easy Picks for Windows Switchers
Five beginner-friendly Linux distros for Windows and Mac switchers, with RAM needs, old-PC picks and a safe way to test from a USB stick.
Portable SSD on Android: Watch 4K Movies Without Filling Your Phone
Carry your whole film library on a portable SSD and play it on an Android phone - the cable, the format and the free player apps that make it work.
Googlebook: An Android Laptop That Knows Your Phone
Google's Android-powered Googlebook laptops arrive October 4 from $899 - what they are, how they link to your phone, and which of your apps come along.
Stop Converting iPhone Photos to JPEG: The Free Microsoft Fix for Windows
What converting iPhone HEIC photos to JPEG really costs, when it is still worth doing, and the two free components that let Windows open the originals.
Free Spotify Alternative: Build Your Own Music and Radio Playlist With M3U
Swap a streaming subscription for a free M3U playlist of radio, YouTube and IPTV links, built and checked with five free tools, plus the player to open it.
Convert Video and Audio Files With VLC - No Extra Software
VLC's built-in converter, step by step - how to change format, extract audio, and what to do when the output file will not play.
Latest comments
AllXMediaRecode gives only the option to Copy (No convert) in Audio Mode drop down. I am trying to convert/recode the EAc3 ...
Guide: How to Convert EAC3 Audio to AC3 or AAC With XMedia Recode 1 commentTo view major football league live
Guide: Free Popular IPTV Playlist: Where to Get Fresh, Legal M3U Links in 2026 19 commentsThe link isn't working. [link]
Guide: Free M3U Playlist for TiviMate: Legal Lists That Load Cleanly 1 comment