CODECS.COM guides

Guides for Codecs and Media Players

264 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.

10 new in the last 7 days

Updated Sep 15, 202624,026 views6 min read

How to Install foobar2000 Components (and Fix 'Failed to Load DLL')

The one-minute way to add foobar2000 components, plus why a 32-bit add-on will not load in 64-bit foobar2000 and what to do instead.

Updated Sep 14, 202612,191 views5 min read

AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG: Which Image Format Should You Use?

The current numbers on AVIF, WebP and JPEG, and which one to use for a website or a photo library.

Updated Sep 14, 20264,507 views6 min read

Should You Upgrade to Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware? The Deadline Moved

Whether the Windows 11 bypass is worth it on your PC, now that free Windows 10 updates run to 2027, and the one processor check that settles it.

Updated Sep 14, 202611,126 views5 min read

How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware Using Rufus

The one-checkbox Rufus method for putting Windows 11 on a PC that fails the TPM and Secure Boot checks, plus the CPU limit no tool can remove.

Updated Sep 14, 202641,189 views5 min read

How to Open and Save WebP Files in Photoshop (No Plugin Needed)

Photoshop opens WebP on its own now - how to check your version, and what to do if it is older.

Updated Sep 13, 202633,133 views7 min read

PowerPoint Video Error? Here's the Real Fix

In this guide, we’ll tackle the error, “PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file”.

Sep 13, 2026822 views6 min read

Can You Delete Previous Windows Installations? Check the Size First

Why the Previous Windows Installations entry can be 20GB on one PC and 500GB on another, what that difference means, and how to clear it without losing files.

Updated Sep 13, 202651,571 views7 min read

Best Free Video Codecs for HD Streaming in 2026

H.264, HEVC, VP9 and AV1 measured on compression, browser support and hardware decode, with the licensing question answered honestly.

Updated Sep 13, 20266,623 views6 min read

How to Mount a Disc Image in Windows - ISO, BIN/CUE, NRG and the Rest

Windows mounts an ISO by itself in two clicks, and this guide covers that first, then the free virtual drive that opens BIN/CUE, NRG, MDS and CCD images.

Updated Sep 13, 20268,142 views9 min read

How to Turn Your Tablet Into a Proper eBook Reader

A practical setup guide for reading books on an Android tablet - display settings, reading apps and file formats.

Updated Sep 12, 202616,737 views5 min read

How to Stream YouTube in foobar2000 (and Fix It When It Stops Playing)

Play YouTube links in your foobar2000 playlist with one free component, plus the yt-dlp setting that fixes streams that suddenly stop working.

Sep 12, 2026693 views7 min read

Back Up Windows 11 for Free - and What Only Looks Like a Backup

How to build a real backup out of the tools Windows already has plus one free disk imager, and why the copy on your external drive does not count.

Updated Sep 12, 20261 comment124,904 views10 min read

The Best Video Player for Android TV - And the One You Should Avoid

Five free video players ranked for a TV remote rather than a touchscreen, with the surround-sound catches and the stock app your box should stop opening.

Updated Sep 12, 202623,886 views5 min read

How to View WebP Files on Windows 10 and 11

A plain-English fix for WebP images that will not open, preview or look right on Windows 10 and 11.

Sep 12, 2026812 views5 min read

Windows Media Player Legacy Still Works - It Is Just Being Taken Apart

Every feature Microsoft has quietly stripped from Windows Media Player since 2009, in one timeline, plus what still works and what to move to.

Updated Sep 11, 20268,472 views7 min read

PowerPoint 64-bit Codec Download: The Free Fix That Actually Works

Which free decoder actually clears PowerPoint's 64-bit codec error, and why the codec packs advertised for PowerPoint are not worth downloading.

Updated Sep 11, 20268,676 views7 min read

USB Stick vs SSD - Which One Should You Actually Buy?

A plain comparison of USB sticks and portable SSDs on real measured speed, capacity, lifespan and cost, with a straight answer for each kind of buyer.