CODECS.COM guides

Guides for Codecs and Media Players

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

12 new in the last 7 days

Sep 15, 2026882 views5 min read

How to Open ProRes and ProRes RAW Files on Windows

ProRes opens on Windows today and ProRes RAW does not - how to tell the two apart, and the three free routes that open the one that refuses.

Updated Sep 15, 20269,957 views5 min read

How to Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Drive - and Rescue Files from a Dead PC

Build a bootable Ubuntu stick with Rufus and use it to boot a dead PC and copy the files off - every Rufus setting, plus the drive letter error.

Updated Sep 15, 20264 comments58,924 views5 min read

How to Open and Save AVIF Files in Photoshop - With or Without the Plugin

Current Photoshop opens AVIF with no add-on - how to check your version, save AVIF files, and install the free plugin on an older copy.

Updated Sep 15, 202617,405 views6 min read

How to Create a System Image in Windows 11 - and Actually Restore It

The five-step walkthrough for imaging a whole Windows install, plus the restore half most guides leave out and the folder mistake that quietly breaks it.

Updated Sep 15, 202624,131 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, 202612,247 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, 20264,550 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, 202611,239 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, 202641,260 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, 202633,252 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, 2026882 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, 202651,690 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, 20266,731 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, 20268,195 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, 202616,839 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, 2026730 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 comment125,381 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.