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Media Player Classic for Windows

  • Free

  • In English
  • V 2.0.0
  • 4.1

    (2772)
  • Security Status

Softonic review

Media Player Classic: Timeless media player

Media Player Classic is a free multimedia software that lets you play content on Microsoft Windows PC devices. Developed and released by Gabest, Media Player Classic Home Cinema is a lightweight offering that runs on older and newer Windows 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, etc.

Is Media Player Classic free?

Media Player Classic goes also by the name of 321 Media Player. MPC is an open-source C++ program that lets you further develop the back end. The video player boasts many features that let you customize your playback experiences. 

You can add multiple audio, subtitle, and video tracks to the content by right-clicking on the media to access the settings in the context menu. The music and movie player supports audio and video formats in ASP, AAC, DTS, FLV, LRV, MKA, MKV, MP4, MPL, OGA, OGG, SWF, etc. You can use Media Player Classic Home Cinema as a DVB player.

Is Media Player Classic safe?

MPC-HC is a safe app that claims to be 100% free of spyware. You can watch and listen to a variety of audio and video file formats in the advertisement-free application. 

You can also add plugins to the downloader to customize and gain insight on the videos: smooth video project, shaders, etc. Since plugins are downloadable from third-party sources, you can ensure the security of you and your PC by only installing plugins from trusted sources.

How do I use Media Player Classic?

Media Player Classic has a user-friendly user interface. There is a straightforward command line at the bottom of the screen that lets you play, pause, stop, rewind, fast forward, and skip frames on the right side. On the left side of the command line, you can mute and adjust the audio by sliding the lever along the bar to either decrease or increase the volume.

There are time stamps beneath the sound section. The first time represents the elapsed time and the second one displays the total duration of the video. You can visually understand where the current point of the production is in comparison to the total period by looking at the progress bar above the command line.

MPC presents a variety of methods to access different actions. Along with pressing the fast forward and rewind buttons, you can drag and drop the lever along the duration bar to move to different periods within the content.

There are multiple ways that you can play and pause the media. While you can click on the play and pause buttons, you have the alternate ability to tap on the center of the UI to start and stop the content. You can press on the ‘Play’ tab within the upper menu bar and right-click on the central portion of the screen to mark ‘Play/Pause’ in the context menu.

Along the upper portion of the UI, the utility tool offers ‘File’, ‘View’, Play’, ‘Navigate’, ‘Favorites’, and ‘Help’ tabs. While the classic version of the popular player has a simple esthetic, there are options to change the user interface design. While the developers state that toolbars are not included with the installation of MPC, you can still add customized toolbars to the app.

What happened to Media Player Classic?

The developers of MPC HC released a notice stating that they were planning to stop developing the project due to a lack of programmers familiar with the C++ coding language. The final update of MPC is still available to download and install on older and recent Windows operating systems.

How do I install Media Player Classic?

Once you have downloaded MPC, you can go through the installation setup process. The installer offers you a variety of over 40 languages to choose from. including English, Chinese, Catalan, Dutch, French, Spanish, etc. You can select your preferred language from the dropdown menu. A browser will appear to choose the destination that you want the video downloader to be located.

You can browse through the locations on the PC to choose the optimal folder to store the app. The ‘Ready to Install’ page lets you click the ‘Install’ button to initiate the installation. MPC-HC does include the system requirement of a PC with an SSE capable CPU. Certain codecs packages include and automatically install 321 Media Player onto your PC.

Which is better VLC or Media Player Classic?

KMPlayer, PotPlayer, VLC Media Player, and Windows Media Player are alternative multimedia tools that launch video and audio files. The user interface of MPC resembles the classic Windows Media Player design. PotPlayer has the best features included and displays them in an organized way on the UI.

While MPC HC does not offer live streaming capabilities, PotPlayer lets you stream content from the internet directly in the app. You can watch 3D video files with the KMPlayer, PotPlayer, and VLC Media Player. Media Player Classic and VLC are both open-source media players that support most file formats.

Along with MPC, PotPlayer is only available on Windows PC 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. KMPlayer, VLC, and Windows Media Player are cross-platform and compatible with Android, Apple iOS, and Microsoft Windows operating systems. VLC is additionally available on Linux operating systems. All of the platforms mentioned above are light-weight and free.

What should I do if the video display is inverted?

If you're experiencing an upside-down video display, a simple solution is to update your video card drivers. This update often rectifies such display issues by ensuring your hardware is up-to-date and compatible with the media player.

How can I change the orientation of a video in MPC-HC?

To rotate a video in MPC-HC, first, ensure you're using a renderer that supports rotation, such as EVR CP or Sync Renderer. Confirm this by checking for a green tick next to the selected renderer in Options → Output. To rotate the video, press Alt+1 for a left rotation, Alt+3 for a right rotation, and 5 to reset it to the original orientation. Note that these commands use the numbers on the numpad.

Why do I see a different seekbar when in fullscreen mode?

If you notice an altered seekbar in fullscreen mode, it's likely because D3D Fullscreen has been activated unintentionally. To revert to the standard seekbar, navigate to Options → Output and uncheck the D3D Fullscreen option.

What causes video tearing and how can I fix it?

Video tearing occurs due to synchronization issues between the video playback and your display. To resolve this, you can enable V-Sync by pressing the V key. Additionally, if you're using multiple monitors, ensure they are set to 'extend' mode rather than 'duplicate' to prevent synchronization problems.

How do I address strange video glitches in MPC-HC?

If you're experiencing unusual glitches in video playback, the issue might stem from problems with hardware acceleration. To troubleshoot, go to Options → Internal Filters, select Video decoder, and set “Hardware decoder to use:” to “None.” Afterward, reload the video either using Ctrl+E or by doing it manually. If the issue persists and other video players don’t exhibit the same problem, we encourage you to submit a bug report for further investigation.

Is there support for Windows RT or Metro in MPC-HC?

Currently, MPC-HC does not support Windows RT or Metro. Adapting to these new platforms would require significant changes, and given our current resources and manpower, such adaptation is not feasible in the near future.

Should I download Media Player Classic?

Whether you should download Media Player Classic depends on your needs and priorities. Here's a breakdown to help you decide:

Download MPC-HC if:

  • You prioritize simplicity and speed. MPC is a lightweight media player that runs efficiently on most systems.
  • You value customization. MPC offers extensive options to personalize your playback experience, including adding custom toolbars and changing the UI skin.
  • You want compatibility with a wide range of formats. MPC supports most popular audio and video formats without the need for external codecs.
  • You prefer a familiar interface. MPC's interface resembles the classic Windows Media Player, making it easy to learn and use.
  • You need a free and open-source option. MPC is available for free and its open-source nature allows for community-driven development and improvements.

Consider other options if:

PROS

  • Lightweight
  • Open-source
  • Customizable UI
  • Supports many file formats

CONS

  • Does not stream
  • Not cross-platform

Also available in other platforms

Program available in other languages


Media Player Classic for PC

  • Free

  • In English
  • V 2.0.0
  • 4.1

    (2772)
  • Security Status


User reviews about Media Player Classic

  • SinShadowFox

    by SinShadowFox

    Horrible program and even worse support. Before Media player classic my windows media player and windows autoplay worked fine but after media player More

  • John Yomataris

    by John Yomataris

    Have been using since first released. Used on all windows versions since windows 98 and all versions since. This is by far the best player ever. Recom More

  • Darlon Shelter

    by Darlon Shelter

    I've always used Media Play Classic, and I've never had a problem with it. I'm re-downloading it because when my PC went to the repair, Media Play Cla More

  • Seyed Abbas Uvais

    by Seyed Abbas Uvais

    The notification and the searching point is easy and capable.Thanks

  • tebogo seakecomolatudi

    by tebogo seakecomolatudi

    perfect.
    good best enjoyable ease access smart no errors videos crystal clear

  • tebogo seakecomolatudi

    by tebogo seakecomolatudi

    perfect.
    good best enjoyable ease access smart no errors videos crystal clear


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Laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country. We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws.