Video Codec Support Checker
Find out which video formats this browser and device can really play. The checker asks the browser about H.264, HEVC, VP9 and AV1 at 1080p, 4K, 8K and HDR, and shows whether playback should be smooth and hardware accelerated.
Last updated:
| Codec | 1080p | 4K | 8K | HDR 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking… | ||||
All results with codec strings
| Test | Codec string | Can play | Supported | Smooth | Power efficient | WebCodecs |
|---|
How to use the Video Codec Support Checker
- Open the page: the check runs at once and fills the summary cards and the support matrix.
- Read the matrix: dark green means hardware decoding, light green smooth software playback, orange may stutter, red not supported.
- Switch the frame rate to 30 or 60 fps and the playback type to streaming or video file to match what you watch.
- Open All results to see the exact codec string and every flag behind each cell.
- Test your own codec string from a video's metadata, then Copy report or Download JSON.
Codec strings used in this test
Browsers decide support from the full codec string, not just the codec name, because the profile and level set the maximum resolution, frame rate and bit depth. The checker picks the level a real stream of that size needs. At 60 fps it moves one level up.
| Codec | 1080p 30 fps | 4K 30 fps | 8K 30 fps | HDR 4K (10-bit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 High | avc1.640028 (level 4.0) | avc1.640033 (5.1) | avc1.64003C (6.0) | Not used for HDR streaming |
| HEVC Main / Main 10 | hvc1.1.6.L120.B0 (4.0) | hvc1.1.6.L150.B0 (5.0) | hvc1.1.6.L180.B0 (6.0) | hvc1.2.4.L150.B0 |
| VP9 Profile 0 / 2 | vp09.00.40.08 | vp09.00.50.08 | vp09.00.60.08 | vp09.02.50.10.01.09.16.09.00 |
| AV1 Main | av01.0.08M.08 (4.0) | av01.0.12M.08 (5.0) | av01.0.16M.08 (6.0) | av01.0.12M.10.0.110.09.16.09.0 |
The HDR column also tells the browser the stream uses the PQ transfer function (SMPTE ST 2084), Rec. 2020 colors and static SMPTE ST 2086 metadata, the same as HDR10 streams. The bitrates used are 8 Mbps for 1080p, 25 Mbps for 4K, 30 Mbps for HDR 4K and 80 Mbps for 8K, raised by half at 60 fps.
Which codec to use
| Codec | Typical use | Compression vs H.264 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 (AVC) | Almost every device, social video, video calls | Baseline | Safest choice for sharing; hardware decoding nearly everywhere up to 4K. |
| HEVC (H.265) | iPhone recordings, Blu-ray UHD, TVs | Roughly 40 to 50% smaller at similar quality | Browser support depends on licensed decoders and the GPU. |
| VP9 | YouTube 4K, WebM files | Similar to HEVC | Royalty free; hardware decoding on most GPUs since about 2016. |
| AV1 | YouTube, Netflix and other streaming services, new WebM and MP4 files | Roughly 30% smaller than VP9 or HEVC | Royalty free; hardware decoding needs a recent GPU or chip (for example NVIDIA RTX 30, AMD RX 6000, Intel 11th gen, Apple M3 and later). |
Compression figures are typical ranges reported in codec comparisons and vary a lot with content and encoder settings.
Tips for smooth 4K and 8K playback
- Turn on hardware acceleration in your browser settings; without it the power efficient flag is never set.
- Update your graphics driver. New drivers often add AV1 or HEVC hardware decoding.
- On Windows, HEVC in Chrome and Edge needs the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store and a GPU with an HEVC decoder.
- If a codec is supported but not smooth, choose a lower resolution or frame rate on the streaming site, or pick a codec that shows as hardware.
- Check real playback with the 4K video playback test, which counts dropped frames.
Frequently asked questions
How does the checker know what my device can play?
It asks the browser directly. MediaSource.isTypeSupported and canPlayType say whether a format is understood at all, and the Media Capabilities API (navigator.mediaCapabilities.decodingInfo) answers whether a stream with a given codec, resolution, frame rate and bitrate is supported, smooth and power efficient on this exact device.
What does power efficient mean?
Browsers set powerEfficient to true when decoding would run on a dedicated hardware video decoder instead of the CPU. It is the best signal a web page can get for hardware acceleration. Hardware decoding uses far less battery and keeps 4K and 8K smooth.
Why is HEVC or H.264 shown as not supported?
Some browsers ship without patent-licensed codecs, for example Chromium builds and some Linux distributions, and HEVC in Chrome and Edge only works when the operating system and GPU provide a hardware HEVC decoder. Firefox supports HEVC only in recent versions on some platforms.
Does AV1 support mean I can watch AV1 on YouTube?
If AV1 shows smooth at your screen's resolution, the browser can play AV1 streams. Streaming sites still choose the format themselves, usually picking AV1 only when it is power efficient, so a software-only AV1 result often means the site will send VP9 or H.264 instead.
Why does HDR show supported but my video still looks normal?
HDR playback needs two things: a decoder for the 10-bit HDR stream, which this matrix tests, and an HDR display with HDR turned on in the operating system. The HDR display line above the matrix shows whether the browser currently reports an HDR screen.
Are the results the same in every browser on my computer?
No. Each browser has its own list of codecs and its own rules for using the GPU, so Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on the same machine can give different answers. Run the checker in each browser you use.
Is any video downloaded or uploaded during the test?
No. The checker only asks the browser questions about formats; no video is downloaded, played or uploaded, which is why the result appears instantly.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.