Windows 11 ships with a built-in video player known as Films & TV. While the app is excellent, it still lacks many useful multimedia features. The first problems you’ll likely face while using the app are file format incompatibility and playback issues.
While you can install video codecs on Windows 11 to fix playback issues caused by incompatible file formats, switching to a third-party media player app is better. Just like Windows 10, you have multiple choices regarding video players for Windows 11.
Also read: How to Install the New Media Player in Windows 11
15 Best Free Video Players for Windows 11
Many free video players for Windows 11 online offer better features and deliver an excellent video playback experience. Below, we have listed some of them; check it out.
1. VLC Media Player
Every list of the best media players for PC is incomplete without mentioning VLC Media Player. VLC Media Player is a free and open-source media player app for almost every platform.
The media player can play almost all video and audio files and is cross-platform supported.
Compared to other media player apps for Windows 11, VLC Media Player islightert and consumes fewer system resources. It can also convert video files, stream videos online, and more.
2. Media Player Classic
VLC Media Player and Media Player Classic share many similarities, including user interfaces. Media Player Classic could be the best choice if you want an extremely lightweight, open-source media player for Windows 11.
Regarding file compatibility, Media Player Classic can run all video and audio files you can think of.
The installation file of Media Player Classic is entirely spyware-free and ads are not displayed in the toolbar or other elements of the player.
3. GOM Player
GOM Player is not as popular as a VLC media player or Media Player Classic; still, it offers many advanced features for playing videos.
The media player is fully compatible with the latest Windows 11 and offers many customization options. In addition to supporting regular video and audio file formats, GOM Player can also handle 360-degree and 8K videos.
GOM Player is free, but it shows ads in a few visual elements of the media player. If you can adjust to the ads, GOM Player could be your best choice.
4. 5KPlayer
5KPlayer is slightly more advanced than other video player apps in the article. It can play videos and manage your entire video collection saved on your local storage.
Once installed, 5KPlayer automatically scans your drives to find videos. After fetching the videos, it provides an entire video library in a single place.
Regarding file compatibility, 5KPlayer can play almost all major video formats, including 360-degree and 8K videos.
5. PotPlayer
PotPlayer is one of the best and most advanced video players for Windows 11 available on the web. Unlike other media players, which require a separate codec installation to support files, PotPlayer has a massive array of codecs built-in.
The free video player for Windows 11 supports almost all major video and audio file formats. PotPlayer can also run 360-degree and 8K videos on a capable device. PotPlayer can do more than just playing the regular video; it can also record the screen and edit videos.
6. KMPlayer
KMPlayer may not be a very popular option on the list; it still supports most of the popular video & audio file formats. In addition, the video player for Windows 11 PC is completely free to download & install and shows no advertisements.
Regarding file compatibility, KMPlayer supports various codecs and high-definition services such as 4K, UHD, and 3D videos. You can also use it to record your screen.
Even though KMPlayer is a very capable media player, it has a few bugs that often interrupt the video-watching experience.
7. MPV Player
The user interface of MPV Player looks old school; still, it’s one of the best free media players that you can have on Windows 11. MPV Player is a free, open-source, cross-platform media player known for its powerful scripting capabilities.
You can add scripts to make the media player do almost anything. If you are not interested in technical things, you can use it to play videos and audio.
The media player has no real GUI; it just has a small controller on the top of the video for basic control. Besides that, MPV Player can also use your GPU to decode your videos.
8. DivX Player
DivX Player is one of the rare video players for Windows 11 that supports the HECV format. This full-fledged video software lets you play, create, and cast your favorite videos.
The media player is available for Windows and Mac and has free and premium versions. The free version of DivX Player supports all major video and audio files, including the 4K videos.
9. PowerDVD
If you want a premium video viewing experience on your Windows 11 PC, look no other than PowerDVD. It’s a full-fledged media management app for Windows 11 that can help you manage all videos stored on your HDD/SSD.
Apart from playing videos stored on your local storage, PowerDVD can stream videos from online streaming sites. Not only that, but PowerDVD also allows users to download videos from streaming sites for offline playback.
Regarding file compatibility, PowerDVD supports all major video file formats, including the HEVC and XAVC-S.
10. AllPlayer
AllPlayer is a very underrated video player but is capable enough to compete with premium video players for Windows 11. You can use this free video player to play videos stored on your local storage.
AllPlayer supports all major file formats, including the latest video and audio standards, such as 4K Ultra HD and WebM. The most noticeable thing about AllPlayer is its ability to fetch the subtitles automatically.
Besides, AllPlayer supports Donly Surround, DTS, 3D Audio, SPDIF, and other sound systems. So, AllPlayer is an underrated free video player for Windows 11 that you shouldn’t miss.
11. Movies And TV
Movies And TV is the default Windows 11 Video player that’s good for those looking for ways to play basic video file formats.
While the video player is offered for free, it lacks important features. Movies And TV also support SRT files; hence, you can watch videos and read subtitles.
The user interface is kept clean to ensure ease of use. Movies And TV’s only drawback is that it requires an additional codec pack to play formats like MKV, MOV, and a few others.
12. MediaMonkey
MediaMonkey is a full-fledged media management tool for Windows operating systems. The primary purpose of MediaMonkey is to provide you with options to manage your local and cloud-based media files.
If you are not into file management, you can use MediaMonkey to play videos on your Windows 11 computer. It even allows you to convert the videos.
Regarding file compatibility, MediaMonkey supports almost all popular video and audio file formats you could think of.
13. KODI Player
KODI Player is an open-source media player app for Windows. It is highly customizable and can provide a media center-like experience.
The most unique thing about KODI Player is that it supports adding add-ons. Kodi Add-ons can drastically increase the functionality of the media player.
Also, a few plugins/add-ons let you watch movies & TV Shows for free. So, if you are looking for an ultimate video player for Windows 11, Kodi Player should be on your list.
14. Zoom Player
Zoom Player is a great video player app that is compatible with the latest Windows 11. We have listed Zoom Player because it can not only play local files but also stream audio and video from online sources.
Also, the media player’s interface is highly customizable, allowing you to customize the look you want.
Zoom Player could be a perfect pick if you want better compatibility with video formats and have total control over every aspect of your media library.
15. VidForth DVD Player
VidForth DVD Player is a free Windows video player app you can download from the Microsoft Store. Although it isn’t as popular as the other video players on the list, it offers all the features you’ll need for proper video playback.
The video player app for Windows supports almost all major file formats like AVI, MP4, FLV, SWF, WMV, MKV, MP3, M4V, etc.
Some key features of VidForth DVD Player include creating & managing video playlists, adjusting the audio during the video playback, subtitle support, casting to TV or Streaming devices, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer to this question depends on your video needs. If you want to play regular file formats, even the default video player on Windows 11 is good. However, to play modern video file format, use an open-source media player like VLC.
Yes, the latest version of the VLC media player is fully compatible with the Windows 11 operating system. Download the VLC Media player from its official site or trusted third-party sources.
Yes, like all other versions of Windows, Windows 11 also has a new video player. The new video player can handle modern video and audio formats and supports SRTF subtitle files.
Not every video player can download videos. However, VLC has a feature that can record the video which is playing. Therefore, you can utilize that feature to download videos. Also, VLC supports video streaming from URLs.
Also read: 10 Best Free MKV Players For Windows
These are the best free video players for Windows 11 that you can use today. These media players will help you resolve file incompatibility problems. If you know of any other best video players for Windows 11, let us know in the comments.
