VLC is the gold standard for video playback. It comes with the Xvid decoder built-in.
, which included Xvid and ffdshow, a popular alternative decoder. 4. Xvid vs. The World (2017): Why still use it? Xvid (MPEG-4 ASP) H.264 (AVC) Compression Excellent (HD/4K) Encoding Speed Slow (Higher CPU usage) Compatibility Older DVD Players, Old TVs Modern PCs, Smartphones Archiving older media Streaming/Modern Video
However, its relevance was purely backward-compatible. No one in their right mind would choose Xvid for a new encoding project in 2017 unless forced by hardware constraints. The codec was a well-maintained ghost, a testament to an era of CD-R trading and scene releases. For the average Windows 10 user, installing it was unnecessary; VLC already contained a built-in decoder. For the nostalgic power user, it was a reliable tool that worked exactly as it did in 2005, albeit now running quietly on modern hardware without fanfare or friction.
Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen prompts. It typically includes both the encoder (for making videos) and the decoder (for watching them).
⚠️ The 2017 version does not include a media player. It only adds the codec to your system. For playback, use VLC, MPC‑HC, or Windows Movies & TV.
Windows 10 introduced the "Movies & TV" app (Groove Movies) as the default media player. This application relied on the Windows Media Foundation rather than the older DirectShow frameworks used by Windows Media Player in Windows XP/7.
