Devices & apps

Xiaomi / Redmi videos won’t play? Here’s why — and the free fix

Xiaomi / Redmi saves videos as MP4 files with HEVC / H.264 video and AAC audio.

Updated 2026-11-11

At a glance

Saved asMP4
VideoHEVC / H.264
AudioAAC

Why it doesn’t play

Windows doesn’t ship the HEVC decoder for free — the Microsoft Store extension is paid. Phones record in HEVC by default, so many videos fail.

Play it free with PlayAnyVideo

  1. 1

    Use PlayAnyVideo in the browser or the free Windows app — HEVC plays without the extension.

  2. 2

    On phones you can switch the camera to “Most compatible” (H.264) for future videos.

  3. 3

    If the browser can’t decode it, the built-in universal engine (open-source, LGPL) takes over automatically.

  4. 4

    For the heaviest files (4K/8K HEVC, DTS, TrueHD) install the free Windows app: it converts on the fly with your graphics card and plays everything.

  5. 5

    On Android, choose “Open with → PlayAnyVideo” from your file manager or messenger.

FAQ

Is it really free?

Yes. PlayAnyVideo has no ads, no paid codecs and no locked features.

Is my Xiaomi / Redmi file uploaded anywhere?

No. Playback happens on your own device; local files are never sent to a server.

Do I need a codec pack?

No. Codec packs can break other players and often bundle adware. PlayAnyVideo brings its own decoders.

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