Full Media Player Classic Review for Modern Computer Use

Part 1. What is Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic-Home Theater (MPC-HC) is an open-source media player software released in 2006 that received consistent development support until 2017, when its developers released their last official version. During the decade and a year of active development, the software gained enough popularity to make it one of the most reliable media player tools among Windows users. In fact, MPC-HC was once a more reliable option than its fellow open-source software, VLC Media Player.

Please continue reading this section of the article to learn its main features, key strengths, and current weaknesses.

Part 2. Full Review of Media Player Classic

Lightweight and Fast

Since the tool was developed during a time when computers were not powerful enough relative to our current standards, MPC-HC was optimized to run smoothly on slower hardware. Because of this, the software is famous for being extremely compact in its installation size and having stable performance even on much older processors. If your computer is on the older side, Media Player Classic is a reliable option.

Simple to Use

Another feature that the development background of Media Player Classic has resulted in is its simplicity. Simply put, the tool works and does its job well. If all you need to do is watch videos and listen to music, MPC-HC’s simplicity might work best for your needs.

Free to Download

Perhaps the biggest factor contributing to Media Player Classic’s popularity is that it is free to download. Fortunately, if you want to download Media Player Classic, it is still free to download from its official website. However, be cautious when downloading the tool since its lack of security updates is quite risky.

Windows Exclusive

Because the tool is Windows-exclusive software, you can fully enjoy it without worrying about compromises built into the software for cross-platform availability. This also means that Media Player Classic will always work optimally on all versions of Windows computers.

If you need a Mac media player, just follow this article to get more.

No Active Developer Support

This factor might be the biggest red flag for users who want to use the software. Since Media Player Classic received its last update in 2017, the tool's security has been a legitimate concern, especially when used on modern computers. If you are still interested in using the media player software, make sure that you download its last official release only on the MPC-HC website. However, even the tool's developers recommend that interested users try something else.

Part 3. How to Use Media Player Classic

Users who want to use media player software would be glad to automatically open a video using their desired software. Unfortunately, Media Player Classic does not appear anymore if you want to set it as a default player. Because of that, this section of the article will be focused on how to set MPC-HC as the default media player tool.

1. Find an audio or video media file and right-click on it. Hover the cursor to Open with and click on Choose another app.

2. In the Window that will pop up, click More apps to expand the list.

3. Scroll all the way down and select Look for another app on this PC.

4. Navigate through your file manager and select the MPC-HC application file then click Open.

5. Repeat the same steps in Step 1.

6. The Media Player Classic app will now appear among the apps that you can open a media file with. Click the Always use this app box before clicking OK. Repeat the same steps for different file types to set MPC-HC as the default media player to open them every time.

Although quite tricky to set up, these steps offer great convenience for users who really want to use Media Player Classic's reliability. Simply follow this guide for added convenience when using MPC-HC or other media players.

Part 4. Best Alternative to Media Player Classic

As we mentioned earlier, most of Media Player Classic's weaknesses are due to its dated background. In fact, even the developers themselves recommend potential new users try other media player options. With that in mind, this section of the article will feature the best Media Player Classic alternative: AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player.

Developed as a versatile media player software that can play Blu-ray or DVDs and digital files, this tool might be considered a modernized successor of Media Player Classic since it also features the same strengths present within the software but is more optimized for modern use.

To start, AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player is very simple to play, and its interface is as straightforward as possible, with two options to open digital files or Blu-rays. On top of this focus on functionality, the tool also has modernized features to take advantage of the features of modernized computers. The most notable among them are the 4K and 8K resolution support for crystal clear videos and the surround sound system for optimal music listening experience.

If you want to experience the reliability, performance, and simplicity of Media Player Classic in a modernized shell, AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player is the best option. Download the software using the link below.

Media Player Classic	VS	AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player
	Has Active Developer Support
	Developed for Modern Computers
Windows	Supported Platforms	Windows, Mac
Free	Pricing	Free $15.60
1. Developed as an open-source media player. 2. Lightweight installation size. 3. Stable performance even for older hardware.	Pros	1. Capable of playing both digital videos and media files from Blu-ray discs. 2. UHD resolution support for videos up to 8K quality. 3. High-performance surround sound system by Dolby Digital and DTS.
1. Lack of recent updates since 2017. 2. The absence of developer support could result in higher security risks.	Cons	1. Its free version has slightly limited features.