To uninstall the HEVC Video Extensions on Windows 11, run PowerShell as administrator and use Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEVC* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers, or uninstall them through a tool like Winhance or HiBit Uninstaller from the Windows Store Apps list. The extensions are treated as Store apps but are hidden from the normal Settings > Apps list, which is why a command or dedicated uninstaller is needed.
Applies to: Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 21, 2026
Key Takeaways
- HEVC Video Extensions (High Efficiency Video Coding, H.265) and HEIF Image Extensions are bundled Store apps that handle newer codecs like .mp4 HEVC and .heic photos from iPhones.
- Windows 11 hides these extensions from Settings > Apps, so you can’t uninstall them through the normal Windows UI — PowerShell or a Store-app-aware uninstaller is required.
- A single PowerShell one-liner removes them cleanly for every user in under five seconds.
- HEVC and HEIF usually fail together — if one is causing codec errors, remove both.
- Uninstalling is safe and reversible — reinstall from the Microsoft Store any time you need codec support back.
Quick Steps
- Right-click Start > Terminal (Admin).
- Paste
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEVC* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsersand press Enter. - Also run
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEIF* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsersif you want HEIF gone too. - Close Terminal. No restart required.
In This Guide
Three methods, in order from fastest to most visual:
- Method 1: PowerShell one-liner — fastest, no install. (Recommended)
- Method 2: Winhance — GUI, handles every Store app plus the rest of Windows.
- Method 3: HiBit Uninstaller — third-party GUI if you already use HiBit.
Why Can’t I Uninstall HEVC Extensions Normally?
Microsoft classifies the HEVC and HEIF extensions as system apps rather than user apps. System apps don’t show up in Settings > Apps > Installed apps even though they take up space like any other Store app. The standard winget uninstall command also skips them. You need a tool (or command) that explicitly enumerates every AppX package on the system, which is why the built-in Settings UI doesn’t list them.
Removing them is safe for most users. HEVC is mainly used by smartphone video files and 4K UHD streaming; HEIF handles the .heic photo format iPhones save. If you never open those file types, you can drop both.
Method 1: Uninstall with PowerShell (Recommended)
This is the fastest and cleanest approach — no third-party tool needed, no GUI clicking. It works on Windows 11 23H2 through 25H2 and the same commands work on Windows 10 22H2.
- Right-click the Start menu and choose Terminal (Admin). Approve the UAC prompt.
- Paste the HEVC command and press Enter:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEVC* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers- If HEIF is also installed, paste the second command:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEIF* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsersEach command returns to the prompt with no output when it succeeds. To verify the package is gone, run:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *HEVC*A blank result means the extension is uninstalled for every user on the machine.
Note: The
-AllUsersflag requires admin rights and removes the package for every account on the PC. Drop it if you only want to remove it for the current user (Get-AppxPackage *HEVC* | Remove-AppxPackage).
Method 2: Uninstall with Winhance
Winhance has a Windows Apps manager that lists every installed Store app — including hidden system apps like HEVC and HEIF — and lets you remove them with a click. I built Winhance specifically because the built-in apps list hides exactly these kinds of components.
- Download Winhance from winhance.net and run it as admin.
- Open the Software tab > Windows Apps.
- Scroll the list and tick HEVC Video Extensions and HEIF Image Extensions.
- Click Uninstall Selected.
Winhance uses the same underlying Remove-AppxPackage call as Method 1 but bundles the whole system-app inventory into one searchable list. Use this method if you want to clean up other hidden apps (the original non-replaceable Edge, Xbox TCUI, widgets) in the same pass.
Method 3: Uninstall with HiBit Uninstaller
HiBit Uninstaller is a free third-party uninstaller with a dedicated Windows Store Apps Manager. Use this method if you already have HiBit installed for other cleanup — otherwise Method 1 is faster.
- Download the portable version from the official HiBit Uninstaller site.
- Right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All, then open the extracted folder.
- Run the portable HiBit executable. If SmartScreen warns, click More info > Run anyway.
- Click Tools > Windows Store Apps Manager.
- Find HEVC Video Extensions and HEIF Image Extensions in the list and tick both.
- Click Uninstall Selected. When the confirmation appears, tick Create a system restore point and Automatically clean up, then click Start.
HiBit runs a cleanup scan after the uninstall to catch leftover registry keys. When the scan finishes, both extensions are gone.
Reinstall HEVC or HEIF Extensions Later
If you uninstall the extensions and later find a video or photo that won’t open, the fix is a single Store install:
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for HEVC Video Extensions or HEIF Image Extensions, then click Get.
- The free “HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer” version is the same binary Microsoft used to ship pre-installed — it costs nothing from the Store, but it’s only visible from a Store direct link: HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer.
Warning: Microsoft also lists a paid “HEVC Video Extensions” version ($0.99). Avoid paying — the free device manufacturer version handles the same file types. If the Store complains it can’t find the free version, reinstall the Microsoft Store first.
Related Cleanup Guides
- Winhance — handles HEVC, HEIF, and the rest of Windows bloat in one tool.
- Uninstall Microsoft Edge on Windows 10/11 — same Store-app trick, different target.
- Uninstall the Microsoft Store itself if you want to go nuclear.
- Official bloatware removal on Windows 11 25H2 — Microsoft’s own preinstalled-app cleanup path.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reinstall HEVC Video Extensions if I need them again?
Open the Microsoft Store and search for “HEVC Video Extensions.” Microsoft hides the free “from Device Manufacturer” version from normal search results, so use the direct Store link (ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9N4WGH0Z6VHQ) to reach the free edition. Click Get and the extension installs in seconds without a restart.
Is it safe to remove HEVC Video Extensions?
Yes. The only thing that stops working is playback of HEVC-encoded .mp4 and .mkv files inside apps that depend on the system codec — for example, the Photos app or the old Movies & TV app. Third-party players like VLC or MPV include their own codecs and keep working fine. You can also reinstall the extensions from the Store any time you need them.
Should I uninstall both HEVC and HEIF?
If you’re troubleshooting codec errors, remove both — they share a codec framework and problems in one often affect the other. If you’re cleaning up for disk space, remove only the one you don’t use. HEIF is mainly relevant if you import .heic photos from an iPhone; HEVC covers H.265 video.
Will removing HEVC affect my video playback in VLC or MPV?
No. VLC, MPV, MPC-HC, and most other third-party players ship with their own HEVC decoder via FFmpeg or libde265. They don’t use the Windows Store extension at all. Only apps built on the Windows Media Foundation system (Photos, the old Movies & TV app, some camera apps) rely on the Store extension.
Is creating a system restore point necessary?
Not strictly, but I still recommend it before any system-app removal — takes a minute and gives you a rollback if anything unexpected happens. Every method above is reversible by reinstalling from the Microsoft Store, so the restore point is belt-and-braces rather than required.
Can I use another uninstaller instead of HiBit?
Yes. Revo Uninstaller Free, IObit Uninstaller, and Bulk Crap Uninstaller all have Store apps views that can reach hidden apps. Of those, I recommend Winhance (my own tool) because it pairs the Store app manager with the rest of the Windows cleanup I’d want to do in the same session. For a pure command-line approach, stick with the PowerShell method — no third-party tool is involved at all.
