VP9 Video Extension 1.2.2.0

If you’re using a Windows 11 device, you can play VP9 videos in most video apps by using the right extensions.

Even if your device doesn’t have hardware support for VP9, software support can help, although playback quality may depend on the video resolution and your device’s performance.

These extensions also enable you to encode both VP8 and VP9 content on devices without dedicated hardware encoders.

Supported File Formats: WebM (.webm) and Matroska (.mkv)

VP9 Video Codec: What to Know

VP9, developed by Google, is an open, royalty-free video format designed to offer high-quality streaming with efficient compression. It’s the successor to VP8 and was initially popularized through Google’s YouTube.

VP9 mainly competes with HEVC/H.265, MPEG’s High Efficiency Video Coding format.

The format has gained more traction thanks to the Alliance for Open Media, which Google joined to support the development of AV1, VP9’s next-generation successor.

Compared to HEVC, VP9 enjoys broader support across web browsers, particularly in HTML5 video, and is compatible with about 80% of the browser market (including mobile).

The main browser lacking VP9 support is Apple’s Safari, for both desktop and mobile. Android, however, has supported VP9 since version 4.4 (KitKat).

VP9 Patents and Licensing

While some parts of VP9 are patented by Google, the company offers free usage of its patents under reciprocal terms—as long as users avoid patent-related litigation with Google.

For more about VP9 and how it compares with other codecs like H.264, check out our guide, Is VP9 Better Than H.264?