Media Player Classic - Home Cinema (32-bit)
mpc-hc32.exe is safe. Media Player Classic - Home Cinema 32-bit is a lightweight, open-source player that uses DirectShow filters for playback. It supports many formats with optional external codecs.
mpc-hc32.exe is the 32-bit executable for Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC). It launches a lightweight media player on Windows, capable of playing most video and audio formats using built-in codecs or external filters when installed. It emphasizes simplicity, speed, and broad compatibility.
MPC-HC uses a single process to manage the GUI and playback via DirectShow filters. It relies on user-installed codecs when needed, delivering a lightweight, broad-format player without DRM or bloat.
Quick Fact: MPC-HC is an independent, open-source media player that avoids heavy GUI requirements and relies on DirectShow/Wasapi for playback, often with optional external codec packs.
Yes, mpc-hc32.exe is safe when downloaded from official sources (mpc-hc.net or SourceForge) and matches a valid signature from the MPC-HC project.
The real mpc-hc32.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names; always verify the file path and digital signatures.
C:\Program Files (x86)\MPC-HC\mpc-hc32.exe or C:\Program Files\MPC-HC\mpc-hc32.exe. Any other path is suspicious.mpc-hc32.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "MPC-HC Project".Red Flags: If mpc-hc32.exe is located in unusual folders (like C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming), runs when not playing media, has no digital signature, or uses unexpected network activity, run a full antivirus scan. Be wary of similarly named files like "mpc-hc64.exe" from untrusted sources.
mpc-hc32.exe runs when you start Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (32-bit) or when Windows is configured to launch it for specific media types or folders.
Reasons it's running:
Yes, you can disable mpc-hc32.exe. It will stop playback support for MPC-HC and remove quick access to its file associations.
If mpc-hc32.exe is consuming excessive resources or failing to play files:
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open MPC-HC Task Manager (Ctrl+G) and identify problematic items
3. 2. Update to the latest MPC-HC release
4. 3. Install or update external codecs (e.g., LAV Filters) if required
5. 4. Enable or disable hardware acceleration as needed
6. 5. Check for problematic subtitle files and disable them if necessary
Yes, mpc-hc32.exe is safe when downloaded from official sources (mpc-hc.net or SourceForge) and the file location matches C:\Program Files (x86)\MPC-HC or C:\Program Files\MPC-HC with a valid signature.
MPC-HC can be extended with external codecs; it does not bundle DRM. If you need broader format support, install a reputable codec pack.
Yes, you can uninstall MPC-HC via Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. Your playback history is not automatically deleted unless you remove configuration files.
Yes. Close MPC-HC and remove it from Startup (Task Manager > Startup). Then uninstall via Settings. You can always reinstall later.
MPC-HC 32-bit plays most common formats (MP4, MKV, AVI, MP3, AAC) with reasonable performance on 32-bit Windows. For very large files or modern codecs, 64-bit builds or alternate players may help.
Yes. If you prefer, you can set another player as default and remove MPC-HC from your system. Then re-install if you need it again.