Media format support checker
Press Check and the page asks your browser about twelve common formats with canPlayType, and, where available, with the Media Capabilities API for a 1080p30 video or a stereo audio stream. No file is downloaded or played.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Press Check formats.
- Read the Can play column for each video and audio format.
- Where shown, read Decoding supported, Smooth and Power efficient.
How it works
For each format the page calls canPlayType on a media element with a MIME type and codec string, such as video/mp4; codecs="avc1.640028". If the Media Capabilities API exists, it also calls decodingInfo with a file configuration: 1920 × 1080, 30 frames per second, 5 Mbit/s for video, or stereo 44.1 kHz at 128 kbit/s for audio.
Worked example
If H.264 shows Probably, decoding Yes, smooth Yes and power efficient Yes, the device plays 1080p30 H.264 with hardware decoding. AV1 with smooth Yes but power efficient No means the browser decodes it on the CPU, which may use more battery.
Tips
- Support differs by browser version and device, so run the check on the device you care about.
- A format listed as Maybe may still play, because the exact codec profile of your file matters.
- To check the graphics side, see the WebGL info viewer.
Frequently asked questions
What does Maybe mean?
The browser recognizes the container, but is not sure about the codec or profile in the type string. Probably means it thinks it can play the exact type. An empty answer, shown as No, means it cannot.
What is the Media Capabilities API?
It lets a page ask whether the browser can decode a given stream, whether playback would be smooth and whether it uses hardware to save power. Some browsers do not offer it, and then only the canPlayType column is shown.
Why does HEVC show as supported in one browser and not another?
HEVC support often depends on the operating system, hardware decoder and licensing, so it varies between browsers and devices.
Which video format is the safest for a website?
H.264 in MP4 is accepted by essentially all current browsers. VP9 and AV1 save bandwidth where they are supported, so sites often offer several.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The checks use only the type strings from the table, and no media file is loaded.