How to Download and Install mpv - A free, Open source and Cross-platform Media player

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of downloading and installing mpv, a free, open-source, cross-platform media player, on Windows 10. You'll also learn how to configure mpv with basic settings, ensuring you get the most out of this versatile media player.

Step 1: Downloading mpv

1. Visit the official mpv website: mpv.io.
2. Alternatively, you can download mpv from Google Drive using this link: Download mpv from Google Drive.
3. Choose the appropriate version for your system and click to download.

Step 2: Extracting Files

1. After downloading, you'll need to extract the files. You can use either WinRAR or 7-Zip.
   • Download WinRAR from here.
   • Download 7-Zip from here.
2. Right-click on the downloaded file and select "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder name]."
3. Locate the extracted folder where the mpv.exe file is found.

Step 3: Installing mpv

1. Open the extracted folder.
2. Find the mpv.exe file. You can create a shortcut to it on your desktop for easy access.
3. Ensure that you do not need to run any installation program; mpv is portable and runs directly from the folder.

Step 4: Configuring mpv

1. Navigate to the configuration folder:
   • Path: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\mpv
   • Replace UserName with your actual Windows username.
2. Create a new text file named mpv.conf. Alternatively, you can place this file in the same folder as mpv.exe.
3. Open mpv.conf in a text editor and add any of the following desired configurations:

   # Start mpv in maximized windowed mode
   window-maximized = yes
   
   # Remember the position of video on quit
   save-position-on-quit
   
   # For Japanese audio preference
   alang=jpn,jp,jap,Japanese,eng,en,enUS,en-US,English
   

4. Save changes to the mpv.conf file.

Step 5: Using mpv

1. Launch mpv by double-clicking on the mpv.exe shortcut.
2. Open video files by dragging them into the mpv window or using the File menu.
3. Familiarize yourself with the keyboard and mouse controls. A detailed guide can be found here: mpv Keyboard & Mouse Controls.

Conclusion

You have successfully downloaded, installed, and configured mpv on your Windows 10 system. By following these steps, you can now enjoy a flexible media player tailored to your preferences. For further customization, consider exploring the mpv manual at mpv Manual or the Arch Wiki page for additional insights.

Happy media viewing!