If you've installed the codecs and adjusted the settings but still see a black screen with audio:

To get the best HEVC performance in VLC, you don't just need a "file"; you need to ensure your is active. Install the Windows HEVC Extension, tweak your VLC FFmpeg thread settings, and ensure your GPU drivers are current.

Some device manufacturers provide the "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" for free. You can often find links to these via the "ms-windows-store" protocol in your browser to bypass the $0.99 fee.

Technically, VLC comes bundled with its own internal codecs (via the FFmpeg project). Unlike Windows Media Player, VLC doesn't rely on "System Codecs." However, installing specific HEVC extensions or tweaking VLC's internal handling is often necessary to: Enable (GPU decoding). Fix 4K/8K playback lag . Resolve HDR color grading issues. Method 1: The Windows 10/11 "HEVC Video Extensions" Hack

If you’ve ever tried to play a 4K video or a modern MKV file only to be met with a stuttering mess or a "Codec not supported" error, you’ve hit the HEVC wall. High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265, is the industry standard for high-quality, low-bandwidth video.

In VLC’s Advanced Preferences (All) > Input / Codecs > Video Codecs > FFmpeg, uncheck "Zero copy" . This sometimes resolves compatibility issues between the codec and older display drivers.

Find and change the value from 0 to 4 (or however many cores your CPU has). This forces VLC to use multi-core processing for HEVC decoding.