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Dell, HP Censor Laptop Video Codec
21 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Some Dell and HP laptops disable video codec hardware.
- New laptops struggle with video playback unexpectedly.
- Companies cite licensing costs and suggest workarounds.
Many Dell and HP laptop users are encountering unexpected video playback issues in web browsers. Despite modern processors featuring integrated HEVC/H.265 decoding support, both manufacturers have disabled this functionality on certain popular business notebooks. This leads to noticeable lag and degraded performance when playing video content, a problem reported by users encountering issues not present on older hardware.
HP has acknowledged disabling HEVC hardware acceleration on specific ProBook and EliteBook models, suggesting customers use licensed third-party software. Similarly, Dell has restricted HEVC playback to configurations with discrete graphics, 4K displays, or specific software. Information about this limitation is often not readily available on product pages or manuals, causing user confusion and frustration.
This move by Dell and HP coincides with anticipated increases in HEVC licensing costs, with royalty rates set to rise. While companies may be seeking to control expenses, disabling widely available features on premium devices has drawn criticism. Users are left with expensive workarounds or reduced functionality, impacting their experience with modern video content.
