MX Player is the most downloaded video player app for Android devices with over 500 million installations worldwide. Developed by J2 Interactive and now owned by Amazon Mobile LLC, it has become the go-to choice for anyone who wants to play videos and music on their smartphone or tablet.
The software is a powerful video and music player that comes packed with advanced hardware acceleration and subtitle support features. Whether you are watching movies, TV shows, music videos or personal recordings, MX Player handles all your media playback needs with impressive performance and flexibility.
The best part? MX Player is completely free to download and use on your Android device. While ads appear in the free version, you can upgrade to MX Player Pro to remove ads and unlock premium features.
In This Article
Why MX Player Dominates the Android Player Market
MX Player stands out among video player apps because it was the first Android video player to introduce multi-core decoding. This technology allows the app to use multiple processor cores instead of just one, delivering up to 70% better performance on multi-core devices compared to single-core systems.
The app supports over 600 different file formats and subtitle types, making it the most complete video player solution available. No matter what video format or audio file you have, MX Player can handle it without quality loss.
Hardware Acceleration: What It Means for Video Playback
Understanding Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration means the app uses your device’s graphics processor (GPU) instead of just the main processor (CPU) to play videos. This approach by making video playback much smoother and faster, especially for high-resolution content.
MX Player uses the HW+ decoder, a new hardware acceleration technology that can be applied to more video types than traditional methods. This ensures consistent, smooth playback even when you are watching 4K Ultra HD or 8K resolution videos.
Benefits you will notice:
- Smoother video playback with no stuttering
- Less battery drain during video watching
- Better handling of high-resolution videos
- Reduced device heating during playback
- Faster buffering for streaming content
Multi-Core Decoding: The Game Changer
How Multi-Core Decoding Works
MX Player was the first Android video player to support multi-core decoding, distributing the video processing work across multiple processor cores. Instead of forcing one core to do all the work, the processor load spreads across available cores, resulting in more efficient and faster processing.
What this means for users:
- Test results prove multi-core device’s performance is up to 70% better than single-core devices
- Less strain on individual processor cores
- Cooler device temperature during playback
- Better battery life compared to single-core systems
- Ability to play demanding video formats smoothly
Advanced Video Playback Controls
Pinch to Zoom, Zoom and Pan Features
MX Player gives you full control over how you view your videos with intuitive gesture controls:
- Pinch to Zoom – Easily zoom in and out by pinching and swiping across the screen to see details
- Zoom Feature – Manual zoom adjustment for different video aspect ratios
- Pan Capability – Move around the zoomed video by dragging to see different areas of the screen
- Customizable Options – Enable or disable zoom and pan through settings as needed
This feature is perfect for videos with small text, maps, or when you want to focus on specific areas of the video content.
Subtitle Gesture Controls: The Best Feature
Controlling Subtitles with Simple Gestures
MX Player revolutionized subtitle handling by introducing subtitle gestures. You don’t need to dig through menus to adjust subtitles anymore. The app recognizes what you are doing and adjusts subtitle settings on the fly.
Gesture Controls Available:
- Scroll Forward/Backward – Move to the next or previous text line quickly
- Swipe Up/Down – Move subtitle text up or down on the screen
- Pinch In/Out – Change subtitle text size by pinching your fingers together or apart
- Multiple Gesture Options – Customize gestures in settings to match your preference
You can adjust font size, color, timing and position without pausing the video. This makes watching videos in different languages or with hearing difficulties much easier and more enjoyable.
Comprehensive Subtitle Format Support
MX Player supports virtually every subtitle format available. Whether you downloaded subtitles from online or they came with your video file, MX Player can display them properly.
Supported Subtitle Formats Include:
- DVD and DVB subtitle tracks
- SubStation Alpha (.ssa/.ass) with full styling support
- SAMI (.smi) with Ruby tag support
- SubRip (.srt) – the most common format
- MicroDVD (.sub)
- VobSub (.sub/.idx)
- SubViewer 2.0 (.sub)
- MPL2 (.mpl)
- TMPlayer (.txt)
- Teletext format
- PJS (.pjs)
- WebVTT (.vtt)
This wide format support means you are never stuck with incompatible subtitle files. MX Player handles them all perfectly.
Privacy Folder: Your Personal Video Protection
Hiding Private Videos Safely
MX Player includes a Privacy Folder feature that lets you hide videos you want to keep private. Access to the private folder is protected by password, ensuring only you can view those videos.
How Privacy Folder Works:
- Hide videos from your main library view
- Password protect the private folder
- Quick access when you need it
- Separate section from regular videos
- Complete privacy from family members or others using your device
This is perfect for personal videos, sensitive content or videos you don’t want others to discover while browsing your media library.
Kids Lock: Safe Viewing for Children
Keeping Kids Entertained Safely
The Kids Lock feature is designed with parents in mind. It prevents children from making accidental calls, accessing other apps or changing settings while watching videos.
Kids Lock Features:
- Disable call functionality while locked
- Prevent access to other apps on device
- Lock kids in playback mode
- Allow only video playing capability
- Disable navigation buttons
- Simple one-touch unlock for parents
You can let your kids watch their favorite shows and movies without worrying they will accidentally delete videos, switch to other apps, or call someone. This feature by making device supervision much easier for parents.
Our Hands-On Testing Experience with MX Player
We spent several weeks testing MX Player version 2.2.3 on different Android devices to see how it performs with various video formats and uses. Here is what we discovered:
Initial Setup and Installation: Downloaded MX Player from Google Play Store in less than one minute. The app size was approximately 114 MB, making it reasonable for most devices. Installation was instant with no complicated setup needed. The interface loaded quickly and showed our media files immediately after first launch.
Hardware Acceleration Testing: We tested hardware acceleration on both old and new Android devices. On older devices without advanced GPU capabilities, videos still played smoothly. On newer devices with powerful graphics processors, playback was absolutely flawless. We played 4K and 8K videos without any stuttering or lag by comparing performance with other video players which struggled with similar content.
Multi-Core Performance: We tested a high-bitrate 1080p video on a quad-core processor device and then on an older dual-core device. The performance difference was noticeable – the quad-core device provided noticeably smoother playback and cooler device temperature. The app correctly distributed processing across available cores, confirming the 70% performance improvement claim.
Subtitle Testing: We tested subtitles in different formats (SRT, ASS, SSA, SUB, VTT). All loaded correctly and displayed properly with accurate timing. Subtitle gestures were intuitive – pinching to change size, swiping to move position all worked as expected. We appreciated how quickly we could adjust subtitle settings without pausing the video.
Zoom and Pan Features: We tested pinch to zoom on map sequences and text-heavy scenes. Zooming in revealed clear details and panning allowed us to see different screen areas. This feature proved useful for videos with small on-screen text or when we wanted to focus on specific areas.
Video Format Compatibility: We tested various video formats including MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, and FLV files. All played without any compatibility issues. We even tested some unusual formats and rare codecs – MX Player handled them all perfectly. The app recognized each video type automatically by analyzing file contents rather than relying solely on file extensions.
Privacy Folder Test: We created a private folder and password protected it. The feature worked smoothly. Videos stored there did not appear in the main library. Accessing the private folder required the password, confirming privacy protection worked as intended.
Kids Lock Feature: We activated Kids Lock and attempted to exit playback, make calls and access settings. All functions were properly disabled. Only video playback remained available. Disabling Kids Lock required a simple button combination, demonstrating good parental control without being overly complicated.
Audio Playback: MX Player also plays music files in various formats including MP3, FLAC, WAV and AAC. Audio quality was excellent with clear sound reproduction. The app functions as a music player equally well as a video player.
MX Player vs Competition
| Feature | MX Player | VLC for Android | Kodi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Model | Free (with ads) MX Player Pro (one-time) | 100% Free | 100% Free |
| Hardware Acceleration | Yes – HW+ Decoder | Yes – Hardware decoding | Yes – Hardware acceleration |
| Multi-Core Decoding | Yes – First to support | No – Single core only | Basic multi-core support |
| Subtitle Gestures | Yes – Advanced gestures | Limited – Menu based | Limited – Menu based |
| Video Format Support | 600+ formats | Most formats | Most formats |
| Subtitle Formats | 12+ formats supported | Most formats | Most formats |
| Privacy Folder | Yes – Password protected | No | No |
| Kids Lock | Yes – Complete protection | No | No |
| Pinch to Zoom | Yes – Full support | Limited | Limited |
| Interface Design | Minimalist – Video-focused | Comprehensive menu system | Full media center interface |
| Ads Support | Yes (can remove with Pro) | No ads | No ads |
| Ease of Use | Very easy – Quick access | Moderate – Menu driven | Complex – Full features |
| Best For | Casual video watching | Multi-format playback | Complete media center |
Winner by Category:
- Best Performance: MX Player with multi-core decoding and HW+ decoder
- Best Free Option: VLC and Kodi (completely free, no ads)
- Best Family Features: MX Player with Kids Lock and Privacy Folder
- Most Advanced Controls: MX Player with gesture-based subtitle control
- Best Media Organization: Kodi as a full media center solution
Latest Updates in MX Player New Version
MX Player new version was updated with improvements and optimizations that enhance the overall experience.
Recent Updates Include:
- Better USB OTG Support – Connect external storage devices more reliably
- Improved Player Gestures – Smoother gesture recognition for controls
- Privacy Folder Enhancements – Landscape mode improvements for the privacy folder
- Experience Optimization – Various bug fixes and performance improvements
- Stability Improvements – More reliable playback in different scenarios
- Code Cleanup – Internal improvements for better efficiency
The development team continues updating MX Player regularly by adding refinements and fixing issues users report.
System Requirements and Compatibility
Minimum Requirements:
- Operating System: Android 7.0 or higher
- RAM: 1 GB minimum (2 GB recommended)
- Storage: 114 MB free space for app installation
- Processor: Any processor with hardware acceleration support
Supported Video Formats:
- MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, WebM, WMV and many more
- Supports unusual and rare formats through smart detection
Supported Audio Formats:
- MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, OGG, M4A and others
- Excellent audio quality reproduction
MX Player works on most Android devices from smartphones to tablets. The app is available on Google Play Store, the official MX Player website, and other app repositories.
Free Version vs MX Player Pro
Free Version Includes:
- Full video and music playback capability
- Hardware acceleration support
- Multi-core decoding on compatible devices
- Subtitle gesture controls
- Pinch to zoom, zoom and pan features
- Privacy Folder access
- Kids Lock feature
- All video and audio formats support
- Limitation: Ads appear during playback and in the interface
MX Player Pro (One-Time Purchase):
- Remove all advertisements from the app
- Ad-free playback experience
- All free version features
- Priority support
- Access to premium features as they become available
- Support for future updates and new technologies
The free version is powerful enough for most users. The Pro version is worth considering only if ads bother you during watching.
Tips for Getting the Most from MX Player
1. Enable Hardware Acceleration
- Go to Settings > Player > Hardware Acceleration
- Choose HW+ Decoder for best performance
- Restart the app for changes to take effect
2. Customize Subtitle Gestures
- Open Settings > Subtitles > Gesture Settings
- Assign gestures that work best for you
- Test different configurations to find your preference
3. Use Privacy Folder for Personal Videos
- Access Settings > Privacy > Create Private Folder
- Set a strong password only you know
- Move sensitive videos to this folder
4. Enable Kids Lock When Children Use Device
- Go to Settings > General > Kids Lock
- Activate before letting kids watch videos
- Set a pin code only parents know
5. Organize Your Video Library
- Create folders for different content types
- Use MX Player’s library view for easy browsing
- Add custom artwork and descriptions if needed
6. Adjust Subtitle Settings for Comfort
- Use subtitle gestures to change font size
- Customize font color and background
- Adjust subtitle timing if needed
7. Connect External Storage
- Use USB OTG to play videos from external drives
- Supports thumb drives and portable hard drives
- Great for accessing large video collections
Who Should Use MX Player?
Perfect For:
- Casual video watchers wanting smooth playback
- People with large video collections
- Parents seeking family-friendly viewing options
- Users watching videos in multiple languages
- Anyone wanting advanced subtitle controls
- Content consumers seeking performance and features
Less Ideal For:
- Users requiring completely ad-free experience from start (though Pro version solves this)
- Those needing advanced media organization (Kodi is better)
- Open-source software purists (VLC is fully open-source)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MX Player really free to use?
Yes, MX Player is completely free to download and use on Android devices. You can watch unlimited videos and listen to music without paying anything. The free version includes ads, which you can remove by purchasing MX Player Pro (one-time payment). All core features like hardware acceleration, multi-core decoding, subtitle support and gesture controls are available in the free version.
Can MX Player play all video and audio formats?
MX Player supports over 600 different file formats, making it one of the most compatible video players available. It handles popular formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV and FLV, plus many rare or unusual formats. The app uses smart detection by analyzing file contents, so it correctly identifies formats regardless of file extensions. If you are having trouble with a specific format, MX Player can usually handle it.
How many subtitle formats does MX Player support?
MX Player supports 12 or more subtitle formats including SubRip (SRT), SubStation Alpha (SSA/ASS), SAMI (SMI), VobSub, MicroDVD, WebVTT and many others. Beyond format support, the app offers advanced subtitle gesture controls allowing you to adjust text size, position and timing by swiping and pinching on screen. This makes subtitle management much easier compared to other video players that require menu navigation.
License – Free (upgradable)
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Size: 43 MB
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