MX Player Custom Codec: How To Choose The Right Version For Your Phone

MX Player is popular because it can play a huge range of video and audio formats, but sometimes a file still refuses to play sound (often because of unsupported audio codecs like certain DTS or AC3 variants). That is where an MX Player custom codec pack can help. The tricky part is choosing the correct codec version for your specific phone, because Android devices differ by CPU architecture (ARM vs x86), 32-bit vs 64-bit, and sometimes by instruction set extensions like NEON. This guide walks you through how to identify what you have, how MX Player decides what it can decode, and how to pick the correct custom codec safely.

1. What “Custom Codec” Means In MX Player (And When You Need It).

In MX Player, “codec” typically refers to software decoding libraries that can decode audio (and sometimes video) streams inside a media container such as MP4, MKV, or AVI. Many playback problems are not about the container itself, but the audio codec inside it. A common real-world example is an MKV that plays video correctly but has no sound because the audio track is encoded in a format your installed MX Player build cannot decode out of the box.

MX Player can decode in multiple ways:

• Hardware decoding: Uses your device’s built-in media hardware (Android MediaCodec) for efficiency and battery life.
• Software decoding: Uses CPU-based decoding libraries (often FFmpeg-based) for broader format support.

Custom codec packs are typically used to extend software audio decoding support, especially when licensing, distribution, or device-specific limitations mean a given build does not include every possible decoder by default.

1.1 The Most Common Symptoms That Point To a Codec Issue

Codec-related problems usually look like this:

• Video plays, but there is no audio, even at max volume.
• MX Player shows an audio format label you do not recognize (or reports unsupported audio).
• Audio works in one player but not in MX Player, or vice versa.
• Only certain files have no audio, especially high-quality rips with DTS audio.

If the whole file will not open, that could also be corruption, DRM, or an unsupported video codec. Custom codec packs are most often about audio, not magically supporting every video codec under the sun.

1.2 Important Reality Check: Not Every “Codec Problem” Is Solvable With a Pack

Before you spend time installing anything, keep expectations realistic:

• If the video is DRM-protected (for example, from certain streaming downloads), a codec pack will not help.
• If the file is damaged or incomplete, decoding libraries cannot fix it.
• If the issue is hardware-decoding related, switching decoder modes inside MX Player may fix it without any custom codec.

2. The Key Compatibility Factors: ARM vs x86, 32-bit vs 64-bit, And NEON.

Choosing the “right version” is mainly about matching the codec pack to your device’s CPU architecture and instruction set. Installing the wrong one usually results in MX Player refusing to load the codec, or playback instability.

2.1 CPU Architecture: ARM or x86

Most Android phones and tablets use ARM processors (Qualcomm Snapdragon, MediaTek, Samsung Exynos, Google Tensor). A smaller number of older devices (and some emulators) use x86/x86_64 (historically Intel-based Android devices).

Codec packs are typically named using architecture hints such as:

• ARMv7 (32-bit ARM)
• ARMv8 or AArch64 (64-bit ARM)
• x86 (32-bit Intel/AMD)
• x86_64 (64-bit Intel/AMD)

If you are using a normal modern Android phone, the correct family is almost always ARM 64-bit, but you still should confirm because “64-bit CPU” does not always mean “64-bit app process” in every scenario.

2.2 32-bit vs 64-bit: Why It Still Matters

Android devices can support both 32-bit and 64-bit apps, depending on OS and hardware. MX Player itself may be installed as a 32-bit or 64-bit variant depending on the version and distribution channel.

As a rule:

• If MX Player is running as a 64-bit app, it generally needs a 64-bit codec library.
• If MX Player is running as a 32-bit app, it generally needs a 32-bit codec library.

Some codec packs are explicitly labeled for 64-bit (for example, “arm64-v8a”). Others are for 32-bit (for example, “armeabi-v7a”). Selecting the wrong bitness is one of the most common reasons MX Player says it cannot load the custom codec.

2.3 NEON: The Feature Most People Miss

NEON is an ARM SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) extension used to accelerate multimedia processing. Many Android devices support NEON, and many FFmpeg-based builds assume NEON for performance.

That is why codec packs sometimes come in variants like:

• ARMv7 NEON
• ARMv7 (no NEON)

Most modern ARMv7 and nearly all ARM64 phones support NEON, but some very old or unusual devices may not. If you install a NEON build on a device that lacks NEON, the codec may fail to load or crash.

3. How To Identify Your Phone’s Architecture (The Practical Ways).

You do not need to guess. You can confirm architecture in a few reliable ways. The goal is to identify the ABI (Application Binary Interface) your Android system supports, which is how apps and native libraries are packaged.

3.1 Check “Supported ABIs” In Android (If Your Device Shows It)

Some devices show ABI or CPU information in Settings, but many do not. If you cannot find it, use one of the methods below.

3.2 Use a Device Info App to Read the ABI

Apps like AIDA64 or CPU-Z commonly show:

• Architecture (ARMv7, ARMv8, x86)
• Instruction sets (including NEON)
• Supported ABIs (for example, arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a)

Write down the top ABI reported (often the preferred one). For most modern phones you will see arm64-v8a at the top.

3.3 Use ADB (Most Accurate If You Are Comfortable With It)

If you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can query properties directly. Examples:

• adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abi
• adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abilist

If you see arm64-v8a, you are in ARM 64-bit land. If you see armeabi-v7a, that is 32-bit ARM. If you see x86 or x86_64, pick the matching Intel/AMD build.

4. How To Choose The Right MX Player Custom Codec Version (Decision Guide).

This section is the “choose the right version” part in the most concrete way possible. The exact filenames vary depending on who provides the codec pack, but the logic stays the same.

4.1 Start With Your MX Player Version Compatibility

Custom codec packs are often tied to an MX Player major/minor version because internal interfaces can change. A codec pack that works on one MX Player release may not load on another.

Inside MX Player, you can usually check version details in:

• Settings → About (wording varies)

When you download a custom codec pack from a reputable source, verify it explicitly states compatibility with your MX Player version or build line.

4.2 Match ABI First, Then NEON (If Applicable)

Use this order of operations:

1. Pick the correct ABI / architecture: arm64-v8a vs armeabi-v7a vs x86 vs x86_64.
2. Pick NEON variant if offered: NEON if your CPU supports it, otherwise non-NEON.
3. Ensure it matches MX Player bitness: If your MX Player is 64-bit, install 64-bit libraries.

If you are unsure about NEON and you have a modern phone, the NEON build is usually the correct pick for ARMv7. For ARM64, NEON support is generally assumed.

4.3 Quick Mapping Table (Most Common Cases)

This table is not a download list. It is a “what label should I look for” guide.

5. How To Install A Custom Codec In MX Player (Safely).

Because MX Player versions and Android builds differ, the exact menu labels can vary. The general workflow is consistent: you obtain the codec file from a reputable source, then point MX Player to it so it can load the library.

5.1 Prefer Trusted Sources (And Why It Matters)

A codec pack is a native binary library. Installing random binaries from untrusted websites is a real security risk. Use reputable communities and well-known maintainers, and verify the package is intended for MX Player and for your architecture.

If a download page is packed with aggressive ads, forces a “download manager,” or offers a suspicious APK that is not clearly a codec library package, do not install it.

5.2 Typical Installation Steps

1. Download the codec pack file that matches your architecture and MX Player version.
2. Place it somewhere accessible on your phone storage (for example, Downloads).
3. Open MX Player and go to Settings.
4. Find the option related to Custom Codec (often under Decoder settings).
5. Select the downloaded codec file and allow MX Player to load it.
6. Restart MX Player if prompted.

After installation, test the specific file that had no audio. If audio appears, you selected a working codec pack.

5.3 How To Confirm MX Player Actually Loaded It

MX Player usually shows a line in settings or about screens indicating the active codec, or it may display a notice after loading. Another practical test is to open the problematic file and check whether the audio track now plays under Software decoding.

6. Troubleshooting: What To Do When The Codec Won’t Load.

When MX Player rejects a codec pack, it is almost always one of a few root causes. Work through these in order so you do not waste time.

6.1 You Picked The Wrong Architecture Or Bitness

Symptoms: MX Player reports that the codec cannot be loaded, or it simply ignores the file you selected.

• Re-check your ABI (arm64-v8a vs armeabi-v7a vs x86).
• Ensure the codec pack is built for the same bitness as your MX Player build.

6.2 The Codec Pack Doesn’t Match Your MX Player Version

Codec packs are commonly versioned alongside MX Player releases. If you updated MX Player recently, your previously working codec may stop loading.

• Look for a codec pack release that explicitly matches your MX Player version line.
• If you must stay on your current codec, you may need to use an MX Player version that it supports.

6.3 The File Uses A Different Audio Format Than You Think

Sometimes users assume “DTS” or “AC3,” but the audio track might actually be E-AC-3, TrueHD, AAC HE, or something else. Use a media info tool (or the file’s track details inside a player) to confirm the codec of the audio stream.

If the file’s audio is something your custom codec does not cover, you may need a different approach, such as converting the audio track to AAC.

6.4 Try Switching Decoder Modes Before Installing Anything Else

Within MX Player, switching between hardware and software decoding can solve playback issues without any custom codec. A practical workflow is:

1. Try Hardware decoding.
2. If audio fails, switch to Software decoding.
3. If video stutters under Software, try Hardware for video with Software for audio if the app supports that combination.

This is especially relevant on devices where hardware decoders are picky about certain bitrates, profiles, or containers.

7. Safety, Legal, And Performance Considerations You Should Know.

Codec topics often come with confusion, so it helps to be clear about the tradeoffs.

7.1 Security: Codec Packs Are Native Code

Codec libraries run as native code inside an app process. That means a malicious or tampered library can potentially do harm. Reduce risk by:

• Downloading only from trusted maintainers and well-known communities.
• Avoiding re-upload sites that repackage files.
• Keeping your device and apps updated.

7.2 Legal and Licensing Nuance (Why Some Builds Don’t Include Everything)

Some audio formats are subject to patents or licensing restrictions, and app distributors may limit what they ship by default. This is one reason you might find that certain decoders are absent from a given build or store distribution even though the underlying technology exists.

7.3 Performance and Battery: Software Decode Can Be Expensive

Even if a custom codec fixes audio, software decoding may increase CPU use, heat, and battery drain, especially for high bitrate content. If your phone supports hardware decoding for the video stream, you generally want hardware for video and only use software where necessary.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (That People Actually Search For).

8.1 Which Custom Codec Should I Download For Snapdragon Phones?

Most Snapdragon-based phones are ARM64 and report arm64-v8a. The correct choice is usually an ARM64 codec pack that matches your MX Player version. Confirm with a device info app or ADB rather than assuming.

8.2 My Phone Is 64-bit. Why Does The 64-bit Codec Not Work?

Because your phone being 64-bit does not automatically guarantee your installed MX Player build is 64-bit, and codec packs often must match the app’s bitness. Also, the codec pack must match the MX Player version family. Verify both the MX Player version and the codec pack compatibility notes.

8.3 What Does “NEON” Mean And Do I Need It?

NEON is an ARM acceleration feature for multimedia. If you are choosing between ARMv7 NEON and ARMv7 non-NEON, and your device supports NEON, pick the NEON variant for better performance and compatibility with many builds. If your device does not support NEON, a NEON build may fail to load.

8.4 Will A Custom Codec Let MX Player Play Any Video Format?

No. Custom codecs commonly help with audio formats that your current build cannot decode. Video playback depends on both software decode capability and hardware decode support, and some formats or profiles may still fail or perform poorly.

8.5 Is There A “Best” Codec Pack For Everyone?

There is not one universal best pack, because compatibility depends on your MX Player version and your device architecture. The best codec pack is the one that explicitly supports your MX Player version and matches your ABI (and NEON needs).

9. A Simple Checklist You Can Use Every Time.

If you want a quick process you can repeat whenever you change phones or update MX Player, use this checklist:

1. Identify your Supported ABIs (arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, x86_64).
2. Confirm whether MX Player is a 32-bit or 64-bit build (and its version number).
3. Download a codec pack that explicitly matches your MX Player version line.
4. Choose the codec pack that matches your ABI, then choose NEON if applicable.
5. Install it via MX Player’s Custom Codec setting and restart the app.
6. Test the file that had no audio, and verify software audio decoding works.

Once you know your ABI and MX Player version, choosing the right custom codec becomes a straightforward match, not trial-and-error. That is the fastest way to get your audio back and keep playback stable.

Citations

• Android Developers. Application Binary Interfaces (ABIs). (developer.android.com)
• Android Developers. getprop (system properties) documentation and usage context. (developer.android.com)
• Arm Developer. NEON technology overview (SIMD extension). (developer.arm.com)
• FFmpeg. About FFmpeg (multimedia decoding libraries used by many players). (ffmpeg.org)