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Latest Version
Zoom Player MAX 21.5.1 LATEST
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Review by
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Operating System
Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10 / Windows 11
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User Rating
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Author / Product
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Filename
zp2151max.exe
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MD5 Checksum
ec31498c1dfe400799a20e5f1118206c
Unlike standard media players, Zoom Player MAX is designed with a modular structure and extensive support for third-party codecs and filters.
It’s built for users who need both high-quality playback and total control over their viewing experience.
Key Features
Smart Play Technology: Ensures stable and smooth playback by automatically selecting the most appropriate codecs and filters.
Media Library System: Organizes media content into easily navigable categories with metadata scraping support.
Advanced Audio/Video Controls: Adjust playback speed, zoom, aspect ratio, color settings, equalizer, and subtitle synchronization.
Streaming and IPTV Support: Supports streaming video, audio, and IPTV services via direct URL input or playlist files.
Customization and Skins: Full skinning support, keyboard/mouse customization, and scripting options for automation.
Playback History and Resume: Remembers playback position for multiple files.
Kiosk Mode & Remote Control Support: Ideal for digital signage and HTPC setups.
Installation and Setup
Installation is straightforward, with a setup wizard guiding users through codec installation and initial configuration. The software can also auto-detect missing components and offer to download them.
A codec pack is included, but it allows the use of third-party codecs for advanced scenarios.
How to Use
- Launch the app and load media via drag-and-drop, file browser, or network streaming.
- Use the Media Library to organize your files or watch network content.
- Customize playback settings from the right-click menu or the advanced options dialog.
- Enable Smart Play for optimal codec usage.
- Use keyboard shortcuts or a remote to control playback.
Zoom Player latest version introduces a Modern UI with a semi-transparent Control Overlay appearing over the video area, replacing the traditional skinned interface.
This overlay is highly customizable, allowing adjustments to button layouts, sizes, text fonts, colors, and transparency.
New settings enable automatic display of the Control Overlay during specific actions like pausing or seeking. Additional features include snap zones for quick window positioning, a redesigned color control overlay, enhanced media library search, and improved IPTV Group Manager.
Numerous optimizations and bug fixes have also been implemented to enhance performance and user experience.
Full Features
- Highly customizable interface with windowed and fullscreen modes, great for all screen sizes and accessibility needs.
- Supports DirectShow, libVLC, and Chromium engines; optimized Smart Play tech ensures smooth playback.
- Full 4K HDR hardware decoding; dynamic skins with scalable UI modes (F4–F7).
- Rich Media Library with metadata scraping, filtering, sorting, and parental controls.
- Output to any audio device with 10-band equalizer, S/PDIF, and bitstreaming.
- Auto-resume subtitles/audio tracks, aspect ratio controls, zoom/pan, and magnetic docking.
- Hover previews, timeline chapters, and action sound FX system.
- Extensive playlist, image slideshow, and multi-monitor video wall support.
- GuardDog auto-restart, Wake-on-LAN, screen-burn protection, and network drive keep-alive.
- DVD/Blu-ray playback, IPTV, YouTube, RSS, Emby/Plex/Jellyfin support.
- Subtitle downloads, playlist switching, ring tone creator, and virtual editing.
- Visualizations, contact sheet creation, GoPro sequence auto-play, and screenshot tools.
- Full HTPC control with keyboard, mouse, remotes, gamepads, and Android app.
- Customizable keyboard/mouse, gestures, screen corners, and smart audio device switching.
- Extensive automation/API control, detachable control bar, and web remote.
- Resume playback across PCs, change resolution, blank monitors, and parental locks.
Does Zoom Player MAX support 4K and HDR content?
Yes, it supports 4K UHD and HDR playback, provided the system has compatible hardware and codecs.
Can it play Blu-ray discs?
Zoom Player MAX can play Blu-ray folder structures, but it doesn’t support encrypted Blu-ray discs out of the box due to licensing restrictions.
Is it suitable for HTPC setups?
Absolutely. It supports remote control, fullscreen kiosk mode, and highly customizable navigation interfaces.
Does it require external codec packs?
It comes with its own install center for essential codecs, but also allows use of external packs like LAV Filters for advanced playback.
Can it stream from YouTube or network shares?
Yes, it supports streaming from direct video URLs and network locations (SMB/UPnP), though YouTube streaming requires configuration.
Alternatives
VLC Media Player – Simpler, free, and highly portable with strong codec support.
PotPlayer – Feature-rich and lightweight with a modern interface.
KMPlayer – Advanced controls and 3D playback support.
MPC-HC with codec packs – Highly customizable but no longer in active development.
Pricing
Zoom Player MAX is a paid software, typically priced at $29.95 for a single-user license, with discounted upgrades and lifetime license options.
A free version, Zoom Player FREE, is available with fewer features.
Supported
Video formats supported: Plays DVD, BluRay (decrypted), MKV, AV1, H.264, H.265, WebM, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4, VOB, TS, MTS, 3GP, Real Media, QuickTime, DV, MXF, SWF, and more.
Audio formats supported: Compatible with MP3, FLAC, AAC, WMA, OGG, OPUS, AC3, DTS, WAV, ALAC, RA, APE, CDA, TTA, MIDI, SHOUTcast, and others.
Interactive formats supported: Handles DVD menus, HTML-based content, and Flash (SWF) interactivity.
Image formats supported: Opens JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PSD, ICO, TGA, PCD, PSP, and many additional image formats.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- CPU: Dual-core or better recommended
- RAM: Minimum 2 GB
- GPU: DirectX-compatible graphics card for hardware acceleration
- Disk: ~100 MB for installation
- Extremely customizable and powerful
- Excellent format and codec support
- Stable playback with Smart Play
- Remote control and HTPC-ready features
- Active development and support
- Interface may be too complex for beginners
- Some features locked behind the paid version
- Streaming configuration can be tricky
Zoom Player MAX is a top-tier choice for users seeking a highly configurable and performance-oriented media player for Windows. While it may not be the best option for casual viewers, power users, HTPC enthusiasts, and digital signage setups will find it exceptionally capable.
With features like Smart Play, streaming support, and deep customization, it stands out as a premium alternative in a crowded media player market.
Note: 30 days trial version.
What's new in this version:
Changed:
- I changed how the trial version works by removing the view time limits entirely. Zoom Player is now limited to running for 20 days after a fresh install, letting you know how many days remain on each run.
- Optimized the IPTV M3U parsing and overall load time by 20-50% depending on the playlist size
- The IPTV window should open faster when using playlists with 1000's of different groups
- I've enhanced the keyboard shortcut help dialog (Press "F1" to show) to allow filtering of the keyboard shortcut list, making it much easier and faster to find what you're looking for
- Closing and re-opening the IPTV window after playing an archive (catchup) program restores the currently playing program into view
- Small enhancements to Zoom Player's Install Center experience, making it easier to cancel downloads and showing clearer messaging
- The OSD time/date display (Alt+Ctrl+"D" keyboard shortcut) will now switch automatically between the 12H AM/PM and 24H time formats based on the Windows setting which you can easily change in Windows regional settings
Fixed:
- Using the "MPC Audio Renderer" component as the audio renderer could have triggered a freeze if no audio devices were actually installed on the PC
- Playing an IPTV stream containing Unicode characters in the name could have resulted in "????" characters displaying as the title
- Even though the IPTV's fix Player API encoding setting was disabled, it still got applied in some cases, causing properly encoded non-English characters and Emoji to appear as question marks
- Fixed a bug where if the playlist or equalizer windows were open, clicking on another application would send Zoom Player to the back of all currently opened windows applications or mess with the magnetize state
- Fixed a case where pressing the play button on Modern UI with the playlist window visible could cause the Modern UI overlay to disappear behind the player window, making it inaccessible until hidden by timeout or triggered through a keyboard shortcut
- In trial mode, the "please upgrade" window could appear in a different monitor than the player window
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