Editing Advanced Audio Coding (section)

=== Media players ===
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2017}}
Almost all current computer media players include built-in decoders for AAC, or can utilize a [[Library (computer science)|library]] to decode it. On [[Microsoft Windows]], [[DirectShow]] can be used this way with the corresponding filters to enable AAC playback in any [[DirectShow]] based player. [[Mac OS X]] supports AAC via the [[QuickTime]] libraries. [[Adobe Flash Player]], since version 9 update 3, can also play back AAC streams.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics - Adobe Flash runtimes |url=https://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002084030/http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |access-date=8 May 2018 |website=www.adobe.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2007-12-04 |title=Adobe Delivers Flash Player 9 with H.264 Video Support |url=https://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200712/120407adobemoviestar.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821183435/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200712/120407adobemoviestar.html |archive-date=2014-08-21 |access-date=2014-08-20 |website=Adobe press release}}</ref> Since Flash Player is also a browser plugin, it can play AAC files through a browser as well.

The [[Rockbox]] [[Open-source software|open source]] [[firmware]] (available for multiple portable players) also offers support for AAC to varying degrees, depending on the model of player and the AAC profile.

Optional iPod support (playback of unprotected AAC files) for the [[Xbox 360]] is available as a free download from [[Xbox Live]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xbox.com &#124; System Use - Use an Apple iPod with Xbox 360<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/ipod.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408201732/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/ipod.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2007}}</ref>

The following is a non-comprehensive list of other software player applications:
*[[3ivx|3ivx MPEG-4]]: a suite of DirectShow and QuickTime plugins which support AAC encoding or AAC/ HE-AAC decoding in any DirectShow application
*[[CorePlayer]]: also supports LC and HE AAC
*[[ffdshow]]: a free [[Open-source software|open source]] [[DirectShow]] filter for [[Microsoft Windows]] that uses FAAD2 to support AAC decoding
*[[foobar2000]]: a [[freeware]] [[audio player (software)|audio player]] for [[Windows]] that supports LC and HE AAC
*[[KMPlayer]]
*[[MediaMonkey]]
*[[AIMP]]
*[[Media Player Classic#Forks|Media Player Classic Home Cinema]]
* [[mp3tag]]
*[[MPlayer]] or [[xine]]: often used as AAC decoders on [[Linux]] or [[Macintosh]]
*[[MusicBee]]: an advanced music manager and player that also supports encoding and ripping through a plugin
*[[RealPlayer]]: includes [[RealNetworks]]' RealAudio 10 AAC encoder
*[[Songbird (software)|Songbird]]: supports AAC on Windows, Linux and [[Mac OS X]], including the DRM rights management encoding used for purchased music from the iTunes Store, with a plug-in
*[[Sonicstage|Sony SonicStage]]
*[[VLC media player]]: supports playback and encoding of MP4 and raw AAC files
*[[Winamp]] for Windows: includes an AAC encoder that supports LC and HE AAC
*[[Windows Media Player 12]]: released with [[Windows 7]], supports playback of AAC files natively
*Another Real: [[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]] supports the RealAudio AAC codec, in addition to offering subscription tracks encoded with AAC
*[[XBMC]]: supports AAC (both LC and HE).
*[[XMMS]]: supports MP4 playback using a plugin provided by the faad2 library
Some of these players (e.g., foobar2000, Winamp, and VLC) also support the decoding of ADTS (Audio Data Transport Stream) using the [[SHOUTcast]] protocol. Plug-ins for Winamp and foobar2000 enable the creation of such streams.