Windows 7 uses its own set of DirectShow filters to play many popular audio and video formats. Installing your own set of filters - such as FFDShow, CoreAVC or other similar packages - is not enough for Windows Media Player and other Windows 7 mechanisms to use those installed instead of the default system filters. Preferred Filter Tweake allows you to set your own preferences with just a few clicks, giving you full control over which DirectShow filters to use.

Most importantly, it allows you to quickly restore your modifications. Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center built into Windows 7 use Media Foundation mechanisms instead of DirectShow filters to play some specific formats such as .m2ts, .mp4 or .mov. With Preferred Filter Tweaker, you can manually modify playback preferences for the following formats:

In addition, the tool only works with a specific set of DirectShow filters covering the following items: