VLC Media Player download for Windows

VLC is the player people install when a video will not open in anything else. It brings its own decoders, so files such as MKV, MP4, AVI and FLAC play straight away, and it also handles DVDs, audio CDs, webcams and network streams. It comes from VideoLAN, a non-profit organisation, and the project's own summary is short: no spyware, no ads, no user tracking.

Which VLC download for Windows?

The Windows download page offers the same player in several packages.

• 64-bit installer (.exe). The normal choice for a current PC.
• 32-bit installer. For 32-bit Windows only.
• ARM64 installer. For Arm-based Windows laptops.
• 7zip and zip packages. The player without an installer. Unpack the folder and start vlc.exe. Useful when you cannot install software on the machine.
• MSI package. For administrators who deploy software centrally.

VideoLAN states that VLC runs on every version of Windows from XP SP3 to the current Windows 11, which makes it one of the few modern players still available for very old PCs.

During setup you can leave the suggested components as they are. If you would rather keep your current player for music, untick the audio file associations on that screen.

Settings and shortcuts worth knowing

Subtitles out of step. Press G or H while the video plays to move the subtitles earlier or later in small steps. J and K do the same for the sound.

Too fast or too slow. The [ and ] keys change playback speed, which helps with lectures and recordings.

A subtitle file of your own. Drag an .srt file onto the video window and VLC loads it.

Play a stream. Media, Open Network Stream accepts an address for online radio, an IP camera or a stream on your own network.

Change a file's format. Media, Convert / Save turns one format into another. It is fine for an occasional job. For regular work a dedicated tool such as HandBrake gives you more control.

If playback stutters on a high-resolution file, look under Tools, Preferences, Input / Codecs. VLC supports hardware decoding on most platforms, and switching that setting often settles the picture.

What VLC is less good at

VLC is a player first. It will not organise a film collection the way a media centre does; Kodi is built for that. Commercial Blu-ray discs are usually encrypted and generally do not play out of the box. And the default interface is plain, although skins and extensions can change it.

FAQ

Is VLC really free?

Yes. VLC is open-source software distributed by the VideoLAN non-profit. There is no paid version, and the project says it contains no ads or user tracking.

Do I need a codec pack?

No. The decoders for common video and audio formats are built into the player.

Should I pick 32-bit or 64-bit VLC?

64-bit, unless your Windows itself is 32-bit. You can check under Settings, System, About.

Can VLC play DVDs?

Yes. DVD Video, Video CD and audio CD are all on its list of supported inputs.