Projects / VLC

VLC

Audio & Video

A player for media files, discs and network media streams.

Use with conditions
Open source licenseGPL-2.0-or-later; some platform builds are subject to GPL-3.0 dependencies
PlatformsWindows x86 / x64 / ARM64 · macOS · Linux; separate mobile projects
DeploymentDesktop / Mobile

About this project

VLC is a media player that accepts several kinds of audio and video source. Input can come from local files, discs, capture devices, webcams or network streams. Its work starts with the selected source and the media it contains, allowing local viewing and network playback to share a player while using different input paths and protocols.

The format tables cover containers such as AVI, MP4, MOV and Matroska, together with codecs including H.264, MPEG-4, MP3, AAC and FLAC. Subtitle support includes SubRip and SSA. Playback controls include subtitle synchronization and audio or video filters, allowing the presentation of sound, pictures and accompanying text to be adjusted while the material is playing.

Network inputs include HTTP, FTP, UDP and RTP. VLC can use hardware decoding on supported platforms and also provides a software decoding path. The website offers separate desktop and mobile platform entry points. The relevant combination of input, container, codec and platform determines which documented capabilities apply to a particular media file or stream in that environment.

Decision guide
01

Why it is worth a look

  • Play multiple media formats and discs
  • Play network streams and capture devices
02

Before you use it

  • The product website returned 418 during this review; the official code mirror and download directory were used instead
  • The download directory lists 3.0.24; directory file timestamps are not a formal release date
  • Start by opening trusted local files
Manual setupLow
With an AI agentLow
DeploymentDesktop / Mobile
Additional requirementsNot verified

Use an officially listed operating system and architecture; Have application installation permissions and sufficient local storage; Some requirements have not been verified. Check the official setup instructions.

03

What it can do

  • Play multiple media formats and discs
  • Play network streams and capture devices
  • Transcoding and streaming output

Who it fits

Good for

People needing a general audio and video player

Not a fit

Judgment: Users primarily needing multitrack editing and detailed video post-production

Getting started

  1. Choose the platform package from the official download directory or website
  2. Complete the graphical installation
  3. Open a local video and check picture and sound

Alternatives to consider