FAQs
VLC is the official name of VideoLAN's main product, often named VLC. VideoLAN Client is an ancient name of this product. VideoLAN Server is another product of VideoLAN, but is discontinued since a long time. VideoLAN is not a software, see 1.1 of this FAQ.
Is VideoLAN VLC legit? ›
Is the VLC media player well protected? Apart from its sleek features, VLC media is a hundred percent safe for you to download. It is advisable to download this media player from the approved site.
How do I use VideoLAN VLC Media Player? ›
To play media files using VLC Media Player:
- Open VLC Media Player from the Start menu or search bar.
- Click on the "Media" menu in the top-left corner of the VLC window.
- Select "Open File" from the drop-down menu.
- Navigate to the location of the media file you want to play and select it.
VideoLAN is a non-profit organization which develops software for playing video and other media formats.
Why is VLC still the best? ›
VLC Media Player is undoubtedly the most popular video player for the greater part of the decade, due to its set of features and cross-platform abilities. Plus, it is an open-source program.
Is there anything better than VLC? ›
PowerDVD is the best choice for a VLC Media Player alternative. It supports an extensive range of audio and video formats, offers screencasting and Blu-ray support, and will play 3D and 360° videos. Plus, its TrueTheater™ enhancements and Dolby support create a fantastic home cinema experience.
Is the VLC Media Player discontinued? ›
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has lifted the ban on the website of VLC Media Player, nearly nine months after first issuing directions to block the website of VideoLAN, the non-profit that operates VLC Media Player and from where the application can be downloaded.
Why is VLC closing? ›
VLC Media Player keeps crashing for more than one reason, the most common of which is that the player registry files are damaged or deleted, VLC is outdated, or VLC settings are improper. Read the guide to learn what you can do to prevent VLC Media Player from crashing on Windows, Mac, Android, and other platforms.
Should I trust VLC? ›
Overall, VLC is considered a safe and reputable software for media playback. With its open-source nature and dedicated community of developers, VLC undergoes regular scrutiny and updates to address any security vulnerabilities that may arise.
Is VLC Media Player a Chinese app? ›
The VideoLAN software originated as a French academic project in 1996. VLC used to stand for "VideoLAN Client" when VLC was a client of the VideoLAN project.
(2) (VideoLAN Client) Open source media player software that is part of VideoLAN, an academic project for streaming video that began in Paris in the mid-1990s. VLC runs under all popular operating systems and supports a wide variety of video formats.
How does VLC make money? ›
VideoLAN is a non-profit organization. All our costs are met by donations we receive from our users.
Is VLC Media Player Legal? ›
VLC Media Player is not only a safe and legal choice for playing media files, but it also offers a wide range of features and compatibility with various file formats. Its open-source nature and compliance with copyright laws make it a great option for all users.
Why does everyone use VLC? ›
VLC is certainly the program I always recommend to everyone, since it reads all formats and its GUI is perfectly serviceable for most people.
Who owns VLC? ›
The VideoLAN project, which owns copyrights to VLC, distributes VLC as free software exclusively under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL).
Can VLC play everything? ›
Plays everything - Files, Discs, Webcams, Devices and Streams. Plays most codecs with no codec packs needed - MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3...
How do I use VLC as a media library? ›
How to Set Up VLC Media Player
- Select the Tools menu tab and select Preferences. ...
- Switch to the advanced menu by selecting All or Show All in the Show settings section.
- Select Playlist from in the sidebar on the left.
- Select the check box next to Use Media Library and then Save.
Input Formats
MPEG (ES,PS,TS,PVA,MP3), AVI, ASF / WMV / WMA, MP4 / MOV / 3GP, OGG / OGM / Annodex, Matroska (MKV), Real, WAV (including DTS), Raw Audio: DTS, AAC, AC3/A52, Raw DV, FLAC, FLV (Flash), MXF, Nut, Standard MIDI / SMF, Creative™ Voice.
Is there a better player than VLC? ›
There are several programs that can compete with VLC. First, Lark Player, which has a more sleek and modern interface than VLC; Second, we have DivX Pro, which offers more video settings function that VLC, and lastly, KMPlayer is better than VLC cause it supports download for offline playback.
What is the disadvantage of VLC? ›
Drawbacks or disadvantages of VLC communication
➨There are challenges to integrate VLC with wifi system. ➨Other drawbacks with VLC system are atmospheric absorption, shadowing, beam dispersion etc. ➨It requires both source and receiver should be in LOS. Hence non-LOS communication is difficult to be achieved.
Your system might not have enough free space to run an HD video. The drivers installed on your computer might be corrupt or outdated. There could be an issue with VLC's coding, output scheme, or any other playback setting. Your system's firmware or any other security app/setting could be blocking VLC's component.
Has VLC changed? ›
VideoLAN is proud to release the new major version of VLC for Android. It comes with new widgets, network media indexation, a better tablet and foldable support, design improvements in the audio screen, improved accessibility and performance improvements. Today, VideoLAN is publishing the 3.0.
How to install VideoLAN VLC Media Player? ›
Install the VLC Media Player in Windows
Click on the orange Download VLC button and select a location where you want the installation file to land. Typically, the default location is set to the Downloads folder. Once the installation file has downloaded, double-click on the file to launch the installation.
Which VLC is safe? ›
VLC Media Player is generally considered safe for PCs and laptops, being open-source and widely used with a solid security reputation. However, for an even safer choice, consider AIX Video Player.
