VLC media player is a free, open-source multimedia player developed by the VideoLAN project that plays virtually any audio or video format without requiring additional codecs. With over 3 billion downloads, VLC has become the most popular media player worldwide, trusted for its reliability, features, and commitment to user privacy.
VLC plays files, discs, webcams, devices, and streams. Supported formats include MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9, AV1, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3, AAC, FLAC, and hundreds more. DVD, Blu-ray, and Audio CD playback comes built-in with full menu navigation support.
Advanced features include video and audio filters, subtitle synchronization, and playback speed adjustment. The equalizer provides audio customization while video adjustments handle brightness, contrast, saturation, and color. Picture-in-picture mode enables watching videos while using other applications.
VLC functions as a streaming media server, broadcasting to local networks or the internet. It plays network streams from HTTP, HTTPS, RTSP, MMS, and other protocols. YouTube and other streaming site URLs play directly within VLC using appropriate plugins.
The interface is customizable with skins and supports keyboard shortcuts for efficient control. Extensions add features like downloading subtitles, scrobbling to Last.fm, and enhanced playlist management. VLC includes no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. Hardware acceleration leverages GPU decoding for efficient playback on laptops and older computers, reducing CPU usage and extending battery life.