VLC Media Player for Windows 11 & 10: Download, Features & Review

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Vlc media player on windows install guide cover

VLC Media Player is a free, open-source media player known for its ability to play virtually any video or audio file without installing extra codec packs.
Unlike Windows 11’s built-in Media Player, which may struggle with specific formats like MKV or older AVI files, VLC includes all necessary playback codecs natively.

This guide covers everything you need to know about VLC: safe download instructions, how it compares to Windows default tools, advanced features like video conversion and network streaming, keyboard shortcuts, and troubleshooting common issues.

Visit Official VideoLAN Site
Free and Open Source (GPL License)

Cost
Free (No Ads)

Codec Support
Universal

Extra Features
Converter / Streaming

Platforms
Win, Mac, Linux

Table of Contents

📋 System Requirements

Operating System

Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (32/64-bit)

RAM

512 MB minimum (2 GB+ for 4K)

Storage

~150 MB for installation

How to Download and Install VLC Safely

⚠️ Important: Always download VLC from VideoLAN.org. Many unofficial sites bundle the player with adware or unnecessary toolbars.

Get the Official Installer

Navigate to the official VideoLAN website. The site will automatically detect your version of Windows (64-bit is standard for Windows 10 and 11).

Select Components

During installation, you can choose components. We recommend keeping “Web Plugins” unchecked unless specifically needed, but keep “File Type Associations” checked for the best experience.

Set as Default Player (Optional)

Windows 11 may keep the native Media Player as default. To change this, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, search for “VLC,” and set it as the default for .MP4 and .MKV files.

Download VLC (Official)

Version 3.0.21 for Windows 64-bit

Beginner’s Tutorial: Getting Started with VLC

New to VLC? This video tutorial covers the basics of playing videos, using keyboard shortcuts, adjusting playback settings, and exploring advanced features.

📚 What You’ll Learn:

Basic playback controls and navigation
Essential keyboard shortcuts for efficient viewing
How to load and sync external subtitle files
Adjusting audio and video settings
Using playlists and managing media libraries

VLC Interface Screenshots

Here’s a visual overview of VLC’s interface and key features to help you understand how the player works.

VLC vs. Windows Media Player: Key Differences

Windows 11 introduced a redesigned Media Player that is significantly better than the legacy version, but it still lacks the extensive codec support and features found in VLC.

Feature	VLC Media Player	Windows 11 Media Player
Codec Support	Plays almost everything (MKV, HEVC, FLV, AVI)	Good, but often requires paid HEVC extension
Volume Control	Up to 200% (boost)	Standard 100%
Subtitle Support	Advanced (sync, styling, external files)	Basic external support
Network Streaming	Yes (IPTV, NAS, Network URLs)	Limited (DLNA mainly)
Video Conversion	Built-in converter	No
Customization	Highly customizable (skins, extensions)	Matches Windows 11 theme

Understanding the Differences:

Windows 11 Media Player works well for common video formats and integrates smoothly with the Windows interface. VLC becomes essential when you need to play unusual file formats, work with network streams, convert videos, or require advanced subtitle controls. Both are free, so many users keep both installed for different purposes.

Essential VLC Keyboard Shortcuts

Master these shortcuts to navigate videos faster and control playback without touching your mouse.

Action	Shortcut
Play / Pause	`Space`
Fullscreen Toggle	`F`
Volume Up / Down	`Ctrl + ↑ / ↓`
Mute Audio	`M`
Skip Forward 10 sec	`Alt + →`
Skip Back 10 sec	`Alt + ←`
Speed Up Playback	`]`
Slow Down Playback	`[`
Next / Previous in Playlist	`N` / `P`
Take Screenshot	`Shift + S`

Advanced Features You Might Not Know

🔄 Convert Video and Audio

You don’t need a separate converter. Go to Media > Convert / Save to change video formats (e.g., MKV to MP4) or extract audio (MP3) from a video file.

🔊 Audio Normalization

If a movie has quiet dialogue but loud explosions, use the built-in Compressor. Go to Tools > Effects and Filters > Audio > Compressor to balance the volume levels.

🌐 Stream from Network Sources

VLC can play streams from network sources, including IPTV, NAS drives, and some online video URLs. Go to Media > Open Network Stream and paste the stream URL. Great for playing media stored on a home server.

⏺️ Record Your Screen

VLC can function as a basic screen recorder. Select Media > Open Capture Device and choose “Desktop” as the capture mode to record your screen activity.

📸 Frame-by-Frame Viewing

Press E to advance the video one frame at a time. Perfect for analyzing specific moments, creating thumbnails, or studying cinematography.

🎨 Video Effects and Filters

Apply real-time effects like rotation, color adjustment, cropping, and mirroring. Access via Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects for creative viewing or fixing improperly oriented videos.

Common Issues and Fixes

VLC video is choppy or lagging

Go to Tools > Preferences > Video and change the output module from “Automatic” to “DirectX (DirectDraw) video output” or “OpenGL video output.” Also try disabling hardware decoding under Input/Codecs > Hardware-accelerated decoding if your GPU drivers are outdated.

No audio in VLC

Check Audio > Audio Track to ensure a track is selected. If that doesn’t work, go to Tools > Preferences > Audio and set the output module to “Windows Multimedia Device Output.” Click “Reset Preferences” if issues persist.

Subtitles not showing

Ensure subtitles are enabled via Subtitle > Sub Track. For external subtitle files (.srt, .ass), they must be in the same folder as the video and ideally have the same filename. You can also drag and drop subtitle files directly onto the VLC window.

VLC crashes on startup

Delete VLC’s configuration folder to reset all settings. Press Win + R, type %APPDATA%\vlc and press Enter. Delete the entire vlc folder. Then restart VLC and it will regenerate fresh settings.

Audio and video are out of sync

While playing the video, press J to delay audio or K to speed it up. Each press adjusts by 50 milliseconds. You can also set a permanent adjustment in Tools > Track Synchronization.

Video plays too dark or colors look wrong

Go to Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects > Essential and adjust Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Gamma until the image looks correct. You can save these settings as a preset for future use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VLC completely free?

Yes. VLC is free and open-source software (FOSS) licensed under GPL. There are no paid “pro” versions, no subscription fees, and importantly, no advertisements within the player.

Does VLC play Blu-ray discs?

It can, but it requires some setup. Because Blu-ray discs are encrypted, you must download a specific keys database (KEYDB.cfg) and a dynamic library file (libaacs.dll) to play commercial discs. Out of the box, it does not play encrypted Blu-rays.

Is VLC safe to install?

VLC itself is extremely safe and open-source. However, because it is popular, many fake websites try to trick users into downloading “VLC” bundles that contain malware. Always download directly from VideoLAN.org.

Can I customize how VLC looks?

Yes. VLC supports “skins” which can completely change the interface. You can download skins from the official VideoLAN website. Note that skins mostly work on the standard Windows version, not the UWP (Windows Store) app version.

Should I install VLC from the Microsoft Store or the website?

Both are safe. The Microsoft Store version updates automatically and runs in a sandbox for extra security. However, the desktop version from VideoLAN.org offers more features, including full skin support and some advanced options not available in the Store version. For most users, either is fine.

Can VLC play damaged or incomplete video files?

Yes, often VLC can play partially downloaded or corrupted video files that other players cannot. It attempts to rebuild the index and skip damaged sections. While not perfect, it’s one of the most resilient media players for problematic files.

Does VLC collect my data or track my viewing?

No. VLC is open-source and does not collect any user data, track what you watch, or send telemetry back to servers. It operates entirely offline once installed. You can verify this by examining the source code, which is publicly available.

What video formats does VLC support?

VLC supports virtually all common and uncommon formats including MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, FLV, WEBM, MPEG, 3GP, OGG, and many more. For audio, it handles MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, WMA, and others. If a media file exists, VLC can probably play it.