VLC Media Player Download: Get the Official Free Player

The only official source is videolan.org/vlc. The page detects your system and offers the matching installer, and an "Other Systems" menu lists every platform. Downloads are served from VideoLAN's own mirror network. VideoLAN also links its official app store listings, such as the Microsoft Store version for Windows and the Google Play and App Store apps for phones and tablets.

VideoLAN describes VLC as completely free, with no spyware, no ads and no user tracking. There is no paid or "Pro" desktop edition. If a site offers "VLC Pro", charges for VLC, or makes you install a downloader first, leave it.

At the time of writing the current desktop release is VLC 3.0.24. The main options are:

• Windows 64-bit: the right choice for nearly every Windows 11 and Windows 10 PC.
• Windows 32-bit: for older 32-bit Windows installations. VideoLAN says VLC runs on every version from Windows XP SP3 to the latest Windows 11.
• Windows ARM64: for Windows on ARM laptops.
• Zip, 7z and MSI packages: listed on the Windows page for portable use or managed installs. Most home users should take the normal installer.
• macOS: a Universal build plus separate Apple Silicon and Intel downloads. The macOS page states that VLC needs Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later on a Mac with a 64-bit Intel processor or an Apple Silicon chip.
• Linux: install through your distribution. The VLC site has instructions for Debian, Ubuntu (snap), Fedora, Arch, openSUSE and others.

Unsure whether your Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit? Our 32-bit vs 64-bit guide shows where to check in Settings.

1. Go to videolan.org/vlc and click Download VLC, or open the Windows or macOS page for a specific build.
2. On Windows, run the installer, pick your language and keep the default components unless you have a reason to change them.
3. The setup lets you choose file associations. Leave them ticked if you want VLC to open your videos and music by default; you can change this later in Windows Settings under Default apps.
4. On macOS, open the .dmg file and drag VLC into the Applications folder.
5. Launch VLC once. On first start it asks whether it may check for updates and fetch metadata online; choose what you are comfortable with.

A genuine VLC installer contains no offers for other software. If you see extra toolbars or "recommended" apps during setup, cancel and start again from the official site.

VLC works well out of the box, but a few features are easy to miss:

• Subtitles: drop a subtitle file onto the video window, or use Subtitle, Add Subtitle File. VLC picks up a subtitle with the same name as the video automatically.
• Playback speed: Playback, Speed lets you speed up lectures or slow down tutorials.
• Convert / Save: under the Media menu, VLC can convert a file to another format for a phone or older device. For heavy conversion work, a dedicated tool from our video converter guide gives more control.
• Network streams: Media, Open Network Stream plays a direct stream address, which is handy for internet radio.
• Audio only: VLC is also a capable music player, though a library-focused app from our music player guide is better for large collections.

If you record your own screen with OBS Studio, VLC is a quick way to check the finished file before you edit it.

Media players read files from many sources, so updates that fix security issues matter. In VLC, Help, Check for Updates (on Windows) compares your copy with the latest release, or you can simply download the current installer from videolan.org and install it over the old one.

If a video stutters, try turning hardware-accelerated decoding on or off under Tools, Preferences, Input / Codecs, and make sure your graphics driver is current from the GPU maker's website. If a file will not play at all, it may be incomplete or damaged; our guide to the unsupported file format error covers the usual causes.

The genuine VLC media player is safe and open source, and its code is public for anyone to review. The danger is in imitations: look-alike sites in search ads, "VLC codec pack" installers, and download portals that wrap VLC in their own setup with adware. Remember that VLC does not need extra codec packs, so any page telling you to install one to play a video is a red flag.

Type videolan.org yourself, check that the installer's file name and size match the official page, and scan anything you are unsure about. Our guides on avoiding fake download buttons and verifying downloaded files explain both steps.