You probably use VLC Media Player just to play videos—but it’s capable of way more than that. Underneath its simple interface is a powerful media toolkit loaded with hidden features.
Here are 9 easy VLC tricks that can instantly improve how you watch, convert, and control your media.
1. Convert Video and Audio Files
VLC can convert media files into different formats without needing a separate app.
- Open VLC
- Go to Media > Convert / Save
- Add your file, click Convert / Save, choose format, hit Start
You can convert videos to MP4, MP3, AVI, and more—super handy for quick format changes.
2. Record Your Screen
Need to make a tutorial or capture gameplay? VLC can do that too.
- Go to Media > Open Capture Device
- Set Capture mode to Desktop
- Choose frame rate (20–30 for smoother video), then click Convert / Save to start recording
3. Add Subtitles Automatically
VLC can fetch subtitles with the help of a plugin.
- Install VLSub (built-in in some versions)
- Go to View > VLSub
- Search by movie name and download matching subtitles instantly
4. Play YouTube Videos Without Ads
Paste YouTube URLs directly into VLC:
- Go to Media > Open Network Stream
- Paste the video URL and click Play
The video plays without browser distractions or ads.
5. Take Snapshots of Your Videos
Want to grab a quick still image?
- While playing a video, press Shift + S (Windows/Linux) or Command + Alt + S (Mac)
- Snapshots are saved to your Pictures folder
6. Adjust Playback Speed
Slow things down or speed them up:
- Press [`] to slow down, [+] to speed up
- Or go to Playback > Speed for more control
Great for tutorials, lectures, or rewatching key scenes.
7. Stream Media Over a Network
You can use VLC to stream videos over your local network:
- Go to Media > Stream
- Add your file, click Stream, then configure your stream output (e.g., HTTP or RTP)
Perfect for sharing a movie to another device on your Wi-Fi.
8. Use VLC as a Video Wallpaper
Make any video your desktop wallpaper:
- Play a video
- Right-click on the video, go to Video > Set as Wallpaper
Note: This works on Windows only and might not play nice with all desktops.
9. Customize VLC With Extensions and Skins
Head to VLC’s Addons page to install:
- Skins to change VLC’s appearance
- Extensions for lyrics, metadata, and more
- Interfaces for advanced controls
VLC isn’t just functional—it can look and feel the way you want.
Final Thoughts
VLC Media Player is more than just a video player. With just a few tweaks and tricks, you can turn it into a conversion tool, streaming server, screen recorder, and more. Best of all? It’s free, open-source, and works on just about every platform.
Try one or two of these tricks and you’ll see why VLC is still one of the most powerful tools in your software kit.
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