VLC media player

As evidenced by its name, VLC Media Player is a media playback program with tons of features. The average computer user has run into problems playing certain audio or video files at least once. Many users run into this problem on a regular basis. Unfortunately, downloading individual codecs and formats for these files is a headache. VLC Media Player solves this problem by supporting dozens of common video and audio formats so that users rarely have to worry about whether playback will work or not.

A Simple Program With Loads of Compatibility

When VLC Media Player is launched, users are presented with a basic interface. They'll see a playback window, which is empty if no files are being played. However, various drop down menus hide the program's extra features and customization options. Users either drag and drop files to play them, or they can open files within the program. Playback will begin immediately for compatible files, whether it's audio or video.

The true charm of VLC is the fact that the overwhelming majority of files will play. Its entire point is that all common file formats are supported. For that reason, users should rarely expect to see an error message or experience playback problems. VLC Media Player even supports more obscure audio and video formats, unlike the most popular media players. Plus, new formats are added with each update to ensure smooth playback.

VLC Media Player Offers Features, Features, and More Features

VLC's main feature is its near-complete support for video and audio formats. Then again, the program includes tons of other features for regular users. A handful of streaming services are integrated into VLC Player. Users can access this content with a few clicks, and more streaming channels are added regularly. On top of that, support for Blu Ray and HD DVDs is included, with the latter being unsupported in most players.

Should you download VLC Media Player today?

In many ways, VLC Media Player is the best media player on the market. Users can download the program for Windows computers without paying a dime. A simple user interface and excellent performance are commendable here. Of course, it should be noted competing media players may have more advanced features for editing audio/video files.

Either way, the VLC Player should be considered the go-to solution for video and audio playback. Not all files are encoded using a common format these days. Users won't have to worry about individual codecs while using VLC Media Player. Recommending this particular program is a no-brainer, and most people will use the program from time to time. For some users, VLC Player might be launched every day for playback.

VLC media player is a portable media player and streaming media server for Windows that can support nearly any video or audio format.

VLC media player, which is developed by VideoLAN, has become a standard among Windows users not just because it’s free but because it’s powerful, customizable and, most importantly, easy to use. This player doesn’t have a sharp learning curve when it comes to the basics, but its capabilities are robust, and advanced users who take the time to learn the software will be rewarded.

A big part of what makes VLC so user-friendly is the out-of-the-box codec support. VLC supports practically all major codecs, and the average user won’t ever have to worry about it. Of course, VLC also has access to all of the codecs installed on your system, which means that advanced users can overcome any deficiencies or even override a particular default codec with a preferred option.

VLC is a bit barebones by default, but that’s also kind of the point. This is a streamlined media player and server that does exactly what you expect it to and does it well. VLC does offer support for skins and extensions. Skins or themes can be used to change the visual style or even the UI layout, and you can customize them yourself or download skins created by VideoLAN or the community. Similarly, extensions allow you to add features to the player or server or even change default behavior. As with themes, you can create these yourself or download packages created by the community.

VLC doesn’t just support files but can also access webcams, compact discs, DVDs and even Blu-rays, which many free players don’t support. A big reason VLC has achieved its widespread popularity is the sheer amount of control it gives the user. Select individual audio tracks, select subtitle tracks or override them with your own, manipulate audio levels even beyond standard limits and shift audio timing a little this way or a little that way in order to get everything perfectly in sync. You can even set up VLC to stream your movie or other multimedia collections to other devices throughout your home.