- Softonic rating:
- Essential10/10
- License:
- Free (GPL)
- Added:
- January 1, 2000
- Updated:
- March 1, 2010
- Publisher:
- Videolan
- File size:
- 20.0 MB
- Downloads:
- 8,639,033
- DownloadFree
“Simple and versatile multi-format media player”
by Jon Riggall
Finally in its 1.0 release, VLC Media Player is simply the most stable, flexible and lightweight audio and video players around today. While other media players will play unusual formats after downloading a codec, or simply refuse to play things, VLC will not complain. In addition to this, you can also use it to preview files you are downloading, because it will play parts of files. It takes no time to start up either, so opening it up to preview something is no trouble at all.
VLC Media Player has great hotkey support, if you take the time to learn the shortcuts, so can be controlled without touching your mouse. The interface is functional, but by no means attractive. If you're watching DVDs or video files through it, this is not an issue. For music, it plays more or less any file and features an equalizer and playlist creation. It isn't as intuitive as iTunes as a media manager, but it's a much more flexible player in terms of file formats.
For video, VLC Media Player is the best application you will find. It's minimal interface is great for viewing, it's got excellent tools for effects, and doing things like adding subtitles is easy.
Languages:
English
VLC Media Player supports the following formats:
MKV, WMV, MPEG, MP4, MOV, AVI, DIVX, XVID, FLV, FLAC, WAV, REAL plus many more
Recent changes in VLC Media Player:
- SubRip extra styles improvements
- Fix potential crashes in SSA and svg decoders
- Use of gcc 4.4.2 to compile instead of gcc 4.2. This might slightly increase performance and fix x264 issues
- Updated translations
- New translations: Malayalam, Macedoninan, Nynorsk
OS requirements for VLC Media Player:
- OS: WinMe/2000/NT/XP/2003/Vista/7

- Supports a wide range of formats
- Good hotkey support
- Interface isn't attractive
Featured program
Softonic gives special recognition to software of exceptionally high quality. More information
VLC Media Player screenshots
Previous versions of VLC Media Player
-
EnglishFree (GPL)
-
EnglishFree (GPL)
-
EnglishFree (GPL)
-
EnglishFree
-
EnglishFree
Posts about VLC Media Player in our blog
- New features in VLC media player 1.0 by Elena Santos
- How to watch WMV files on Mac by Nicholas Mead
- 2008 top lists round-up by Elena Santos
Sponsored Links
User opinions about VLC Media Player (58)
Sort user reviews by:
Programs similar to VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player options
Reviews for VLC Media Player in other languages
- VLC Media Player (Opinião do editor em português)
- VLC Media Player (Testbericht auf Deutsch)
- VLC Media Player (Análisis en español)
- VLC Media Player (Le test en français)
- VLC Media Player (Recensione in italiano)
- VLC Media Player (Recenzja po polsku)
- VLC Media Player 媒体播放器 (中文的评测)
VLC Media Player in other platforms
- VLC Media Player (Mac)
User Rating
576 ratings- Usability
-
- Currently 9/10.
- Stability
-
- Currently 9/10.
- Installation
-
- Currently 9/10.
- Functionality
-
- Currently 9/10.
- Appearance
-
- Currently 8/10.
Highest user ratings
- 1. SPlayer
- 2. KMPlayer
- 3. Windows Media Player
- 4. GOM Player
- 5. VLC Media Player





A Great Media Player, But...
VLC makes an excellent media player, in all respects - and it's free. The only thing I don't like was that the download site, softonic.com, attempted to sell me a "faster download route" for 2.99. ... read more
VLC very kool
VLC is a very useful media player,it has one really outstanding feature,it can repair failed downloads,this i find is the best! you can disable subtiles,it has a equallizer,and much more.... read more
One of the BEST media players available!
VLC is a great media player! Easy to use, easy to install, and a great GUI! Not only should it be a part of every Windows system user's collection of software, but it is available for distribution ... read more
Problem with Quicktime movies
about VLC Media Player - 04 Jul 2009This media player has much better video rendering, contrast and colors when playing Quicktime movies than Quicktime player itself, but sadly, plays no audios on those movies since the last 2 years ... read more
CAREFUL with the FREE Download
about VLC Media Player - 17 Feb 2010I have used 2 older versions of VLC for a while now and I am very happy with it, BUT although I had never problems with software downloaded from links posted in SOFTONIC, the link to the FREE DOWNL... read more
Download VLC Media Player