Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' note: The VLC Media Player source code is also available.
CNET Editors' review
What's the top media player? Opinions differ, but if you mean one that's open-source freeware, plays more files than the others, can be totally customized and configured to suit, and is not only updated frequently but also regularly offers new features and options created by a huge community of programmers and users, the answer is VLC Media Player.
Our default media player for years, VLC has managed to stay ahead of the competition in features and performance, if not always looks, though that's easy enough to fix if you want to. VLC and its source code are maintained by the all-volunteer VideoLAN Organization.
VLC is quick and easy to install. You can make VLC your default media player for various (or all) file types, but if you just want to try VLC without giving up your current player, you can skip the file associations. We clicked the familiar orange-and-white traffic cone icon to open VLC's famously plain interface, which is also a model of efficient layout design (and completely customizable, in any case: clicking the skinned player option in VideoLAN's Start Menu folder opens VLC in a sleek new view).
Effects? VLC has 'em: Audio, Video, and Synchronization effects, including a graphic equalizer with many presets; totally customizable dynamic range compression; an audio spatializer tool; AtmoLight video effects; interactive zoom; logos and overlays; and even special effects like blur, wave, water, and mirror effects. VLC's minimized interface hides the player's controls until you need them, and a raft of hot keys make it easy to toggle between views and to quickly access any of VLC's features. Playback quality is as good as it gets. We've used VLC to play MP3s, WAVs, CDs, DVDs, Flash video, and other formats. As for support, few programs of any sort can match VLC's Help files and wikis, and its dedicated community of users, forums and other online resources.
From myriad file types to playlists to codecs and video capture, if it's useful to have in a media player, VLC has probably got it or soon will. VLC plays everything: if there's a media file it can't play but should, just ask!
VLC Media Player:Publisher's Description
From VideoLAN Project:
VLC (initially VideoLAN Client) is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, MP3, and OGG, as well as for DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It also can be used as a server for unicast or multicast streams in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network.
What's new in this version:
- Fix video output for old graphic cards on Windows XP, which are using DirectX
- Translations updates and new Scottish Gaelic translation
- Fixes for splitted RAR, MKV segmented, mp4 and Real media files playback
- Rewrite of the Digital TV module on Windows
- Enhancements in HLS, Blu-Ray and various codecs support
- Fixes for subtitles auto-detection
- Fixes on Qt, skins2 and web interfaces
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 3,440 votes
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Current version:
3.3 starsout of 10 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-10 of 10
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"One of the Best player around"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
The newest version seemed to be more feature loaded but still of very high quality.
Cons
Options could be more simplified for easy and faster access.
Summary
As with all free softwares, free toolbar or change to homepage or other free offers can be disallowed by un-ticking the boxes shown during installation.
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"good player but"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
plays everything i need it to
Cons
mine was bundled with all kinds of crap
Summary
ran malwarebytes after install and got 96 results just from this download,was able to get 94 off but 2 keeps coming back.
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"Commercialism killed old faithful"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
It's VLC. The usual VLC player. What's the worst that could come with it?
Cons
A: Botload of unwanted programs if downloaded from cnet. Player is slower than the previous 1.xx versions. Still breaks my queued music (i.e. cannot play series of music for about an hour.)
Summary
I'll just wait for the next update of VLC. I hope they fix these bugs on the next update.
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"dont have those add ones mentioned"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
easy installation,works ok
Cons
sometimes slow to respond
Summary
i downloaded it from videolan and no add ones were asked or appeard. it is a problem of cnet
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"Comes bundled with a ton of unwanted stuff"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
I have no idea.
Cons
Came bundled with FunMood, IWantThis, and I have no idea what else. I'm still trying to pick the junk out of the computer.
No, I didn't say I wanted any of the addons! -
"Great Player"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
Plays about everything you throw at it unlike WMP. Great alternative player to the windows media player.
Cons
A bit slow starting up but apart from that nothing else really wrong with it.
Summary
Great player for movies and mp3's. Recommend it to anyone.
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"VLC- The Best Player by Far"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
It plays almost anything and with the BEST video and audio results. I have tried many Players and this one is the most efficient.
Cons
I wish I could use it to store all my audio and Video as a library.
Summary
It is my Default Player and beats all the rest, hands down.
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"BEST PART IT'S AN OPEN SOURCE"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
Functioning very sufficiently.
Cons
almost plays every extension files.
Summary
It's very user-friendly to use. Not too much annoying compare to other players available love it. but not like iTunes.
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"Full of Hard-to-Remove Trash!"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
None that I've seen yet
Cons
Opted out of all the Spy and Spam Add-ons, still installed them.
Fun Moods took over as my FireFox homepage! Took 20 minutes/more to strip out the extras!
Shame On You VLC !!!!Summary
Be Prepared for Battle with this One!
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"OK -- overhyped"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.2
Pros
plays most files with no problem
Cons
sound quality is not great, just okay
crashes sometimes
too many menus and optionsSummary
Yes VLC can play most files, but nowadays most media players can do this. VLC has always been overhyped for what it does in comparison to other players. The sound is not as good as other players. It is also buggy and always has been.
Results 1-10 of 10
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