VLC Media Player for MAC
The free, open-source player for almost any video or audio file on your Mac.
VLC Media Player Overview
VLC media player is the free, open-source media player for Mac that plays almost anything you give it. Movies, music, DVDs, audio CDs and live streams all open in the same window, without hunting for codec packs or paying for add-ons. It is made by VideoLAN, a non-profit organisation, and in VideoLAN's own words it has no spyware, no ads and no user tracking.
The Mac version is a Universal app, so it runs natively on both Apple Silicon and 64-bit Intel Macs, and the current release still supports Macs as old as Mac OS X 10.7.5. If a file will not open in QuickTime Player, VLC is usually the quickest fix, which is why it is one of the first apps many people install on a new Mac.
Key Features
VLC reads almost every common video and audio format without extra downloads. That includes MKV (Matroska), MP4 and MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, OGG and MPEG files, with video codecs such as H.264, MPEG-4, DivX, Xvid and VC-1, and audio in MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, Vorbis, AC3, DTS and WMA.
- Discs and streams: plays DVDs, video CDs and audio CDs, network streams over HTTP, UDP and RTP, and webcams or other capture devices.
- Subtitles: loads SubRip (SRT), SSA, MicroDVD, VobSub and closed captions, lets you choose between subtitle tracks and shift their timing when they are out of sync.
- Fast playback: uses your Mac's hardware video decoder when it can, and falls back to software decoding when it has to, which keeps high-resolution video smooth.
- Full control: change playback speed, switch audio tracks, apply video and audio filters, adjust sound with the equalizer and take snapshots of any frame.
- Convert and stream: save media to other formats, or stream it to other devices on your network.
What’s New in Version 3.0.24
VLC 3.0.24 is a major security update.
- Over 130 security fixes across VLC and its bundled libraries
- FFmpeg updated from version 4.4 to 8.1.2, along with 49 other third-party libraries
- New ATRAC audio decoding
- CEA-708 closed captions in MP4 files
- SRT listener mode for streaming
- Fixes a crash when playing MIDI files on macOS 26 and later
VLC Media Player FAQ
Is VLC media player free for Mac?
Yes. VLC media player is free and open source, released under the GPL-2.0-or-later license. It has no ads, no tracking and no in-app purchases.
Does VLC run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. The Mac version of VLC is a Universal app, so it runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs and on 64-bit Intel Macs.
Which macOS version does VLC need?
VLC 3.0.24 needs Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later, so it also works on many older Macs.
Can VLC play MKV files and DVDs on a Mac?
Yes. VLC plays almost every video and audio format, including MKV, MP4, AVI and FLAC, and it opens DVDs, audio CDs and network streams without extra codec packs.
Is VLC safe to install on a Mac?
Yes, when you download it from VideoLAN's official website, which is where the download button on this page leads. VLC is open source, VideoLAN states that it has no spyware, ads or user tracking, and version 3.0.24 includes over 130 security fixes, so keeping it up to date matters.
Can VLC play 4K video on a Mac?
Yes. VLC plays high-resolution video, including 4K, and uses your Mac's hardware video decoder when it can, which keeps playback smooth.
How do I add subtitles to a video in VLC on Mac?
Give the subtitle file (for example an .srt file) the same name as the video and keep it in the same folder, and VLC loads it automatically. You can also drag the subtitle file onto the playing video.
How do I make VLC the default video player on Mac?
In Finder, select a video file such as an MKV or MP4, press Command-I (or choose File, then Get Info), choose VLC under "Open with", then click Change All and Continue. Every file of that type will then open in VLC. Repeat this for other file types, such as AVI.
How do I update VLC on my Mac?
Download the latest version from VideoLAN's official Mac download page and replace the old copy in your Applications folder. Your settings are kept.
Where does the VLC download on vlc.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to VideoLAN's official Mac download page at https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html. vlc.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the installer.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.