Are you a Mac user who’s been having trouble playing certain video and audio files? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that VLC Media Player can help. This free, open-source media player is available for Mac and all major operating systems, and it can play almost any type of media file.
To get started, here’s a guide on how to install and use VLC Media Player on your Mac. If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you can also use VLC on those devices. Just follow the linked guide to learn how to install VLC on iPhone and iPad.
How to Download the Latest Version of VLC for Mac
The first step in installing VLC Media Player on your Mac is to download the latest version of the software. To do this, open any browser on your Mac, visit videolan.org, and download VLC Media Player. Alternatively, follow the steps below:
1. Open any browser and go to the official website of VLC Media Player.
2. Find and click the drop-down arrow next to Download VLC.
3. Once you click the drop-down menu, choose your macOS system type from the available options. For Intel-based Macs, select macOS, and for Apple Silicon Macs, select macOS (Apple Silicon).
4. It will redirect you to the download page to download VLC for macOS. Wait for the download process to complete.
How to Install VLC Media Player for Mac
Once the download is complete, it’s time to install VLC on your Mac. Follow the steps below:
1. Click the Downloads icon in the upper-right corner and locate the VLC Media Player file in the Recent Downloads list.
2. Double-click the downloaded file.
3. A new window will appear. Drag the VLC Media Player icon into the Applications folder to install it.
4. VLC will begin copying into the Applications folder. The installation process may take a few moments. Once completed, the installation will be finished.
5. Now launch Finder on your Mac, go to Applications, and find VLC in the Applications list.
6. Double-click the VLC icon. A confirmation pop-up will appear asking if you downloaded VLC from the Internet and whether you want to open it.
7. Click Open to continue.
8. You may see a screen asking whether you want to Check for album art and metadata. You can proceed by clicking No, Thanks.
9. Finally, the VLC Media Player application will open on your macOS. You’re now ready to use VLC on your Mac.
These are the basic steps to install VLC Media Player on Mac. With this powerful media player installed, you’ll never have to worry about being unable to play certain media files again.
How to Make VLC the Default Video Player on Mac
QuickTime Player is the default video player on Mac and serves as a built-in tool that supports basic video playback for most users. However, if you want more advanced features, you can set VLC Media Player as the default player.
To change the default media player to VLC on macOS, follow these steps:
1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Navigate to the folder where your video file is located.
3. Right-click the video file and select Get Info.
4. In the new window, expand the Open with: section.
5. Click the drop-down menu next to QuickTime Player. This will show the current default player and other installed media players on your Mac.
6. Select VLC Media Player from the list and click Change All… to make VLC the default media player.
7. If you do not see VLC in the list, click Other…
8. This will open the Applications list. Locate VLC Media Player and select it.
9. Click Add.
10. Finally, click Change All… to replace QuickTime Player with VLC as the default media player.
11. When prompted, click Continue to confirm the changes.
Keep in mind that different video file types may use different default players. If you want VLC Media Player to open multiple file formats, you may need to repeat these steps for each file type.
How to Update VLC on macOS
If you want to update VLC Media Player on macOS, follow these steps:
1. Open the VLC Media Player app.
2. Click VLC Media Player in the top menu bar.
3. Select Check for Updates.
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version.
How to Uninstall VLC Media Player on macOS
However, there may be various reasons why you would want to uninstall VLC Media Player from your computer. Maybe you want to free up space on your hard drive, or perhaps you’ve found a better media player you would like to use instead.
Regardless of the reason, uninstalling VLC Media Player from your computer is a simple process. However, many users have not been able to completely remove the player.
Here are the steps you can follow to uninstall VLC Media Player on macOS:
1. Open the Finder application.
2. Navigate to the Applications folder.
3. You will see a list of applications installed on your macOS. To uninstall VLC Media Player from your system, drag the VLC icon to the Bin.
4. Open the Trash and click Empty to permanently remove VLC from your system.
Wrapping Up
That’s it! This is how you can install VLC and set it as the default media player on your Mac. With VLC as your primary media player, you’ll enjoy better compatibility and advanced features for playing both video and audio files. Now, whenever you open a media file, it will seamlessly play in your selected default app.
