Documentation:Installing VLC

There are VLC binaries available for the many OSes, but not for all supported ones. If there are no binaries for your OS or if you want to change the default settings, you can compile VLC from source.

Windows

95, 98, ME

You can install VLC on Windows 95, 98, or ME operating systems by using KernelEx.

2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10

Recommended

The normal and recommended way to install VLC on a Windows operating system is via the installer package.

Step 0: Download and launch the installer

Download the installer package from the VLC download page for Windows. After you download the installer package, double click on the file to begin the install process. If you're using Windows Vista, 7, 8 or 10 and have UAC (User Account Control) enabled, the operating system may prompt you to grant VLC administrator permissions. Click Yes to continue the installation process.

Step 1: Select an installer language

Before you can continue, you must select the language that you want the installer to use to display information to you. After you select a language, click OK.

Step 2: Review the Welcome screen

The VLC installer recommends that you close all other applications before continuing the installation process. When you're ready to proceed with the installation process, click Next.

Step 3: Read License agreement

Read the Terms of Service. Once you're done reading, click Next.

Step 4: Select components

Use this menu to customize your install. Choose all of the components you wish to install and whether you want VLC to be your default media player or not. Once you are done, click Next.

Step 5: Pick a location

Click Browse... to choose the destination installation folder. After you've identified the desired folder, click Install.

Step 6: Now installing

Wait as VLC is installed on your machine. It shouldn't take too long. Then click "Show details" to see more information about the progress of the installation.

Step 7: Installation complete

Once installation is complete, you may choose to run VLC or read VLC's release notes. Click Finish to complete the installation process and close the installer.

Alternative

If you want to perform an unattended (or silent) installation of VLC, you can do so via a command-line interface. Type in "filename" /L="languagecode" /S. For example, the English installation would look something like vlc-2.0.1-win32.exe /L=1033 /S.

PowerShell

Installing VLC using PowerShell is as easy.

Command Prompt

You can also install VLC using the command prompt.

macOS

1. Download the macOS package from the VLC macOS download page.
2. Double-click on the icon of the package: an icon will appear on your Desktop, right beside your drives.
3. Open it and drag the VLC application from the resulting window to the place where you want to install it (it should be /Applications).

Note: You may need to delete older versions of VLC on your computer before you can successfully install the latest version.

Linux

Debian

From the command line:

# apt-get update
# apt-get install vlc

Or search for vlc with the graphical package manager you like best. It should be in the main Debian repositories.

Debian stable (jessie)

Add the following lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian stable main
deb-src http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian stable main

Then, for a normal install, write the following commands in Terminal:

# apt-get update
# apt-get install vlc libdvdcss2

Debian testing (stretch)

You should not be using Debian testing unless you perfectly know what you are doing. It is almost impossible to support Debian testing and there are no plans to do it.

For more information on Debian testing, please look at the Testing Page.

Debian unstable (sid)

Add the following lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sid main
deb-src http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sid main

Then, for a normal install, write the following commands in Terminal:

# apt-get update
# apt-get install vlc libdvdcss2

Ubuntu

Launch the Ubuntu Software Center and go to All Software → Sound & Video then in search VLC Player. After it will come click on it and it will automatically install

You need to check that a universe mirror is listed in your /etc/apt/sources.list file.

 $ sudo apt-get update
 $ sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-pulse mozilla-plugin-vlc

Red Hat

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Adapted (annotated) from https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-redhat.html:

Red Hat/CentOS/Scientific Linux have almost the same setups (they're all derived from Red Hat). Red Hat and derivatives have different instructions if EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) is not set up. Red Hat Network (RHN) users should verify that they have enabled the optionals and extras channels for RHN subscriptions.

If you want to have DVD playback ability, you will need to install the libdvdcss package too (source).

For the latest version (up to the now-current version 3.0.6) use RPM Fusion, otherwise VLC branches 2.0.x and 2.2.x are available: Red Hat/CentOS/Scientific Linux 7: (vlc-2.2.x – branch available for x86_64 architectures)

$> su -
    #> yum install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-7.noarch.rpm
    #> yum install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/el/rpmfusion-free-release-7.noarch.rpm
    #> yum install vlc
    #> yum install vlc-core             # (for minimal headless/server install)
    #> yum install python-vlc npapi-vlc # (optionals)

Red Hat/CentOS/Scientific Linux 6: (vlc-2.0.x branch – available for i686 and x86_64 architectures)

$> su -
    #> yum install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-6.noarch.rpm
    #> yum install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/el/rpmfusion-free-release-6.noarch.rpm
    #> yum install vlc
    #> yum install vlc-core             # (for minimal headless/server install)
    #> yum install python-vlc npapi-vlc # (optionals)

FreeBSD

Install vlc from the packages collection:

# pkg install vlc

Compile the sources by yourself

For more detailed information on compiling VLC, please see Compile VLC.

This page is part of official VLC media player Documentation (User Guide • Streaming HowTo • Hacker Guide • Modules)
Please read the Documentation Editing Guidelines before you edit the documentation

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.