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 can play almost any kind of media file.
To get started, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install and use a VLC media player on your Mac. If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you’ll also be able to use VLC. Just follow the guide linked to learn how to install VLC on your iOS device.
How to Download the Latest Version of VLC for Mac
The first step in installing VLC Media Player for 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. Launch Safari or Chrome browser and go to the official website of VLC Media Player.
2. Find and click the drop-down symbol next to Download VLC.
3. Once you click the drop-down menu, choose macOS from the prompted options. It will show options like –
- VLC for Macs with Intel processors
- VLC for Macs with Apple Silicon Chips
- VLC for Mac (Universal Binary).
4. As soon as you click on macOS, you’ll be redirected to a new page saying ‘Downloading VLC 3.0.20 for macOS’ and the download of the VLC media player will begin.
How to Install VLC Media Player for Mac
Once the download is complete, it’s time to install VLC on your Mac. For that, you can follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Click the Downloads symbol in the upper right corner and find the VLC Media Player downloaded file from the Recent Download History.
2. Double-click on the downloaded files.
3. Now, a new screen will prompt. Drag the VLC Media Player icon into the Applications folder to install it.
4. VLC will start copying in Applications. The installation process may take some time to complete. Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message.
5. Now, launch Finder on your Mac, go to Applications, and find VLC from the list of Applications in the left side panel.
6. Double-click on the VLC icon. A confirmation popup will prompt, asking if you downloaded VLC from the Internet and if you want to open it.
7. Here, click on the Open button to continue.
8. The following screen will prompt, you to select ‘Check for album art and metadata.’ proceed by clicking the No, Thanks button.
9. Finally, you’ll get the VLC Media Player application on your macOS. Now, you’re ready to use VLC Media Player on your Mac.
These are the basic steps for installing the VLC Media Player for Mac. With this powerful media player installed on your Mac, you’ll never have to worry about not being able to play certain media files again.
How to Make VLC the Default Video Player on Mac
QuickTime is the default video player for Mac, serving as a built-in tool that supports basic video functionalities for regular Mac 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 the steps mentioned below:
1. Launch Dock on your Mac.
2. Go to Downloads and find the video you want to play on VLC.
3. To change the default media player to VLC. Right-click on the video and choose Get Info when the menu prompts.
4. Expand Open with: option in the new window.
5. Click the dropdown icon next to QuickTime Player. It will display the active default player along with any other installed video players accessible on your Mac.
6. Find VLC Media Player from the options prompt and click on it. After that, click the Change All… button to make VLC the default media player.
7. However, if you don’t find VLC there, click Other…
8. It will open the application list. Here, look for the VLC and click on the VLC icon.
9. Then, click on the Add button.
10. Finally, click the Change All… button to change the default media player from QuickTime Player to VLC.
11. A prompt will appear. Select Continue to apply the changes.
Note
It is worth noting that different types of video files may be associated with different default video players. So, if you want to change the default player for multiple types of video files, you may need to repeat the above steps for each file type.
How to Update VLC on macOS
If you’re a macOS user wondering how to update VLC Media Player, we’ve got you covered with the process of updating VLC on macOS.
1. Open the VLC app on your macOS.
2. Click on the VLC Media Player tab in the top menu.
3. Then, click on the Check for updates option.
4. If there is an update available, you can follow the on-screen installation process for macOS.
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. After moving VLC to the Bin, open it and click on Empty to completely remove it from your system.
Conclusion
That’s it; this is how you can install and set VLC as the default media player on a Mac, providing you with enhanced features for your multimedia experience. Now, whether it’s videos or audio files, they will seamlessly open in the selected default app.
If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.
