On Windows, we have a default media player to play audio and video on Windows operating system. However, we VLC fans want to use VLC Media Player as the default media player on Windows computers and laptops – as it is one of the most popular media players for all operating systems and has codecs that support almost all types of media files.
Here is a complete guide on – how to make the VLC the default media player on the Windows operating system. You just need to download and install VLC on Windows and then change the settings to make it the default app for media.
How to Make VLC the Default Media Player in Windows
We have two different methods to change the default media player on Windows. Here we will discuss them one by one. Changing the default settings for all the media formats, and another by changing the default app while opening a media file.
1. Choosing Default Apps by File Type
Setting VLC Media Player as the default media player on Windows has many advantages. For instance, it saves time because you don’t have to manually select VLC every time you want to play a media file. Moreover, the VLC media player supports various codecs and file formats, making it versatile and flexible.
Here are the steps you can follow to make VLC the default media player:
1. Click on the Start Menu and open Settings.
2. The settings windows will appear. Here, click on the Apps tab from the left panel and then select the Default Apps options present to the right of your screen.
3. On the Set Defaults for Application search box, search for VLC Media Player and select it.
4. You’ll see a list of media-related files with their current associated app.
5. In Windows 11, you can’t simply change your default media player with a single click. You have to change the assigned media player for every specific file type.
6. For that, select each and every file type and change the currently associated app to VLC Media Player.
7. Then click on the Set Default button.
That’s it! Now, the VLC Media Player will be your default media player for the file types you have selected. Whenever you double-click on a file with that extension, VLC will automatically open and play the file.
2. Changing the Default App while Opening a File
You can also use the below steps to set VLC as the default media player using the Open with option if you don’t want to change manually all the file types associated app to VLC.
Here are the steps you can follow to change it:
1. Right-click on the media that you want to open in VLC.
2. Then from the context menu, select the Open With option and click on the Choose another app option from the menu that appears.
3. Select VLC Media Player from the available options and click the Always button. By following; these easy steps, you can set VLC as the default app for the chosen file types.
Conclusion
That’s it; this is how you can make VLC your default media player on the Windows operating system. However, if you are looking to fix the VLC no sound issue, then you can check out our guide on how to fix VLC no sound on Windows 11.
I hope you find this guide helpful. If you liked the article, share it with your friends. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to write them in the comment section below. I will surely reply to you.
