How to Set VLC as Your Default Media Player on Windows and macOS

VLC Media Player is a free and open-source, portable, cross-platform media player software and streaming media server developed by the VideoLAN project. VLC is available for desktop operating systems and mobile platforms, such as Android, iOS, iPadOS, and Windows Phone. VLC is a feature-rich player that can handle a wide variety of audio and video formats, making it a popular choice for many users. If you prefer VLC over other media players that came pre-installed with your operating system, you can set it as your default media player. This means that whenever you double-click a media file, VLC will automatically open and play it. This article will guide you through the process of setting VLC as your default media player on both Windows and macOS.

## Why Choose VLC Media Player?

Before we dive into the instructions, let’s briefly explore why you might want to make VLC your default media player:

* **Format Support:** VLC supports a vast range of audio and video formats, including MPEG, AVI, WMV, MP4, MKV, and many more. You’re less likely to encounter issues playing different file types compared to some other players.
* **Customization:** VLC offers extensive customization options, allowing you to tweak playback settings, adjust audio and video effects, and even add subtitles.
* **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** VLC is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, ensuring a consistent experience across different devices.
* **Open Source and Free:** VLC is completely free to use and open-source, meaning you don’t have to worry about licensing fees or restrictive terms.
* **No Spyware or Ads:** VLC doesn’t contain any spyware, adware, or user tracking.

## Setting VLC as the Default Media Player on Windows

There are several methods to set VLC as the default media player on Windows. We’ll cover three of the most common and reliable approaches:

### Method 1: Using the Settings App

This is the easiest and recommended method for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. **Open the Settings App:** Click on the Start button (Windows icon) and then click on the gear icon to open the Settings app. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + I to directly open the Settings app.

2. **Navigate to Apps:** In the Settings app, click on “Apps.” This will take you to the Apps & features settings.

3. **Choose Default Apps:** In the left-hand menu, click on “Default apps.” This section allows you to configure the default applications for various file types and protocols.

4. **Set Default by File Type:** Scroll down the page until you find the section “Choose defaults by file type.” Click on this option.

5. **Find Media File Extensions:** A long list of file extensions will appear. Scroll through the list and find the media file extensions you want VLC to handle (e.g., .mp4, .avi, .mkv, .mp3, .flac). This process might take a while due to the sheer number of file types.

6. **Change the Default App:** For each file extension you want to associate with VLC, click on the current default app listed next to the extension. A pop-up window will appear, displaying a list of available applications.

7. **Select VLC Media Player:** In the pop-up window, select “VLC media player.” If VLC is not listed, click on “More apps” to expand the list and look for it. If it’s still not there, ensure that VLC is properly installed on your system.

8. **Repeat for Other File Types:** Repeat steps 6 and 7 for all the media file extensions you want VLC to be the default player for. Common extensions include .mp4, .avi, .mkv, .mov, .wmv, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .wav.

9. **Set Default by Protocol (Optional):** While not strictly necessary, you can also set VLC as the default for media protocols like `http` and `https` for streaming purposes. Back in the “Default apps” section (step 3), scroll down to “Choose defaults by protocol.” Find `HTTP` and `HTTPS` and set their defaults to VLC if you want VLC to handle web streams.

10. **Verify Changes:** To verify that VLC is now the default media player, double-click a media file with one of the extensions you configured. VLC should automatically open and play the file.

### Method 2: Using the Control Panel

This method is useful for older versions of Windows (Windows 7, Windows 8, and earlier versions of Windows 10).

1. **Open the Control Panel:** Click on the Start button and type “Control Panel.” Click on the Control Panel app when it appears in the search results.

2. **Navigate to Default Programs:** In the Control Panel, click on “Programs.” If you’re in Category view, click on “Default Programs” directly. If you’re in Icon view, click on “Default Programs” then click on “Set your default programs.”

3. **Select VLC Media Player:** A list of installed programs will appear. Find “VLC media player” in the list and click on it.

4. **Choose Default Options:** You have two options here:
* **”Set this program as default”:** This option will make VLC the default player for all file types and protocols that it can handle. This is the quickest way to set VLC as the default for everything.
* **”Choose defaults for this program”:** This option allows you to select specific file types and protocols that VLC should handle. This is useful if you only want VLC to be the default for certain media types.

5. **Select File Types (If Applicable):** If you chose “Choose defaults for this program,” a list of file extensions and protocols will appear. Check the boxes next to the extensions and protocols you want VLC to handle.

6. **Save Changes:** Click “Save” or “OK” to save your changes.

7. **Verify Changes:** Double-click a media file with one of the extensions you configured. VLC should automatically open and play the file.

### Method 3: Using the “Open With” Context Menu

This method allows you to set VLC as the default player for a specific file type quickly.

1. **Find a Media File:** Locate a media file of the type you want to associate with VLC (e.g., an .mp4 file).

2. **Right-Click the File:** Right-click on the media file.

3. **Select “Open With”:** In the context menu that appears, hover over “Open with.”

4. **Choose VLC Media Player:** A list of applications will appear. Select “VLC media player.” If VLC is not listed, click on “Choose another app.”

5. **Find VLC (If Necessary):** If you clicked “Choose another app,” a window will appear. Browse to the location where VLC is installed (usually `C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC`) and select the `vlc.exe` executable file.

6. **Always Use This App:** **Crucially, before clicking “OK”, make sure to check the box that says “Always use this app to open .[file extension] files”** (e.g., “Always use this app to open .mp4 files”). This is the key step that sets VLC as the default for that file type.

7. **Click OK:** Click “OK” to save your changes.

8. **Verify Changes:** Double-click another media file of the same type. VLC should automatically open and play the file.

9. **Repeat for Other File Types:** Repeat this process for any other file types you want to associate with VLC.

## Setting VLC as the Default Media Player on macOS

Setting VLC as the default media player on macOS is slightly different from Windows, but still straightforward.

### Method 1: Using the “Get Info” Window

This is the standard method for macOS.

1. **Find a Media File:** Locate a media file of the type you want to associate with VLC (e.g., an .mp4 file).

2. **Right-Click (or Control-Click) the File:** Right-click (or Control-click) on the media file.

3. **Select “Get Info”:** In the context menu that appears, select “Get Info.”

4. **Open With Section:** In the “Get Info” window, find the section labeled “Open with:”. If this section is collapsed, click the small triangle next to it to expand it.

5. **Choose VLC Media Player:** Click the dropdown menu in the “Open with:” section. A list of available applications will appear. Select “VLC.app” or “VLC media player.” If VLC is not listed, choose “Other…” and browse to the Applications folder to find VLC.

6. **Change All:** After selecting VLC, click the “Change All…” button below the dropdown menu. A confirmation dialog will appear.

7. **Confirm Change:** In the confirmation dialog, click “Continue.” This will associate all files of the same type (e.g., all .mp4 files) with VLC.

8. **Verify Changes:** Double-click another media file of the same type. VLC should automatically open and play the file.

9. **Repeat for Other File Types:** Repeat this process for any other file types you want to associate with VLC.

### Method 2: Using the Finder Preferences (Less Common)

This method is less common, but can be useful in certain situations.

1. **Open Finder Preferences:** Click on the Finder icon in the Dock, then click on “Finder” in the menu bar and select “Preferences…”

2. **General Tab:** Click on the “General” tab in the Finder Preferences window.

3. **Show these items on the desktop:** Ensure that hard disks and external disks are selected. This enables you to drag a file from a disk onto VLC’s dock icon.

4. Drag your media file onto the VLC icon on the dock. If VLC is capable of playing that file, it should open. However, this will *not* change the default application for opening that file type.

5. Although Finder Preferences do not directly offer a way to set VLC as the default, by ensuring disks are visible, you can access any media file and perform Method 1 using `Get Info` by right-clicking the file as described above.

## Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues setting VLC as the default media player, here are some troubleshooting tips:

* **VLC is Not Listed:** If VLC is not listed in the available applications when trying to set it as the default, ensure that VLC is properly installed on your system. Reinstall VLC if necessary. Make sure you download VLC from the official VideoLAN website to avoid potentially malicious software.
* **Permissions Issues:** In some cases, permissions issues can prevent you from setting VLC as the default. Try running VLC as an administrator (on Windows) or repairing disk permissions (on macOS).
* **Conflicting Applications:** Some other media players or codec packs might interfere with your ability to set VLC as the default. Try uninstalling any conflicting applications.
* **File Associations are Corrupted:** It’s possible the file associations in your operating system are corrupted. On Windows, you can try using the System File Checker tool to repair corrupted system files. On macOS, you can try reinstalling the operating system (as a last resort).
* **Reinstall VLC:** If all else fails, try uninstalling and then reinstalling VLC Media Player. This can resolve issues that may have arisen during the initial installation.

## Conclusion

Setting VLC as your default media player is a simple process that can greatly enhance your media playback experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily configure your operating system to automatically open media files with VLC, ensuring seamless playback of your favorite audio and video content. Whether you’re using Windows or macOS, VLC’s versatility and extensive format support make it an excellent choice for your default media player. Remember to verify your changes after each method to confirm that VLC is indeed the default player for the file types you’ve selected. Enjoy the world of media with VLC!