As a free and open-source portable cross-platform media player software and streaming media server tool, VLC media player has been widely known as a media player tool that could play back most media files such as videos, DVDs and even Blu-ray movies. It delivers superb user experience for people to play back and watch movies. However, VLC media player is far more than a media player. It has more features and functions, and even some unknown tricks and hacks. On this page, we will show you some VLC media player tricks and hacks to help you better use VLC media player.

Part 1: What are the Best Tricks and Hacks for VLC?

VLC media player has quite a big number of hidden tricks and hacks that could even be made as a wiki. Here we only choose some top tricks and hacks for VLC media players. You could view them below.

Best tricks of VLC media player

Firstly, we would like to introduce some best tricks of VLC media player to you.

1. VLC Trick to Convert Video or Audio Files to Any Format

VLC media player could perform as a video converter to convert video and audio files to the format you need. You simply need to:

  1. Open VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save
  2. Add the file you wish to convert and click on “Convert/Save”.
  3. Now on the new screen, choose the type of file you want to convert to under ‘Profile’ and give the file a name and location under ‘Destination.’
  4. Click “Start” to begin the process and within a few minutes, your converted file shall be waiting for you.

It should be noted that VLC media player sometimes can’t work stably in converting. Meanwhile, it can’t handle copyprotected video files.

2. VLC Trick to Download and Add Subtitle

VLC conveniently provides you with the option to download and sync subtitles in the application.
Steps to download subtitles:

  1. Go to View > Download Subtitle.
  2. Click on Search by name > Select the appropriate result.
  3. Click on Download Selection

Steps to synchronize subtitles:

  1. Go to Tool > Track Synchronization.
  2. Change setting in the dialog box.
  3. Change the delay.

This trick will help you correct your subtitles of your videos being played back.

3. Play Media Contained in Archive Files

We know that not all media players are able to play back archive files. VLC media player can. You only need to follow the below steps to play media files contained in archive file:

  1. Just open the zip/rar file on VLC.
  2. If the file is in parts just open the first file and all the subsequent files will automatically play, make sure all the parts are in the same folder.

Therefore, if you have media files archived, you could use VLC media player to play back the media files.

4. VLC Trick to Record Your Desktop and Webcam

Amongst its treasure trove of features, another gem is VLC’s ability to function as a screen and webcam recorder. For recording computer desktop screen, you only need to:

  1. Open VLC. Go to Media > Open Capture Device …
  2. Change ‘Capture mode’ to “Desktop” and choose the desired frame rate for the capture.
  3. Now from the buttons choose “Convert” instead of Play.
  4. In the next window that opens, choose the format of the recording and the destination file and press “Start” to begin the Desktop Recording process.
  5. When you are done, press the “Stop” Button to end the recording.

To record via webcam, you only need to:

  1. Open VLC. Go to Media > Open Capture Device …
  2. Set ‘Capture mode’ as “Direct Show,” the ‘Video device name’ to your webcam and the ‘Audio device name’ to your microphone.
  3. Now follow steps 3-5 of the tutorial above to obtain your webcam recording

You could then easily record your computer desktop screen and webcam.

5. VLC trick to Capture a Screenshot

Using the Print Screen method to capture snapshots of a video is not always the best option, luckily VLC has a provision for this as well. In order to take a snapshot, simply right click, go to Video > Take Snapshot. You can also simply use the keyboard shortcut SHIFT+S on Windows/Linux or CMD+ALT+S on OS X. The picture is saved in the OS’s Pictures folder.

6. VLC trick to Create Bookmarks

Ever had to close your media player and leave a video in between, only to return later and struggle to find the point where you left off? Well, you can bid adieu to this problem of yours with this VLC trick. To bookmark a portion of a video, all you have to do is:

  1. Go to Playback > Custom Bookmarks > Manage
  2. In the Edit Bookmarks window that opens up, click the “Create” button, at the required section of the video to successfully create a bookmark

The above ones are some of the best tricks of VLC media player. Actually there are quite a few others such as setting video as wallpaper, adding watermark to video, etc.

Best hacks of VLC media player

The below are 3 best hacks of VLC media player for you:

1. VLC Hacks to Stream and Download Video

Downloading videos is a popular entertainment way in our daily life. VLC media player could not only play back videos, but also download videos from YouTube and other sites easily. To download videos, you only need to:

  1. Copy the URL address of YouTube video you want to download.
  2. In VLC, head to “Media > Open Network Stream” option.
  3. Paste the YouTube link in the box and click Play.
  4. Under “Tools” option, click “Codec Information”.
  5. In the box that says Location, right-click the block of text and click Select All. Copy this text to your clipboard.
  6. Go back to your browser and paste the link in the address bar. This will open the source file directly on YouTube’s servers.
  7. Right-click the video as it plays and select “Save Video As” option to download video.

In this way, you could download YouTube videos with VLC media player. The downloading speed depends on your computer performance and Internet connection status.

2. VLC Hacks to Loop Videos

With VLC media player, you can not only loop a YouTube video, but also customize the looped video. Follow the steps below to learn how to loop video within VLC media player:

  1. Open a video you want to loop.
  2. Tap on View to check Advanced Controls.
  3. Click the A/B icon to set its start point. Then click this icon again when you want to stop the video.
  4. Tap the A/B icon to stop the loop when you want.

3. VLC Hacks to Fix Subtitle out of Sync

You find subtitle is out of sync when watching a video with VLC media player. Luckily, VLC can fix it. You can follow the steps to fix subtitle out of sync.

  1. If subtitle is ahead of sound, press G.
  2. If subtitle is behind sound, press H.

You can also go to “Tools > Track Synchronization” to adjust subtitle delay.

Part 2: Best Comprehensive Alternative to VLC - Leawo Prof. Media

VLC media player has quite a few wonderful features, but still it has its shortcomings such as inability to handling encrypted Blu-ray/DVD content, few video editing features, etc. We hereby would like to recommend you the best alternative to VLC – Leawo Prof. Media.

As a professional multimedia converter solution suite, Leawo Prof. Media handles nearly all media conversions between Blu-ray, DVD, video, audio, image and even online videos. Leawo Prof. Media could help you:

  1. Play back various media files like Blu-ray, DVD, video, audio, and even ISO image files, just like a region-free media player.
  2. Decrypt, rip and convert Blu-ray/DVD to video/audio files in 200+ file formats for various media players and devices.
  3. Convert video and audio files between various formats for various uses.
  4. Convert and burn videos files to Blu-ray/DVD content, and even burn image files to Blu-ray/DVD photo slideshow easily.
  5. Decrypt, copy and backup Blu-ray/DVD content to blank disc or computer hard drive.
  6. Download videos from YouTube, Facebook, Veoh, VEVO, and 1000+ other video sites.
  7. Turn photos into photo slideshow video for saving in various formats.
  8. Edit Blu-ray/DVD/video files to trim, crop, add watermark, adjust effect, apply 3D effect, etc.
  9. Choose disc menu for DVD/Blu-ray burning, and even design disc menu with preferred items.

There are also other wonderful features Leawo Prof. Media offers, such as the video merging feature, screenshot taking, subtitles selecting and adding, audio tracks selecting, parameters adjusting, etc. It’s the best alternative to VLC media player in both media file playback and conversion.

Part 3: VLC vs. Leawo Prof. Media: Which One is Better?

The below comparison table will show you the differences between VLC media player and Leawo Prof. Media. You could then see which one is better.

Features

VLC media player

Leawo Prof. Media

Play Blu-ray/DVD discs

Yes. Homemade only

Yes. All

Play video/audio files

Yes

Yes

Convert Blu-ray/DVD

No

Yes

Convert video

Yes

Yes

Download video

Yes. YouTube video only

Yes. Download videos from 1000+ sites

Turn photos into photo slideshow video

No

Yes

Burn video to DVD/Blu-ray

No

Yes

Copy and back up Blu-ray/DVD to computer or blank disc

No

Yes

Edit Blu-ray/DVD/video files

Yes. Trim, merge, etc.

Yes. Trim, crop, add watermark, adjust effect, merge, remove noise, etc.

2D to 3D conversion

No

Yes

Design disc menu

No

Yes

Select subtitles and audio tracks

Yes

No

Add external subtitles

Yes

Yes

Change output profile parameters for converting

No

Yes

Availability

Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

Windows, Mac