VLC has been around for over two decades, and yet most people still use it the way they did on day one. Its humble interface may not give you many clues, but VLC is quite capable. And no, I’m not talking about features, like screen recording, video streaming, format converter, or skins. You probably know about these already.
I’m talking about VLC add-ons. Unlike other hidden VLC features, these can actually change how you consume media for good.
How to Watch Plex in VLC (and Why It’s Worth Doing)
As if I really needed another reason to love VLC.
VLC’s add-ons bring features you’ll want to use
Give VLC an upgrade
Much like your browser, VLC supports third-party extensions, and they do exactly what you’re thinking. They add new features, automate repetitive tasks, tweak the UI, and smooth out small VLC annoyances.
Head to Tools > Plugins and extensions and click the Find more addons online button. You’ll see all the available add-ons, and you can browse them using the category tabs on the left. There are add-ons for fetching subtitles, controlling playlists, changing the UI, skipping intros, and a lot more. Once you find something you like, click Install, and you’re done.
The only thing is that the built-in extensions menu doesn’t seem to include all the available add-ons. If you want more options, head to VLC’s official add-on catalog page. Installing these add-ons takes a bit of work, but it’s just as easy. Once you find an add-on you want to try, download its .lua file and drop it at C:\ > Users > [Your Username] > AppData > Roaming > vlc > lua > extensions. Finally, restart the VLC app, and you’re done.
If you’re using a Mac, paste the .lua file at /Users/YourName/Library/Application Support/org.videolan.vlc/lua/extensions. On Linux, paste it at ~/.local/share/vlc/lua/extensions.
Your add-on will appear when you reopen the Extensions and plugins menu, and some of them will also show up under the View menu. The quality of these add-ons can vary because some are not actively maintained. The good news is that each one includes a description and user comments, so you should be able to figure out which ones are worth your time.
These VLC add-ons are a great place to start
Trust me, you’ll love them
I know browsing through dozens of add-ons can feel overwhelming. I’ve done that boring bit plenty of times over the years, so I can tell you a few worth trying first.
One of my favorites is VLSub. It connects VLC directly to OpenSubtitles, so you can search and download subtitles without ever opening a browser. Once you’re playing a movie or a TV show, head to View > VLSub, choose the subtitle language, and hit Search by hash. Choose the file, hit Download Selection, and you’re sorted.
If you love watching YouTube in VLC, YouTube playlist is another extension worth grabbing. With it, you can bring any YouTube playlist to VLC. All you have to do is copy the playlist URL, press Ctrl + N in VLC, and paste it in.
VLC Scene Navigator is another handy add-on. It divides the entire video into sections like introduction, recap, ending, and more. This is quite handy for long lectures or presentations as it lets you jump between sections like YouTube chapters.
My personal favorite, though, is Material VLC. As much as I love using VLC, its interface isn’t exactly modern-looking. Material VLC is an add-on that gives a minimalist makeover to VLC.
CNSR extension is a smarter skip tool for watching content in a safe way. It gives you control for avoiding nudity, verbal abuse, violence, and alcohol and drug consumption. The best part is that it’s not a simple on/off switch. You can tweak each one manually based on what you want to filter out.
Skip Intro/Outro Credits add-on does what the name says. It automatically detects and skips over opening intros and end credits, just like your streaming apps do. If you binge-watch shows on VLC, this is a must-have.
You don’t have to stop here – there are plenty of useful add-ons
The ones above are a solid starting point, but you don’t have to stop at those. There are plenty more VLC add-ons that’ll keep you busy. Most of them either solve a specific problem or cater to a niche use case.
My favorite thing about these VLC add-ons is they’re all lightweight. We’re talking about less than a megabyte or two. So yes, adding half a dozen add-ons won’t affect VLC’s performance or anything. And if something doesn’t work as advertised, you can always head back to Tools > Plugins and extensions and uninstall it from there.
- OS
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Android, iOS, Windows
- Price model
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Free, open-source
VLC can read every format ever invented, from modern files to the digital relics on old drives. It opens whatever you throw at it, turning your device into a centralized hub for all your scattered media.
