Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about VLC, grouped by topic. Choose a category to jump to the relevant questions.
Is VLC free?
Yes. VLC is completely free and open source under the GPL license. There is no paid version, trial or subscription — every feature is available to everyone at no cost.
Is VLC Media Player safe?
VLC is safe when downloaded from the official VideoLAN website or an official app store. Avoid third-party mirrors, which sometimes bundle unwanted software with the installer.
Does VLC contain ads?
No. VLC does not show advertisements and does not include bundled adware or spyware when obtained from official sources.
Can VLC play MKV files?
Yes. MKV (Matroska) playback works out of the box, including multiple audio tracks and embedded subtitles.
Can VLC play HEVC / H.265?
Yes. VLC decodes H.265 / HEVC, including many 4K files. Enabling hardware acceleration helps playback stay smooth on capable hardware.
Can VLC convert videos?
Yes. Use the Convert / Save feature under the Media menu to change a file’s format or extract its audio without any extra software.
How do I update VLC?
On desktop, VLC can check for updates from the Help menu, or you can download the latest installer from the official site. On mobile, updates arrive through the app store.
How do I uninstall VLC?
On Windows, use Add or Remove Programs. On macOS, drag VLC from Applications to the Trash. On Linux, remove it with your package manager.
What video formats does VLC support?
VLC plays nearly every common format — MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, FLV, WebM — plus audio like MP3, FLAC and AAC, with no extra codec packs required.
Is mobile VLC the same as desktop VLC?
Core playback is identical: formats, subtitles and playlists all work the same. The desktop app adds advanced tools like conversion and recording, while the mobile apps are touch-optimized and support network streaming.