1. How to Make VLC the Default Player on Windows 11

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Open VLC media player on your Windows 11 computer. Once the interface loads, click on the Tools menu in the top left corner. Within the drop-down list, select Preferences, which will open up a new window of settings. In the new window, navigate to the Interface tab on the left, which contains several customization options. Under the User Interface section, you will see a drop-down menu labeled Default Media Player. By default, Windows Media Player is selected. Click on the drop-down and choose VLC Media Player from the list of available options. Once selected, click on the Save button at the bottom of the window to confirm the change.

After that, you can move on to the Associations tab using the left-hand menu. Here, you will see various file extensions and the corresponding default programs assigned to them. To associate specific file types with VLC, scroll down the list and look for the desired file extension, such as .mp4, .avi, or .mkv. If the preferred extension is not present, you can click on the Add button at the bottom to add it manually. Double-click on the extension, then select VLC Media Player from the drop-down menu. Repeat this process for all the desired file types to associate them with VLC. Alternatively, you can use the Select All feature at the bottom to quickly associate all supported file types with VLC.

Now that the settings are configured, restart your Windows 11 computer for the changes to take effect. After restarting, VLC media player will become the default media player on your computer. When you click on any compatible media file, it will automatically launch and play in VLC. Additionally, when right-clicking on media files in File Explorer, you will see VLC Media Player as an option in the context menu, allowing you to quickly open files with it. You can always revert the changes by following the same steps and selecting Windows Media Player as the Default Media Player.

Accessing Windows 11 Settings

To begin, you must navigate to the Settings menu in Windows 11. There are several ways to do this:

Using the Start Menu

1. Click on the Start button located in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

2. In the Start menu that appears, type “Settings” in the search bar.

3. Click on the “Settings” icon that appears in the search results.

Using the Run Command

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. In the Run dialog box, type “ms-settings:” (without quotes) and press Enter.

3. The Settings window will open.

Using the Taskbar Search

1. Click on the search icon located in the taskbar.

2. Type “Settings” in the search bar that appears.

3. Click on the “Settings” icon that appears in the search results.

Using the Keyboard Shortcut

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings window directly.

Configuring Default App Settings

To set VLC as the default player for specific file types in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Navigate to “Settings” > “Apps” > “Default apps.”
Scroll down to the “Video player” section.
Click on the current default player (e.g., Microsoft Photos) and select “VLC media player” from the list.

Customizing File Association

Apart from the general “Video player” setting, you can specify default associations for individual file extensions related to video playback. Here’s how:

In the “Default apps” settings, scroll down to the “Choose default apps by file type” section.
Locate the file extension you want to associate with VLC (e.g., .mp4, .avi). If it’s not listed, click “Choose a default” for that extension.
Select “VLC media player” from the list of available programs.

Resetting Default Associations

If VLC is associated with file types but not behaving as the default player, resetting the default associations can resolve the issue. Here’s how:

In the “Default apps” settings, click on the “Reset” button located below the “Choose default apps by file type” section.
Confirm the reset by clicking on “Yes.” This will restore the default apps to their original settings.

File Extension	Description
.mp4	MPEG-4 video file
.avi	Audio Video Interleave file
.mkv	Matroska video file
.flv	Flash Video file
.wmv	Windows Media Video file

Locating VLC Media Player in the List

If VLC Media Player is not found in the default apps list, it can be located in the following ways:

1. Search in Start Menu

Type “VLC” in the Start menu search bar. If VLC Media Player is installed, it will appear in the search results. Right-click on the VLC icon and select “Open file location” to find the VLC Media Player executable file.

2. Browse Application Files

Navigate to the following location in File Explorer:

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC

Here, you will find the VLC Media Player executable file named “vlc.exe”.

3. Check Installed Programs

Open the “Settings” app and go to “Apps” > “Apps & features”.

Scroll down to find the VLC Media Player listing. Select it and click on the “Modify” button.

In the pop-up window, select the “Set as default” option. This will set VLC Media Player as the default player for all compatible file types.

The following table summarizes the available video and audio formats that VLC Media Player can handle as default:

Video Formats	Audio Formats
MP4, MKV, AVI, FLV, MOV	MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG

Setting VLC as the Default Player

### 1. Open the Windows Settings

* Click on the Start button and select Settings.
* Navigate to Apps and then Default apps.

### 2. Select File Types

* Scroll down and click on Choose default apps by file type.

### 3. Find the File Types You Want to Set VLC For

* In the search bar, type the file extension of the file type you want to set VLC as the default player for (e.g., .mp4, .avi).

### 4. Choose VLC as the Default Player

* A list of installed apps that can open the selected file type will appear.
* Click on the VLC icon and select Set as default.

#### 4A. Additional Settings

* If you want VLC to handle other related file types, such as MKV or FLV, you can enable the “Use this app for all files of this type” option.
* You can also manually associate specific file types with VLC by dragging and dropping them onto the VLC icon in the search results.

#### 4B. Resetting Default Apps

* If you accidentally change the default apps or want to revert to the original settings, click on the “Reset” button at the bottom of the Default apps page.
* This will restore all default apps to their initial configurations.

#### 4C. Troubleshooting

* If VLC is not listed in the default apps options, ensure that it is installed and up to date.
* If you still encounter issues setting VLC as the default player, consider repairing or reinstalling the VLC application.

Customizing Playback Preferences

Go to the “Preferences” window in VLC by clicking the “Tools” menu and selecting “Preferences”.

Select the “Audio” tab in the Preferences window.

In the “Output” section, select the desired audio output device from the “Audio output device” drop-down menu.

To configure advanced audio settings, click on “Advanced” button next to “Output” drop-down menu.

Audio Output Section

Enable resampling: This option allows you to resample the audio output to match the sampling rate of your audio device.

Volume Adjustment: Adjust your desired volume decrease or amplification in the Volume column.

Audio Channels: Choose between Stereo, Dolby Pro Logic II, or DRC to adjust the audio output channels.

Open the “Video” tab in the Preferences window.

In the “Output” section, select the desired video output device from the “Video Output” drop-down menu.

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Advanced Video Output Options
Adjust Display Settings: Adjust the screen resolution, refresh rate, and aspect ratio.
Deinterlacing: Choose the method to de-interlace interlaced video.
Post-Processing: Enable or disable post-processing effects, such as de-blocking and noise reduction.

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Advanced Features and Settings

VLC offers a wide range of advanced features and settings that allow you to customize the playback experience to your liking. Here are some of the most notable options:

Codec Settings

You can tweak the codec settings of VLC to optimize video and audio decoding. This can improve the performance and quality of playback. To access the codec settings, click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Preferences.” Navigate to the “Input/Codecs” section and explore the various codec-specific options.

Video Effects and Filters

VLC allows you to apply various video effects and filters to enhance the visual appearance of your videos. This includes adjusting brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation. You can also add effects such as deinterlacing, crop, and noise reduction. To access the video effects and filters, click on “Video” in the menu bar and select “Adjustments and Effects.”

Audio Output

VLC offers granular control over audio output settings, enabling you to optimize the sound quality of your media files. You can choose between different audio devices, adjust the volume, and apply audio effects such as equalization and compression. To access the audio output settings, click on “Audio” in the menu bar and select “Preferences.” Navigate to the “Audio Output” section.

Subtitle Settings

VLC provides comprehensive subtitle support, allowing you to customize the appearance and behavior of subtitles. You can select your preferred subtitle language, change the font, size, and color, and adjust the timing of the subtitles. To access the subtitle settings, click on “Subtitle” in the menu bar and select “Preferences.” Navigate to the “Subtitle/OSD” section.

Network Streaming

VLC offers robust network streaming capabilities, allowing you to stream media files over a network or the internet. You can configure VLC as a server or a client, and adjust various settings to optimize the streaming performance. To access the network streaming settings, click on “Media” in the menu bar and select “Open Network Stream.” Navigate to the “Network” section of the preferences.

Keyboard Shortcuts

You can customize the keyboard shortcuts of VLC to streamline your media playback experience. This allows you to quickly access various functions using keyboard combinations. To customize the keyboard shortcuts, click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Preferences.” Navigate to the “Interface” section.

OSD Controls

The OSD (On-Screen Display) controls of VLC allow you to control the playback using on-screen buttons and sliders. You can customize the appearance and behavior of the OSD controls, and even disable them if you prefer. To access the OSD controls settings, click on “View” in the menu bar and select “Customize Interface.” Navigate to the “OSD” section.

Skins

VLC supports the use of custom skins to change the graphical user interface of the player. There are numerous skins available online that you can download and install to personalize the look and feel of VLC. To change the skin, click on “View” in the menu bar and select “Change Skin.”

Extensions

VLC offers an extension system that allows you to add new features and functionality to the player. Extensions can range from simple cosmetic changes to complex plugins that provide additional capabilities. To install extensions, navigate to the “Extensions” section of the preferences and click on the “Install” button.

Optimizing VLC for Enhanced Performance

As an open-source media player, VLC is renowned for its versatility and extensive playback capabilities. However, with a few tweaks and enhancements, you can elevate the video and audio experience to unparalleled levels. Here’s a detailed guide to optimize VLC for Windows 11 to unlock its full potential:

1. Enable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration leverages the capabilities of your computer’s graphics card to process video and audio, reducing strain on the CPU. To activate it, go to “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Input/Codecs” and check the boxes under “Hardware-accelerated decoding.” Select your preferred graphics adapter from the drop-down menu.

2. Adjust Video Output Settings

Customize the video output settings to match your display preferences. Click on “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Video” and adjust parameters such as resolution, refresh rate, and aspect ratio. You can also enable deinterlacing for smooth playback of interlaced video.

3. Enhance Audio Output

VLC provides a range of audio output options. Under “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Audio,” you can select your preferred audio device, adjust volume levels, and enable audio filters. Consider experimenting with different equalizer presets to optimize the sound quality.

4. Use Advanced Codecs

Install additional codecs to expand VLC’s playback capabilities. Click on “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Input/Codecs” and select “Automatic codec downloads” to install codecs automatically. Alternatively, you can manually download and install specific codecs for unsupported formats.

5. Optimize Cache Settings

Adjust the cache settings to improve video loading speeds. Under “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Input/Codecs,” increase the “File caching” and “Network caching” values. However, avoid excessive caching, as it can potentially slow down playback on slower systems.

6. Configure Keyboard Shortcuts

Customize keyboard shortcuts to streamline your media playback. Navigate to “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Hotkeys” to modify or create new shortcuts. Assign frequently used actions to convenient key combinations for quick and easy control.

7. Install Skins for Customization

Enhance the aesthetics of VLC by installing custom skins. Visit the VLC website or third-party websites to download and install skins that alter the player’s appearance. You can switch between skins from the “Interface” section under “Tools” > “Preferences.

8. Enable Subtitles and Closed Captions

Display subtitles or closed captions for improved comprehension or accessibility. Under “View” > “Subtitles,” you can load subtitle files or use the “Search online” option to find subtitles automatically.

9. Capture Screenshots and Recordings

Easily capture screenshots or record your video playback. Use the “Video” > “Take Screenshot” option or the “Media” > “Convert/Save” > “Record” function to save the desired content.

10. Advanced Playback Controls

Unlock a range of advanced playback controls. Right-click during playback to access additional options, including frame-by-frame navigation, slow motion, and A-B loop playback. You can also customize these controls by modifying the “View” > “Advanced Controls” interface.

By implementing these optimizations and enhancements, you can maximize the capabilities of VLC and enjoy a seamless and enhanced multimedia experience on Windows 11.

How to Make VLC the Default Player on Windows 11

VLC is a free and open-source media player that supports a wide variety of audio and video formats. If you prefer to use VLC as your default player on Windows 11, here are the steps you can follow:

Open the Settings app. You can do this by clicking on the Start menu and then selecting the Settings icon.
Go to the “Apps” section.
Select the “Default apps” tab.
Scroll down to the “Video player” section and click on the current default player.
Select VLC from the list of available apps.

Once you have completed these steps, VLC will become the default player for all video files on your Windows 11 computer.