VLC media player is a free, open-source player from the non-profit VideoLAN project. It plays most video and audio formats without extra codec packs, as well as DVDs, audio CDs and network streams. VideoLAN describes it as completely free, with no spyware, no ads and no user tracking. The current desktop version is 3.0.24, released on 22 September 2026. VideoLAN says it contains more than 130 security fixes, so updating is worthwhile.
Who it suits
- Anyone who needs one player that opens almost any file.
- People playing downloaded videos with subtitles on a phone or tablet.
- Users who want to play network streams or convert files with the built-in converter.
How to get the official version
- Windows: 64-bit, 32-bit and ARM64 installers from videolan.org.
- macOS: a Universal build and an Apple Silicon build from videolan.org.
- Linux: videolan.org links to packages for each major distribution. Most include VLC in their own repositories.
- Android: VLC for Android on Google Play, published under the account “Videolabs”, or on F-Droid. Both are linked from VideoLAN’s Android page.
- iPhone and iPad: only through the App Store. The listing’s seller is VideoLAN.
Mobile versions are numbered separately from the desktop app. VideoLAN announced VLC for Android 3.7.0 in February 2026 and VLC for iOS 3.7.0 in January 2026.
Cost
VLC is free on every platform. The Google Play and App Store listings show it as free.
Requirements
VideoLAN’s Windows page says VLC 3.0.24 runs on all versions from Windows XP SP3 to the latest Windows 11. The App Store listing requires iOS 9.0 or later.
Safety notes
VideoLAN has warned users to download VLC only from videolan.org because many scam websites have appeared. Fake VLC downloads and repackaged APKs are common. On Android, install from Google Play or F-Droid; on iPhone, the App Store is the only official source.
Questions
Is VLC really free?
Yes. VLC is open source and VideoLAN does not charge for it on any platform.
Why does winget still offer an older version?
Package managers can lag behind a release by a few days. The winget ID is VideoLAN.VLC; for the newest version on release day, download from videolan.org.
Is VLC 3.0.24 an important update?
VideoLAN describes it as a major security update with over 130 security fixes, and it moves the bundled FFmpeg from 4.4 to 8.1.2.
