10 Useful Hidden Features of VLC Media Player You Must Know

VLC media player is a free, open-source, cross-platform and versatile media player. I'd be surprised if a computer user is not aware of VLC.

VLC is a great media player which can play almost all formats of media files. It has many useful features and one of which is its free availability. Most of the computer users prefer VLC as their primary media player and this is due to the excellent features of VLC. But many users are not aware of the advance features of VLC.

Today I am going to share 10 cool and useful features of VLC with you, which are hidden. By hidden I mean, the features to which a normal user does not pay attention, or you could say these features are secret or advanced. An ordinary user uses VLC only like a simple media player, while it is more than a video player. VLC can play almost all type of audio and video files formats as well it can also perform several important functions.

10 Important Hidden Features of VLC Media Player You Should Know

1. Play or Download Online Video Files using VLC Player

You can Play or Download Videos on VLC from various online sources. Whether, they are YouTube videos, tutorial videos on a website, or films. Using VLC you can download and play online video. In addition, you can also play Radio on your PC using VLC Network Streaming.


Steps:

• Copy the url of your desired online Video (Video which you want to play or download on VLC)
• Open VLC and click on "Media" on the top menu.
• Then click on "Open Network Stream" and paste the copied video url there.
• Now click on "Play".
• If you want to download, then after playing the video click on "Tools" on the menu and then click on "Codec Information".
• Now on the bottom of the newly opened window you can see a box named "Location".
• Under "Location" right click on the text box and then "Select All".
• Now copy the text, go back to your browser and paste the text in the address bar.
• Actually this is the direct link to the video file hosted on YouTube's server. And now this will open the video file directly. Just right click on the video when it’s starts playing and select "Save Video As".
• Your download will start.

Recommended: Download Videos in 3 Easy Ways on PC-Mobile

2. Convert Media Files Using VLC Player

VLC allows you to convert your videos in various file formats. As per my knowledge VLC is the only media player which can convert media files too. It has an inbuilt converter. VLC Converter is not for heavy or professional jobs but you can still use it for your basic video converting needs.


Steps:

• Open VLC and then click on "Media", then "convert/save".
• Add your video file which you want to convert and then click on "convert/save".
• Now select your video converting profile (the format in which you want to convert your video).
• Click on the settings icon if you need to change advance settings, otherwise skip this step.
• Select the destination path and give name to the file, then click on start.

3. Record a Specific Part of Current Playing Video on VLC

You can record a part of the current playing Video on VLC. With the help of VLC recording button you can record any portion of the running video of any duration in just 2 mouse clicks.


Steps:

• Open VLC and click on "View" on the top menu.
• Then click on "Advanced Controls".
• Now you can see a new bar of advance controls appeared on the above of playback buttons (play-next-previous).
• To record a part of any video click on the first red button, it will start recording.
• To stop the recording, click again on the same button. It will stop the recording and save the recorded video to "My Videos" folder under user Documents.

4. Capture Screenshot of the Current Playing Video on VLC

VLC allows you to take the screenshots of any current playing video. You can capture screenshot of the running video or by pause the video. The screenshot resolution will be same as the video resolution and VLC save the screenshot in PNG format.

Steps:

• Open VLC and click "View" on the top menu.
• Then click on "Advanced Controls".
• Now you can see a new bar of advance controls appeared on the above of playback buttons (play-next-previous).
• To capture a screenshot, click on the second button (Camera icon) from the left. It will immediately capture the screen and save it to "My Pictures" folder under user Documents.

Recommended: 3 Free and Best Screenshot Capturing Tools

5. Record Your Desktop Screen Activities Using VLC Player

With the help of VLC you can record the activities of your entire desktop screen. The inbuilt VLC Desktop Screen Recorder is very easy to config. You have to follow just 3-4 steps.


Steps:

• Open VLC and go to "Media", then click on "convert / save”.
• Then click on "Capture device".
• Now select the "Capture Mode" to "Desktop", select the Frame rate and then click on "convert / save" at the bottom.
• Now select your desired audio-video profile and the destination path. Then give file name and click on "start".
• To stop the recording, just click on the usual stop button of VLC media player.

6. Play Video as your Desktop Wallpaper Using VLC

With the help of VLC you can set video wallpaper to your desktop. VLC allows you to play your videos as the desktop wallpaper.


Steps:

• Open VLC and go to "Tools", then "Preferences".
• Then click on "Video" on the left side.
• In the "Output Dropdown Box" select "DirectX (direct Draw) Video Output".
• Now click on "Save".
• Restart VLC and click on "Video" on the top menu or you can right click on the video player screen, then on "Video".
• Then click on "Set as Wallpaper".
• Now you can watch your video as your desktop wallpaper.
• To remove video as wallpaper, just close the VLC media player.

7. Record Your Web-Cam Video with the Help of VLC Media Player

VLC allows you to record a video via your web-cam. This feature is very beneficial in such a condition when you have not installed the web-cam software on your machine. And you don't have the installer software (setup) of your web-cam.


Steps:

• Open VLC and go to "Media", then click on "Open Capture device".
• Set capture mode to "Directshow".
• Then select your Video and Audio device.
• Then click on "Play".

Recommended: Use Android Phone Camera as Desktop Webcam

8. Add Watermark (text) or Logo on your Videos with the Help of VLC

You can add watermark (text) or logo to your videos using VLC. This feature is very easy to use and setup.


Steps:

• Open VLC and click on "Tools", then "Effects and Filters".
• Now click on "Video Effects".
• Under video effects, click on "Overlay" tab.
• Now you can add a logo/text or erase a logo.

9. Switch or Change Audio Tracks on VLC

If your media file have more than one audio track, in such a case you can select any one of the Audio track and make it default audio.


Steps:

• Open VLC and click on "Audio", then "Audio track".
• Or
• Just right click on the video player screen, then on "Audio" and then "Audio track".
  If your media file has multiple audio tracks, they will appear here.
• Now select your preferred audio Track.

10. Add, Enable/Disable or Switch Subtitle Tracks on VLC

On VLC you can Enable/Disable or add a new Subtitle Track. This feature is very helpful when the video is in a foreign language and you have the subtitles in your native language. If you are using VLC then you can add that subtitle track to the video.


Steps:

• Open VLC and click on "Subtitle" or right click on the video player screen and then "Subtitle".
• For selecting a Subtitle, move your mouse courser on "Sub Track" and then choose a subtitle.
• For adding a new subtitle track, click on "Add Subtitle File", then select your sub file.

So, these are the 10 useful and Hidden VLC features, which every user should know. If you know about any other useful feature then must share with us. So our other online friends will get advantage from your experience.

It’s your turn now, if you don't have VLC on your system then Download the latest version of VLC Media Player from its Official Website using the link given below.

Download Latest VLC Player