VLC Media Player
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How to Download Videos Using VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open-source multimedia player that can play virtually any type of video file. It also includes a number of powerful features, including the ability to download videos from websites. In this article, we’ll show you how to download videos using VLC Media Player.Downloading videos using VLC Media Player is a simple process, more so than you might think. It’s a great way to save videos for offline viewing or to create a collection of your favorite videos. The steps are easy to follow and can be completed in just a few minutes. Additionally, VLC Media Player is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it a versatile option for users of all platforms.

First, you’ll need to find the video you want to download. Once you’ve found the video, right-click on it and select “Save Video As”. A dialog box will appear, asking you where you want to save the video. Choose a location and click “Save”. The video will begin downloading. Once the download is complete, you can open the video in VLC Media Player and start watching.

In addition to downloading videos from websites, VLC Media Player can also be used to download videos from DVDs and Blu-ray discs. To do this, simply insert the disc into your computer’s drive and open VLC Media Player. Then, click on the “Media” menu and select “Open Disc”. A dialog box will appear, asking you which disc you want to open. Select the disc and click “Open”. VLC Media Player will begin playing the disc. To download the video, click on the “File” menu and select “Save”. A dialog box will appear, asking you where you want to save the video. Choose a location and click “Save”. The video will begin downloading. Once the download is complete, you can open the video in VLC Media Player and start watching.

Installing VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open-source media player that supports a wide range of media formats. It’s also capable of downloading videos from various online platforms. Here are the steps on how to install VLC Media Player:

For Windows:

Go to the official VLC Media Player website (https://www.videolan.org/).
Click on the "Download VLC" button.
Select the appropriate version for your Windows system (32-bit or 64-bit).
Run the downloaded installer file and follow the prompts.

For macOS:

Go to the official VLC Media Player website (https://www.videolan.org/).
Click on the "Download VLC" button.
Select the "macOS" tab and click on the "Download VLC" button.
Open the downloaded disk image file (.dmg) and drag the VLC application icon to your Applications folder.

For Linux:

Open your package manager (e.g., apt, yum, etc.).
Search for "vlc" and install the VLC package.
Once the installation is complete, launch VLC Media Player from your applications menu.

Additional Notes:

VLC Media Player is available for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
The specific installation steps may vary slightly depending on your operating system and version.
If you encounter any issues during the installation process, refer to the VLC Media Player website or online support forums for assistance.

Locating the Video You Want to Download

There are several ways to locate the video you want to download using VLC:

From a Website

If you want to download a video from a website, you need to get the video’s URL. To do this, right-click on the video and select “Copy video URL” or “Copy video address.” Once you have the URL, open VLC and click on the “Media” menu. Select “Open Network Stream” and paste the URL into the “Network URL” field. VLC will then start playing the video. To download the video, click on the “Tools” menu and select “Download Current File.”

From a File on Your Computer

If you want to download a video that is already on your computer, open VLC and click on the “Media” menu. Select “Open File” and browse to the video file. Once you have selected the video file, VLC will start playing it. To download the video, click on the “Tools” menu and select “Download Current File.”

From a Streaming Service

If you want to download a video from a streaming service, you will need to use a third-party software program. There are many different software programs available, so you will need to research and find one that works for you. Once you have a software program, you will need to open the video in the program and select the “Download” option.

Enabling Video Downloading

VLC is a versatile media player that not only allows you to watch videos but also enables you to download them with ease. To activate this feature, follow these steps:

Open VLC Media Player.
Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Preferences.”
Click on the “Input/Codecs” tab. Scroll down to the “Network” section and check the box next to “Enable Video Downloading Service.” Click “Save.”
Restart VLC to apply the changes.

Advanced Video Downloading Options

Once video downloading is enabled, you can customize the download settings to suit your preferences:

Open VLC Media Player and navigate to “Preferences” as mentioned earlier. Click on the “Network” tab and scroll down to the “Advanced Video Downloading Settings” section:

Setting	Description	Default
Download Directory	Specify the location where downloaded videos will be saved	User’s Downloads folder
Max. Concurrent Downloads	Limit the number of simultaneous video downloads	5
Max. Download File Size	Limit the maximum file size for downloaded videos	100 MB
Cache Directory	Specify the location where temporary files created during the download process will be stored	User’s AppData\Local\Temp folder
Cache Size	Limit the maximum size of the temporary cache folder	100 MB
Chunk Size	Specify the size of the data chunks that are downloaded at a time	5 MB
Segmentation	Enable video segmentation to download videos in smaller parts	Disabled

By adjusting these settings, you can optimize the video downloading process according to your network speed, disk space availability, and personal preferences.

Selecting the Download Destination

Once you’ve clicked the “Convert” button, you’ll be prompted to choose a location for the downloaded video. Here are the steps to select the download destination:

Choose the Output File

Click on the “Browse” button next to the “Output file” field.
Navigate to the Desired Destination Folder

In the “Save As” dialog box, navigate to the folder where you want to save the downloaded video.
Enter a File Name

In the “File name” field, type the desired file name for the video.
Configure Advanced Output Settings (Optional)

If desired, you can click on the “Advanced Options” button to customize additional output settings, such as the video codec, resolution, and bit rate. However, these settings are typically fine-tuned for most users.

Click “Save”

Once you’re satisfied with the output file and settings, click the “Save” button to confirm the download destination.

Initiating the Download Process

Beginning the download process for videos using VLC Media Player is straightforward and consists of a few simple steps:

1. Open VLC Media Player

Launch VLC Media Player on your computer. VLC is a free and open-source media player that supports various video and audio formats.

2. Open the Media Menu

Click on the “Media” menu located at the top-left corner of the VLC window.

3. Select “Open Network Stream”

Under the “Media” menu, choose the “Open Network Stream” option. A new window labeled “Open Media” will appear.

4. Enter the Video URL

In the “Enter a network resource” field, paste the URL of the video you want to download. Ensure the URL begins with “http” or “https”.

5. Advanced Download Options

VLC provides advanced download options to customize the download process. Click on the “Show more options” button located at the bottom of the “Open Media” window to access these options.

Option	Description
Start Time	Specify the starting time of the video download.
Stop Time	Specify the ending time of the video download.
Segment	Download a specific segment of the video.
Transcoding	Convert the video to a different format during download.

Monitoring the Download Progress

Once you have started downloading a video using VLC, you can monitor its progress in the following ways:

In the VLC window:

The VLC window will display a progress bar that indicates how much of the video has been downloaded. Additionally, the status bar at the bottom of the window will show the current download speed and estimated time remaining for the download.

In the file explorer:

If you have configured VLC to save downloaded videos to a specific folder, you can monitor the download progress by opening the folder in a file explorer. The progress of the download will be reflected in the file size of the partially downloaded video file.

Using the command line:

If you are using VLC to download videos from the command line, you can use the –verbose option to display detailed download progress information. The output of the command will include the current download speed, estimated time remaining, and other relevant statistics.

Using a third-party extension:

There are third-party extensions available for VLC that can provide additional download progress monitoring features. For example, the VLSub extension can display a progress bar and other information about the download in a separate window.

Using a network monitoring tool:

If you have a network monitoring tool installed on your computer, you can use it to monitor the download progress of videos downloaded using VLC. Network monitoring tools can provide insights into the download speed, data usage, and other metrics related to the download process.

Using the VLC web interface:

If you are using VLC’s web interface to download videos, you can monitor the download progress in the “Downloads” section of the web interface. The web interface will display a progress bar, estimated time remaining, and other relevant information for each ongoing download.

Saving the Downloaded Video

Once the download is complete, you can save the video to your desired location. Follow these steps:

7. Saving the Downloaded Video

1. Navigate to the location where the video is downloaded. By default, it’s saved in the default download folder on your computer.

2. Select the video file and right-click.

3. Choose the “Move to” or “Copy to” option from the context menu.

Operating System	Instruction
Windows	Select the desired folder and click “Move to” or “Copy to.”
MacOS	Choose “Move To” and select the desired folder.
Linux	Select “Copy to” and navigate to the desired folder.

4. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Yes” or “OK” to move or copy the video.

5. The video will now be saved in the selected folder.

Troubleshooting Downloading Issues

1. Ensure VLC is Up-to-Date

Firstly, make sure you’re running the latest version of VLC. Outdated versions may encounter compatibility issues while downloading videos.

2. Check Internet Connectivity

Ensure your internet connection is stable and fast enough for video downloading. Slow or unstable internet can lead to download failures.

3. Verify Video URL

Double-check the video URL you’re trying to download. Make sure it’s a valid and direct link to the video file.

4. Disable Ad Blockers

Some ad blockers may interfere with video downloads. Temporarily disable them to see if they resolve the issue.

5. Check File Permissions

Ensure you have write permissions for the directory you’re downloading the video to. Without proper permissions, VLC may be unable to create or modify files.

6. Adjust Download Location

If possible, try downloading the video to a different location. It could be a different drive or a folder with less clutter, which can sometimes help.

7. Enable Advanced Recording Options

In VLC, open “Preferences,” go to “Input/Codecs,” and check the box for “Enable advanced recording options.” This may resolve some download issues.

8. Advanced Troubleshooting

If none of the above solutions work, consider the following:

Advanced Downloading Options

General Settings

Customize the video’s filename, destination folder, and whether to keep the original file after conversion. You can also select the preferred video format and quality.

Codec Selection

Choose the video and audio codecs used for encoding. Select codecs that support your desired output format and provide the best balance of quality and file size.

Video Settings

Frame Rate Conversion

Convert the video’s frame rate to match the target device’s display specifications. This can improve video smoothness and playback quality.

Resolution Scaling

Scale the video’s resolution up or down to match the desired output size. Scaling up can improve image quality, while scaling down reduces file size.

Crop and Zoom

Crop or zoom the video to focus on specific areas or remove unwanted content. Use the “Align” options to precisely position the crop or zoom region.

Deinterlace

Convert interlaced video to progressive format. This removes the alternating line patterns that can cause artifacts and improve image quality.

Audio Settings

Bitrate and Sampling Rate

Select the audio bitrate (kbps) and sampling rate (Hz) to control the quality and file size. Higher values generally result in better sound quality.

Channel Configuration

Choose the number and arrangement of audio channels for the output. Common options include stereo (2 channels), surround sound (5.1 channels), or mono (1 channel).

Controls

Start, pause, resume, or stop the download using the provided buttons. You can also monitor the progress and estimated time remaining.

Legal Considerations

It is vital to be mindful of the legal implications of downloading videos using VLC. Copyright laws vary across different countries, and it is essential to familiarize yourself with the local regulations to ensure you are not infringing upon any rights.

Generally, it is acceptable to download videos for personal use, but distributing or sharing them without proper authorization can lead to legal consequences. It is advisable to only download videos from sources that explicitly grant permission for personal use.

To avoid copyright infringement, consider the following guidelines:

Only download videos from trusted and reputable sources.
Check the copyright status of the video before downloading.
Download videos solely for personal use and avoid sharing or distributing them.
Be cautious of downloading videos from paid streaming services without proper authorization.
If you are unsure about the copyright status of a video, it is best to err on the side of caution and refrain from downloading it.

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
File Corruption	Unstable internet connection	Restart the download
Slow Download Speed	Limited bandwidth	Check internet connection or change download time
Failed Downloads	Firewall or antivirus blocking	Configure firewall or antivirus to allow VLC

Scenario	Legality
Downloading a public domain video	Legal
Downloading a copyrighted video for personal use	May be legal, but only if the source permits it
Downloading a copyrighted video and distributing it to others	Illegal
Downloading a video from a paid streaming service without paying	Illegal
Downloading a video with unknown copyright status	Best to refrain from downloading