Set VLC as your default player in Windows, Mac, or Linux

VLC becomes your default player through your operating system's settings, not through VLC itself. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, but the result is the same: when you double-click a video file, VLC opens automatically instead of whatever player your system used before.

On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for a video format like MP4, and select VLC from the list. On Mac, right-click a video file, choose "Get Info," click "Open With," select VLC, then click "Change All." On Linux, the process depends on your desktop environment, but usually involves right-clicking a file and choosing "Open With" or editing file associations in your system settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users should go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and assign VLC to each video format they want it to open.
  • Mac users can right-click any video file, select "Get Info," choose VLC under "Open With," and click "Change All" to explore it to all files of that type.
  • VLC does not have a built-in "set as default" button — you must use your operating system's file association settings.
  • You may need to repeat the process for multiple file types (MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV) if your system treats them separately.

Windows 10 and 11: Using the Settings app

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to Apps > Default apps. Scroll down and look for video file types like MP4, MKV, or WebM. Click on the file type you want to change. A window will open showing available programs — find and click VLC media player. The change takes effect when ready.

If you do not see VLC in the list, click "Look for another app on this PC," navigate to your VLC installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC), and select vlc.exe. Repeat this process for each video format you use regularly. Some formats may not appear in the default apps list if no program has claimed them yet — in that case, VLC will open them by default once you set it for at least one format.

Mac: Right-click and change all files of that type

Find any video file on your Mac and right-click it. Select "Get Info" from the menu. In the window that opens, look for the "Open With" section and click the dropdown menu. Scroll through the list to find VLC media player and click it. Once VLC is selected, click the "Change All" button below the dropdown. This tells your Mac to open all files of that type with VLC from now on.

If VLC does not appear in the dropdown, click "Other," navigate to your Applications folder, and select VLC. You may need to repeat this process for different video formats if your Mac treats them as separate file types. After you click "Change All," close the Get Info window — the change is saved automatically.

Linux: File associations through your desktop environment

On Linux, the method depends on whether you use GNOME, KDE, Xfce, or another desktop environment. In GNOME (used by Ubuntu and Fedora), right-click a video file and select "Open With." Click VLC from the list, then look for an option to "Set as default" or "Always use this process." Some versions show a checkbox; others require you to click a button.

In KDE Plasma, right-click a video file, choose "Open With," select VLC, and check the box next to "Remember this process for this file type." If neither option appears in your right-click menu, open your file manager's preferences or settings and look for a "File Associations" or "Default Applications" section. Search for your video format and assign VLC to it there.

What to do if VLC does not appear in the list

If VLC is installed but does not show up when you try to set it as default, the program may not have registered itself with your operating system. On Windows, reinstall VLC and make sure the installer completes fully — do not cancel or close the window early. During installation, VLC will ask whether you want it to handle certain file types; check the boxes for the formats you use.

On Mac, make sure VLC is in your Applications folder, not just on your desktop or in Downloads. If it is in the right place but still does not appear, try dragging VLC to the Trash, emptying the Trash, then downloading and installing it again from videolan.org. On Linux, you may need to install VLC through your package manager (apt, dnf, pacman) rather than downloading it manually, as package manager installations register file associations automatically.

Handling multiple video formats

Your computer may treat different video formats as separate file types. An MP4 file might open with one program while an MKV file opens with another. To make VLC your default for all video, you need to set it for each format separately. Common formats include MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WebM, and FLV.

On Windows, go through the Default apps list and assign VLC to each format you see. On Mac and Linux, right-click a file of each type and set VLC as the default. This takes a few minutes but ensures that any video you open will use VLC. If you later encounter a video format that still opens with a different program, repeat the process for that specific format.

Reverting to a different default player

If you change your mind and want a different program to open videos by default, use the same method you used to set VLC. On Windows, go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select a different program. On Mac, right-click a video file, choose Get Info, select the program you want under "Open With," and click "Change All." On Linux, use your file manager's preferences or right-click menu to reassign the file type.

You can also set different programs as default for different formats. For example, you might use VLC for MKV files but keep Windows Media Player as default for MP4 files. This gives you flexibility if you prefer certain programs for certain types of video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does VLC have a "set as default" button inside the program?

No. VLC does not include a built-in option to set itself as default. You must use your operating system's settings to assign VLC to file types. This is true for most media players on all platforms.

Will setting VLC as default affect other programs I use?

No. Setting VLC as default for video files only changes what opens when you double-click a video. Other programs remain installed and usable; you can still open files with them by right-clicking and choosing "Open With." Your web browser, email, and other applications are not affected.

What if I set VLC as default but some videos still open with a different program?

This usually means you set VLC as default for some formats but not others. Right-click the video that opened in the wrong program, check its file extension (the letters after the dot), and set VLC as default for that specific format. You may also have multiple versions of the same format; for example, some MP4 files use different codecs.

Can I set VLC as default for audio files too?

Yes. The process is identical — go to your operating system's default apps settings and assign VLC to audio formats like MP3, FLAC, OGG, or WAV. VLC plays both audio and video, so it works as a default for either.

Do I need to reinstall VLC to set it as default?

No. If VLC is already installed, you can set it as default through your operating system's settings without reinstalling. Reinstalling is only necessary if VLC does not appear in the list of available programs, which usually means the installation did not complete properly.