VLC v3.0.20

lwc on 11 Nov 2023
  • 121MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 31 Oct 2023
  • Suggested by Andrew Lee

VLC is a skinnable, feature-rich media player that supports a wide variety of multimedia file and streaming formats. It can play files while they download, from inside RAR files, online radio stations, convert video formats and much more.

The software can also behave as a streaming server for delivering video in unicast or multicast mode.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes. If following "How to extract".
Unicode support: Yes
License: GPL
How to extract:
  1. Download the latest (64 or 32 bit) ZIP or 7Z package
  2. Extract to a folder of your choice.
  3. Create subfolder called portable
  4. Launch vlc.exe.

Optionally, delete unnecessary locales, and avoid optional traces by running (see this) VLC with a custom config like vlc --config=zero-cache containing:
[qt]
qt-recentplay=0
qt-privacy-ask=0

[core]
plugins-cache=0
Similar/alternative apps: MPC-HC, SMPlayer, PotPlayer
What's new? See:
  1. https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/

92 comments on VLC  The Portable Freeware Collection Latest Entries Feed

MoisheP 2023-10-13 14:18

It might be easier for some to download the Windows installer, e.g., vlc-3.0.19-win64.exe directly from videolan.org and unpack using 7-Zip to the VLC folder.

v3.0.19

PAFuser 2022-03-07 20:48

Also available from PortableApps.com (32 bit). (64 bit can replace PortableApps 32 bit files.)

v3.0.17

lwc 2021-11-05 04:05

Per the last comment (or rather comments), it's true VLC is infamous for never including the 64 bit in the regular download page.
I've therefore edited the entry to link to an official archive (more techy page) that always contains both the latest 64 and 32 bit versions (in both 7Z and regular ZIP).

v3.0.16

mukhi 2021-10-21 02:18

The latest ZIP or 7Z package does not seem to have a 64bit version (the name being vlc-3.0.16-win32). Moreover, you need to create the portable subfolder only in the same folder as vlc.exe.

v3.0.16

juverax 2021-06-10 09:09

The download page to VLC v.3.0.15 is: http://ftp.videolan.org/vlc/3.0.15/

v3.0.15

zorro 2018-03-01 12:05

"Download the ZIP-Package" in description is a bit misleading: fuzzing around with the scripted download-button, you won't find a ZIP. At least I didn't find it.
Simpler: select "our FTP archive" under "older versions" (lefthand, underneath the small slideshow) - there you also find the newest versions as ZIP.

v3.0.1

zorro 2018-02-12 13:18

..at least with "native skin" there's no QT-Key left behind - I just checked it. When activating alternative skins, the Key appears but can be handled with a batch or portable starter like gbrao mentioned.

v3.0.0

gbrao 2018-02-12 07:06

The file vlcrc in the 'portable' folder has this entry :

[skins2] # Skinnable Interface
# Skin to use (string)
skins2-last=vlc_deepdark.vlt

VLC seems to accept relative paths (here at least). I have vlc_deepdark.vlt in the same directory as vlc.exe and it works OK.

Also with 3.0.0, no files/dirs left anywhere else. But creates a QT reg key :
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\QtProject\OrganizationDefaults\FileDialog

I run vlc from a NSIS exe which deletes that key after VLC exits.

v3.0.0

lastaltoid 2017-12-07 05:06

BTW, these (zip and 7zip) have been described elsewhere as 'portable', they do not require installation (unpack and run), they apparently still some files (including an INI) in user AppData folder. I have not verified that.

v2.2.8

lastaltoid 2017-12-07 04:59

@MIKLO
They have made 64 bit versions - they're just hard to find!
Pick your flavor from the drop-down menu: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
Or get it direct: https://get.videolan.org/vlc/2.2.8/win32/vlc-2.2.8-win32.7z.
I have a program that relies on VLC's 64 bit codecs, so I had to search for it.

v2.2.8

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