VLC for iOS is a free multimedia player that lets you play music and video content. You can download this handy program for Mac, Microsoft Windows PC, iOS, and Android devices. While the user interface is straightforward, the platform has dynamic benefits that let you customize your viewing experience.

As an open-source cross-platform multimedia player, VLC for iOS plays most multimedia files as well as various streaming protocols. Safe, powerful, and completely free, the app can play a range of media, including video and music files, in multiple formats directly on your device of choice.

What is VLC for iOS used for?

One of VLC for iOS' standout features is its support for numerous file formats, including MKV, ensuring compatibility with most media types. The app also includes subtitle support and can handle various network streams such as HLS, MMS, and RTSP, enhancing its functionality. The built-in ‘Media Library’ lets you organize your files into categories such as ‘All Files’, ‘Music Albums’, and ‘TV Shows’, making it easy to start playing media.

The app is designed to deliver an excellent viewing experience across various devices, including computers, laptops, and smartphones. Its simple and intuitive interface emphasizes visuals, allowing users to immerse themselves in their favorite content without distractions. Whether you're catching up on TV series, enjoying movies, or listening to music videos, this makes it easy to access a wide range of multimedia options.

A ‘Network’ segment has ‘Local Network’, ‘Network Stream’, and ‘Sharing via WiFi’ options. The ‘Download’ and ‘Cloud Services’ choices let you explore the multimedia files that you have saved. The app lets you sync your cloud storage drives to retrieve media, like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive. A ‘Settings’ area is available in the main menu to give you additional preferences to customize.

Further features and some flaws

VLC for iOS provides a menu with standard controls such as rewind, forward, pause, and play, with a visible timeline that indicates the current playback time starting from zero. Easily navigate through the video by dragging the lever on the timeline. Additionally, a full-screen button allows you to expand the video display, while editing tools enable real-time adjustments like brightness, contrast, gamma, hue, and saturation for a more personalized viewing experience.

Safety is a priority when using VLC for iOS, as the trusted official app can be downloaded to ensure the absence of harmful content. It’s completely free to download and use, with an option for users to support the developers at VideoLAN through donations if they choose. Being an open-source project, it allows you to review its source code, ensuring transparency and safety while also enabling personal modifications.

The latest VLC on iOS update has introduced compatibility with Apple CarPlay, letting you enjoy your favorite media while driving. This integration provides access to all features through the car's interface, enabling streaming of local and online music and the creation of playlists. However, due to IOS’ nature, some formats can’t run on it. A version tailored for Apple’s Vision Pro headset was also made for a better viewing experience.

Trustworthy music and video player

VLC for iOS is a convenient, cross-platform software that lets you tune into your multimedia content to play music, music videos, movies, TV episodes, and more. The freeware syncs with your cloud services to access your saved media files. It supports many file formats on each version of the application, making it a household name for decades now because of its sheer versatility.