VLC is the most popular open source media player on the internet. It plays broken files, incomplete files and virtually every file format out there, including MOV files. There’s no reason not to use VLC. Though VLC supporting playing MOV files, sometimes cannot played on VLC. Have you tried playing a .mov file on your VLC and it cannot play? I am sure you have encountered with some files. Let me shade some light if you are still in the dark if your VLC cannot play such format. Since MOV files was developed by Apple computer it has it consists of Apple graphics codec that is not compatible with all media players.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media playerThere are a number of solutions to this. You can either install a media player that is compatible with this codec or you can you use the fantastic Wondershare app called Pavtube Video Converter ( Read Review ). This lets you convert MOV files to a compatible format in which you can play it via Quick Time. You can play .mov files using the Mac version ( read review ) or using the windows version.

Recommend Product:

* Professional – Convert MOV to VLC friendly playing-format like H.264 MP4.
Powerful – Convert MOV, MP4, MKV , H.265, FLV , MXF, AVCHD etc to VLC format.
* 250+ formats of video and audio – You can now convert video of any kind; whether it is high definition of standard format.
* Convert at high speeds – Get your video converted in the shortest time, with speeds ranging up to 6X.
* Maintains video quality – Even though your videos will be converted at high speeds, the quality will not be compromised since there is no compression going on.
* Compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP

Free download the best MOV to VLC Video Converter:

Step 1. Import MOV video

Click the “Add File” button to add MOV files which are not playable in VLC player to this VLC Converter app.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 2. Set VLC supported format

Click the “Format” drop-down button to select VLC supported video format from “CommonVideo” Category or “HD Video” Category.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 3. Convert MOV to VLC Format

Click the “Convert” button to start and finish converting MP4 to VLC more supported format to successfully play MP4 in VLC.

by Christine Smith • 2021-07-12 15:08:18 • Proven solutions

VLC is a must-have since it not only plays an endless list of multimedia files on various operating systems but also streams videos efficiently on various devices, without any encoding requirements. One can enjoy the long list of favorite movies, sitting anywhere in their house using both VLC Media Player and Streamer. Here is a basic how-to for you to steam and enjoy video on multiple devices with either software.

Part 1. How to Use VLC Media Player to Stream Videos

VLC Media Player is an excellent media player from VideoLAN that plays all kinds of multimedia files and streams video on a network. You can download Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, or iOS versions according to your device. Then follow the steps below (take Windows for example).

Step 1 Download and install VLC Media Player first, launch it, and click on Media>Open File.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 2 Click on the Add button and choose the file you want to stream.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 3 Click on the Stream button and then choose Settings.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 4 Now, the Stream Output dialog box would open, check the Play Locally box and click Stream to proceed to provide the computer you’re setting up is just the place you want to stream video to. Otherwise, click the UDP box, fill in the IP address of the computer you want to stream to, and leave the Port as 1234.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 5 Now install VLC to the device/computer you want to stream movies and open it afterward.

Step 6 Click on File, then choose Open Network Stream. Don’t change any settings and click OK.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 7 If everything has gone right, the video file should start playing on the remote computer in 10 seconds or so!

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Part 2: How to Stream Videos to a mobile device via VLC Streamer

Developed by Hobbyist Software Ltd., VLC Streamer is the software that uses VLC to convert movies to a suitable format for iOS and Android devices. You can download Windows, Android, or iOS as you need. The following is a step-by-step instruction for your reference.

Step 1 Download VLC Streamer Helper, in this case for Windows and add the movie you would like to stream.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 2 Now, go to VLC Streamer on your mobile device, in this case for iPhone and open the VLC Streamer, it should start by screening for available computers.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 3 Once your computer (Windows or Mac) is detected and displayed on the mobile device, click on your computer name in the list.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 4 Add the movie from the list available or type the movie name to directly search it.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 5 Now, it would take you to the Streaming Quality page, select the resolution, and click Watch! to proceed.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Step 6 Then you’ll be able to see the movie playing on your mobile device in 10-15 seconds.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

Note: VLC Streamer mainly aims at streaming videos on your mobile devices from your computer whereas there’s no such limitation for VLC media player, you can stream video to computer and mobile device from any device with VLC installed.

Part 3. The Best VLC Assistant

Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate), more powerful than VLC, is available for Windows and Mac that plays any audio and video files instantly without any glitches. It has so many superb features that far surpass other competitors in the market-convert, download, edit, burn, record, stream, and play videos.

How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

The Best VLC Assistant -All-In-One Video Solution!

  • Convert to 1000+ formats, like AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, etc.
  • Convert to optimized preset for almost all of the devices
  • 30X faster conversion speed than any conventional converters
  • Edit, enhance & personalize your videos file
  • Download/record videos from 10000+ video sharing sites
  • Fetch metadata for your iTunes movies automatically
  • Versatile toolbox combines fix video metadata, GIF maker, VR converter and screen recorder
  • Industry-leading APEXTRANS technology converts videos with zero quality loss or video compression
  • Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, Mac OS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11 (El Capitan), 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6

With Wondershare UniConverter, you can convert MOD to QuickTime MOV easily. Move to How to Convert MOD to QuickTime MOV >> to learn more.

VLC Media Player allows us to easily stream videos from online sources. Online videos from video hosting sites like YouTube, DailyMotion, LiveLeak etc can be opened and played from VLC Media Player. It can stream audio radio as well, but this post deals with only streaming video. Streaming videos is really simple and easily.

To stream online videos to your machine using VLC Media Player follow these steps :

  1. Get the url from the address bar of your browser for the online video that you want to play. As an example we are going to use the url: which is a video from live leak.
  2. In VLC Media Player, on the menu bar click on Media and then Open Network Stream [CTRL + N] is the shortcut.
    How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player
  3. Paste the video URL in the “Please enter a network URL” input field.How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player
  4. In the bottom, make sure to click on the Play button.
  5. Depending upon your internet bandwidth, VLC Media Player will begin playing the online video right from the local player.
    How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player

In VLC for Android (app)

  • Click on the hamburger menu (three lines on the top-left)
  • Tap on Stream
  • Input your video address in the box
    How to watch youtube videos in vlc media player
  • Hit the go button.

Why Play Online Videos using VLC?

  • You will get to use all the features of VLC media player on the online video that you are playing.
  • Features include: Playing speed, subtitles, using playlists for continuous videos, several audio and video effects to name a few.
  • You will also skip annoying advertisements placed on videos when you play them online.
  • You will not require browser plugins like flash which is required for online video players.
  • In conclusion, you will have more control over the video that you will be playing. But one limitation is that you won’t be able to select the quality of videos as VLC seems to choose the best quality automatically.

Note : It should be noted on whether all the videos are legal to be played via VLC or not. Some sites depend upon video advertising and when you are skipping it using VLC, it might be against their TOS.

Video Tutorial

14 thoughts to “Stream Online Videos to Your PC Using VLC Media Player”

How come VLC will open videos on some websites, like Youtube and LiveLeak, but not others, like the BBC website? Will this ever come about?

It all depends on the sites the developers decide to support for streaming. They need to keep the streaming feature updated as well because those video hosting sites are changing all the time.