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VLC is a free media player that enables you to play almost all kinds of audio & video files, as well as DVDs. However, VLC files cannot be played on iPhone, iPad, Android device and more. If you want to enjoy the VLC videos on your cell phone or other portable devices, you have to convert them to MP4 first.

And this tutorial is an easy walkthrough on how to convert VLC to MP4 with 2 different and efficient solutions. Let’s jump right into it.

Part 1: What is a VLC file

A VLC file is a media playlist used by VLC media player. It is usually saved as .M3U and .PLS files, but uses the .VLC file extension. It is associated with ACUCOBOL-GT license file to make sure the VLC media player can run properly and will not be pirated or used illegally.

The VLC media player, created by the VideoLAN project, is also known to play the VLC file. And the VLC files that are used by VLC media playback application contain data files referenced by this player.

Part 2. Convert VLC files to MP4 with VLC directly

VLC media player is not only limited to video playback, but also works well for VLC to MP4 video conversion. It is easy and convenient, so you do not need to download another video converter specially.

Step 1: Launch VLC media player

Open VLC app on your computer, then tap on the “Media” menu on the top navigation bar. And you can see a drop-down menu.

Step 2: Go to “Convert” menu

From the dropbox, click on the “Convert / Save...” option to get into the “Convert” menu. Or you can press “Ctrl + R” on your keyboard.

Step 3: Import video to VLC

Next click on the “Add” button, and select a VLC file that you wish to convert to MP4 from local folders of your computer. You can also import more videos at the same time.

VLC is compatible with almost video formats, so, it is capable of converting MOD, MKV, ASF, SWF, FLV, 3GP, RMVB, DAT, VOB, etc., to MP4.

Step 4: Select MP4 for the conversion

In the “Target file” box, choose the destination folder for the new video, then select MP4 as the target output format under the “Profile” option.

Step 5: Convert VLC to MP4

Once you have chosen all settings, just tap on the “Start” button to launch the VLC to MP4 conversion. Wait for a while and you can view the MP4 video in the destination folder.

Part 3. Best way to convert VLC files to MP4

Due to the variety of VLC video files format, you are highly recommended to use a professional VLC to MP4 video converter for help. And AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate enables you to convert any types of video formats without any loss of quality.

Key Features:

1. Quickly convert videos to a wide range of video formats without quality loss, such as MP4, MOV, AVI, VOB, MKV and etc.2. Convert VLC videos to play on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung, LG, HTC, and other popular digital devices.

2. The powerful video enhancer function enables you to improve the quality of VLC video, and the VLC to MP4 conversion can be completed at a super-fast speed.

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Here is a detailed guide about how to convert VLC to MP4 with AnyMP4 Video Converter:

Step 1: Download VLC to MP4 video converter

Load the official web page of AnyMP4, and download AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate to your computer. Then follow the instructions to install and launch it.

Step 2: Add a VLC file to the program

Click on the “Add Files” from the home screen, and import a VLC video you intend to convert to MP4. Also, you are allowed to add multiple VLC files at the same time.

Step 3: Edit the VLC file

And you are also capable to rotate/ crop/ enhance the added video, and even apply video effects or add watermark to the VLC. Just tap on the “Edit” icon to make it.

Step 4: Select MP4 as output format

Next click on the “Profile” column to set MP4 as the target format for the added VLC. And do not forget to set s destination folder.

Step 5: Start the VLC to MP4 conversion

After previewing the newly video, simply tap on the “Convert All” to convert VLC to MP4. The time to complete the conversion depends on the video size and your settings.

Part 4. FAQs of Converting VLC to MP4

Does VLC play MP4?

Yes, VLC can play MP4 and other media files. It can play 3GP, ASF, AVI, DVR-MS, FLV, Matroska (MKV), MIDI, QuickTime File Format, MP4, Ogg, OGM, WAV, MPEG-2 (ES, PS, TS, PVA, MP3), AIFF, Raw audio, Raw DV, MXF, VOB, RM, Blu-ray, DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD, CD Audio, DVB, HEIF, AVIF, AAC, AC3, ALAC, AMR, DTS, DV Audio, XM, FLAC, It, MACE, MOD, Monkey's Audio, MP3, Opus, PLS, QCP, QDM2/QDMC, RealAudio, Speex, Screamtracker 3/S3M, TTA, Vorbis, WavPack, WMA (WMA 1/2, WMA 3 partially).

What format does VLC convert?

VLC can convert ASF, AVI, FLAC, FLV, MP4, MPJPEG, MPEG-2 (ES, MP3), Ogg, PS, PVA, QuickTime File Format, TS, WAV, WebM, AAC, AC-3, DV Audio, FLAC, MP3, Speex, Vorbis
Streaming protocols: HTTP, MMS, RTSP, RTP, UDP, etc.

Where does VLC save converted files?

Before you start converting files using VLC, it will give you the option to choose the destination under the Convert window to save the converted files. You just find the path to get the converted files.

Can VLC convert MP4 to DVD?

No. VLC can rip DVD to the digital formats, but it cannot convert MP4 to DVD disc. For converting MP4 to DVD, you will need the professional DVD burner.

Summary :

VLC media player is a world famous media payer developed by VideoLAN project. It provides different editions used on desktop operating systems (like Windows and Mac) and mobile platforms (like Android, iOS, and iPadOS). This post on MiniTool will introduce VLC to you and then offer some guides on VLC troubleshooting and VLC to MP4/VLC to MP3 conversion.

Quick Navigation :

VLC Media Player

What Is VLC File

VLC files can refer to the files containing the .vlc extension (suffix); they are associated with the ACUCOBOL-GT license. The VLC files are used to install a software license on your computer so that the related programs can run properly without pirating or illegal use.

The media playlists used by VLC media player (also referred to as VideoLAN Client or simply VLC) are also known as VLC files, more generally. VLC media player is a free, open-source, portable, and cross-platform program; it’s also a streaming media server. VLC allows users to play videos and audios on their devices. The VLC files created by this program can contain both video and audio data.

Well, a VLC converter is needed when people want to change the file format from VLC to MP4, VLC to MP3, etc. VLC media player itself can work as a VLC video converter, but it is not useful all the time. The following content will show you how to use & troubleshoot VLC and provide other choices for VLC file converter.

How to Use VLC as Video Converter

First of all, I’d like to show you how to play videos/audios using VLC briefly.

  1. Open VLC media player on your device.
  2. Select Media from the menu bar at the top.
  3. You’re provided with 3 basic functions: Open File, Open Multiple Files, and Open Folder.
  4. Please select one by a click or pressing the corresponding keyboard shortcut.

How to this VLC media converter:

  1. Also, you need to open VLC.
  2. Select Media from the menu bar.
  3. Choose Convert / Save from the drop-down menu. (You can also press Ctrl+R directly.)
  4. Look at the File Selection area in Open Media window.
  5. Click on the Add button on the right side.
  6. Select one or more files you want to convert and click Open.
  7. Click on the Convert / Save button at the bottom.
  8. Navigate to the Settings area and click to open the drop-down list of Profile.
  9. Select a format for the file.
  10. Click on the Browse button after Destination file to choose a storage path.
  11. Give it a new file name if you like and click Save.
  12. Click on the Start button and wait for the conversion to complete.

Both VLC to MP4 and VLC to MP3 are supported.

VLC Converter Problems & Troubleshooting

Many people are complaining about problems like VLC not converting and VLC not working. Here, I’ll list some of the common issues and give the corresponding solutions to them.

VLC No Sound

It’s much depressed to find out that there’s no sound in VLC when you’re trying to play or convert a video/audio by using it. Please take it easy; you’re not alone. There are many reasons that could lead to VLC no sound problem, including video/audio file corruption, wrong or missing codecs, and configuration/setting error. There are some commonly used solutions to fix VLC sound problems.

Fix 1: check settings.

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Select Audio from menu bar.
  3. Click Mute from the submenu.
  4. Select Tools.
  5. Click Preferences.
  6. Shift to Audio.
  7. Check Enable audio.
  8. Click Save.

Fix 2: reset preferences.

  1. Repeat step 1 ~ 6.
  2. Click on the Reset Preferences button.

Fix 3: adjust audio settings.

  1. Repeat step 1 ~ 6.
  2. Select DirectX audio output as the Output module.

If this didn’t work, you may as well select all other options for Output module and Device one by one.

Fix 4: disable and re-enable Audio Track.

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Play a video in it.
  3. Select Audio from the menu bar.
  4. Choose Audio Track.
  5. Select Disable.
  6. Repeat step 3 & 4 and select Track 1.

Fix 5: update VLC to the latest version.

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Select Help.
  3. Click Check for Updates.
  4. Follow the instructions to download and install if any update is detected.

Fix 6: convert video/audio files to another format.

  1. Download MiniTool Video Converter.
  2. Double click on the setup program and click on the Install Now button to start software installation.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing the software.
  4. Click on the Start Now button to launch the VLC video converter.
  5. Import video files by clicking on the Add Files button.
  6. Edit file name, select an Output storage path, and choose a target file format (with suitable resolution).
  7. Click on the Convert button to convert one video file or click on the Convert All button to batch convert several video files.
  8. Wait for the video conversion to finish and go to check the converted files.

MiniTool Video Converter is a good choice for converting media files including videos and audios; it gives support to 1000+ popular output formats and is totally free without bundle or ads.

Fix 7: troubleshoot Windows no sound problem.

VLC Not Playing MP4

MP4 is the most popular format which can be supported by most applications including VLC. However, some people said they can’t play MP4 videos in VLC; they should try the following solutions.

Fix 1: disable hardware decoding.

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Select Tools from the top menu bar.
  3. Choose Preferences or press Ctrl + P to bring up Simple Preferences.
  4. Look at the Show settings option in the lower left corner.
  5. Check All under it.
  6. Navigate to the Input / Codecs section in the left pane.
  7. Expand Video codecs under it.
  8. Select FFmpeg and navigate to the right pane.
  9. Look for the Hardware decoding option.
  10. Select Disable from the drop-down menu.
  11. Click Save, restart VLC and try to play MP4 files again.

Fix 2: modify video output module.

Vlc Downloader And Converter

  1. Repeat step 1 ~ 5 mentioned in fix 1.
  2. Select Video in the left pane.
  3. Check Enable video under General video settings in the right pane.
  4. Scroll down to look for Window decorations and then check it.
  5. Select X11 video output (XCB) from the drop-down menu of Output.
  6. Click Save to confirm changes and restart the problem.

Fix 3: update VLC.

Open VLC -> select Help -> click Check for Updates -> follow the instructions to download & install updates.

Fix 4: convert MP4 files.

  1. Download MiniTool Video Converter.
  2. Run the setup program to finish software installation.
  3. Click Start Now to open the converter.
  4. Make sure the Converting tab is selected.
  5. Click on the Add Files button at top left or click on the big icon in the middle to bring up the Import Media window.
  6. Navigate to the MP4 file you want to convert; select it and click Open. (You can drag and drop files directly to the certain section when you use the software the next time.)
  7. You can change the file name and output path by clicking on the edit icon after Target.
  8. Click OK to confirm the changes. (You can also click Browse to select a safe location to save the converted files from the drop-down menu of Output at the bottom.)
  9. Click on edit icon inside the dotted box under Target or click on the downward triangle after Convert all files to at the bottom.
  10. Choose an output format from the pop-up window; there are 4 tabs available for you to locate a format quickly: Recently, Video, Audio, and Device.
  11. Click on the Convert button in the middle right or the Convert All button at the bottom right.
  12. Wait for the conversion to finish. There will be a Success prompt under Convert when the process is completed.
  13. Shift to the Converted tab and click on the Show in folder button to have a look at the files converted by this tool.

The steps to convert a file from another format to MP4 are basically the same.

  • Please import the target file in step 6.
  • You should shift to Video, select MP4 in the left pane, and choose a suitable resolution in the right pane in step 10.

VLC Not Converting Audio

You should try the following solutions when you find VLC convert to MP4 not working.

Fix 1: change Strict standard compliance.

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Select Tools from the menu bar.
  3. Choose Preferences from the sub menu.
  4. Shift to the Input / Codecs tab at the top.
  5. Check All under Show settings at the bottom left.
  6. Type ffmpeg into the search box so as to locate FFmpeg quickly.
  7. Select FFmpeg in the left pane and look for Strict standard compliance in the right pane.
  8. Set its value to -2 by clicking on the downward triangle button.
  9. Click on the Save button and then close VLC.
  10. Re-open the program to try converting.

Fix 2: change the Sample Rate of Audio.

  1. Open VLC and import the video file you want to convert.
  2. Select Tools -> choose Codec Information -> check the Sample rate; let’s take 48000 Hz as an example.
  3. Select Media -> choose Convert / Save -> click Add to import the video file.
  4. Click on the Convert / Save button at the bottom.
  5. Navigate to the Settings section -> click on the Edit selected profile icon after Profile.
  6. Shift to the Audio codec tab.
  7. Look for the Sample Rate option -> select 48000 Hz from the drop-down list.
  8. Click Save to confirm the change.
  9. Click on the Browse button at the bottom right -> choose a safe location as the file storage destination.
  10. Click on the Start button and wait for the VLC to MP4 to finish.

Use MiniTool Video Converter Instead of VLC

When you run into the VLC problems mentioned above, you should consider getting an alternative converter like MiniTool Video Converter.

Limitations of VLC

Limitation 1: input format support.

VLC doesn’t give enough support to various codecs or file formats, especially when it comes to DVDs. In the meanwhile, neither the Indeo Video codecs nor the 'undf' audio or video formats are supported.

Limitation 2: output format issue.

You can go to view the VLC supported output formats or codecs by browsing the drop-down menu (you should know that VLC doesn’t give support to VP9). Although you are allowed to customize a new container + codec via advanced settings, it’s very possible that you can’t open the file.

Limitation 3: VLC DVD converter lagging.

  • You may experience lagging in VLC DVD converter when there’s high definition video saved on the local hard drive.
  • In addition, the lagging issue appears when you try to stream the HD media over a network.
  • What’s more, the HD video may freeze or a few frames may skip while playing in the VLC player.

However, the audio can be played well, leading to choppy results.

Limitation 4: video editing ability.

You are not allowed to edit the video after it has been converted using the VLC converter. If you insist on doing so, you will definitely come across image degradation caused by deinterlacing.

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Common VLC Playback Errors

One: AVI playback error.

Some AVI files may be played very slow or in short segments while using VLC. This may be caused by improper settings or bad plugin caches. You can try to fix the problem by resetting the preferences.

Two: MP3 playback issue.

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Some people said their MP3 files are played in a weird way in the VLC player; it sounds like mild hiccups and cracklings. You may as well try to check the Bitrate of MP3 files and the VBR format. Also, you can try to troubleshoot the issue by updating VLC to the latest version.

Three: lagging or skipping.

Your VLC may lag or skip a few frames sometimes as mentioned before. This often happens when you are playing HD video files (any format). What you should try when meeting this problem is modifying the VLC cache size for each video or toggling the hardware acceleration.

Four: freezing and crashing.

The VLC player may freeze or crash when users play an MKV file with a specific subtitle file extension: the .ass. In this case, you may try to change the parameters or disable the hardware decoding to fix the problem.

Five: sound problem.

When playing large MKV files (more than 12 GB), you may run into the VLC sound problems. You should try to disable the hardware decoding to make the sound recognizable.

You may want to convert MKV to MOV when you can’t play MKV on your device or in a certain program. This post shows you how to do it.

Highlights in MiniTool Video Converter

The following features may give you a good reason to choose MiniTool Video Converter.

  • MiniTool Video Converter is totally free, with no bundle or ads.
  • This converter gives support to 1000+ common formats.
  • You are allowed to convert media files to Audio, Video and Device.
  • You can convert more than one video simultaneously, which is called batch video conversion.
  • The conversion speed is fast and it will not lead to quality loss.

Final Words

Video Converter

The VLC media player is very famous and convenient; it provides different edition for different platforms, such as Windows, Mac, and Android. Apart from video playing, it also supports video converting. This post shows you how to use the VLC converter, how to deal with the common problems occurred in VLC, and how to get & use a VLC video converter alternative. You may choose one to use according to your favorites or needs.