VLC Media Player is famous for playing absolutely anything — but hidden inside it is a capable little converter that most users never discover. If a video is in the wrong format for your TV, phone or editor, VLC can convert it to MP4, WebM, AVI and more, and it can even pull the audio out of a video as an MP3. No extra software, no watermarks, no cost.
This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to use VLC’s built-in converter, which settings to choose, and how to fix the common problems people run into.
Quick Answer
To convert a video with VLC: open the Media menu, choose “Convert/Save,” add your video file, click “Convert/Save” again, pick a profile such as “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4),” choose a destination file name ending in .mp4, and click Start. VLC then plays through the file silently while writing the converted copy — when the progress bar finishes, your new file is ready. The same process with an MP3 audio profile extracts just the soundtrack from any video.
Before You Start
Make sure you have a current version of VLC from the official VideoLAN website — old copies bundled with other software sometimes lack codecs. VLC’s converter works on Windows, Mac and Linux with identical menus. One honest expectation first: VLC’s converter is a convenience tool, not a production converter. It offers fewer quality controls than HandBrake, it converts in real time (a two-hour film can take a while), and very occasionally an odd file confuses it. For quick, everyday conversions it is perfect.
How to Convert a Video, Step by Step
- Open VLC and click the Media menu at the top left.
- Choose “Convert/Save” (or press Ctrl + R on Windows).
- Add your file. On the File tab, click “Add,” browse to your video, and select it. If the video has a separate subtitle file you want included, tick “Use a subtitle file” and browse for it here.
- Click “Convert/Save” at the bottom to move to the Convert window.
- Choose a profile. From the Profile dropdown pick “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)” for the most compatible result — this plays on virtually every TV, phone and console. For web uploads, “Video – VP9 + Vorbis (WebM)” is the modern web option.
- Set the destination. Click “Browse,” pick a folder, and type a file name with the correct extension — for example
holiday.mp4. This step matters: VLC uses your extension to confirm the container. - Click “Start.” The VLC window becomes a player with a moving progress bar but no picture — that is normal. It is “playing” the file into the new format.
- Wait for the progress bar to finish and the player to return to the VLC logo screen. Your converted file is now in the destination folder. Play it fully once to check picture and sound.
Converting Several Files at Once
VLC can batch-convert, though it is a little hidden. In the Convert/Save window you can add multiple files with the Add button before clicking Convert/Save — but VLC will ask for one destination and combine behaviour can be quirky. A cleaner approach for many files: add them all to a playlist (drag them into VLC), then choose Media > Convert/Save and select “Playlist” as the source. Honestly, for big batches a dedicated tool is less frustrating; the batch workflow is where HandBrake pulls far ahead.
Extracting Audio: Video to MP3
The same window turns any video into an audio file. Add the video, click Convert/Save, and in the Profile dropdown choose “Audio – MP3.” Set a destination ending in .mp3 and click Start. This is perfect for saving a lecture, interview or your own recorded presentation as listen-anywhere audio. To adjust quality, click the small wrench icon next to the profile and raise the bitrate to 256 or 320 kbps on the Audio tab.
Fine-Tuning With the Wrench Icon
Clicking the wrench (edit) icon beside the profile list lets you customise: change the video codec (H.264 for compatibility, H.265 for smaller files on modern devices), set a specific resolution under the Video tab’s size fields, or force a frame rate. A useful preset to save: H.264 at the original resolution with quality (crf) around 20 — click the “Create a new profile” icon, configure it once, and it appears in your dropdown forever.
If you regularly convert large files or need precise quality control, our guide on the best free video converter software for Windows explains when to switch from VLC to HandBrake or Shutter Encoder.
Common Mistakes and Pro Tips
- Mistake: forgetting the file extension. If you name the destination “movie” with no .mp4, some players will not recognise the result. Always type the extension that matches your profile.
- Mistake: closing VLC mid-conversion. The silent player window looks idle but it is working. Closing it kills the conversion and can leave a corrupt file.
- Mistake: no audio in the output. This usually means the source audio codec was unusual. Re-run and on the wrench icon’s Audio tab, set the codec to MP3 or AAC explicitly instead of “Keep original.”
- Tip: convert from the original every time. Converting an already-converted file stacks quality losses.
- Tip: check a one-minute test. Convert a short clip with your settings before committing an afternoon to a feature film.
When VLC Is the Wrong Tool for the Job
VLC’s converter earns its place for quick, occasional conversions, but be honest about its limits before a big project. It converts serially and slowly compared with a dedicated encoder, offers no proper queue with per-file settings, and its quality control is a blunt bitrate box where HandBrake gives you intelligent constant-quality encoding. Subtitle handling during conversion is also fragile — selectable subtitle tracks often survive poorly, which is why our HandBrake guide treats subtitles in their own tab with burn-in options. If you find yourself converting more than a couple of files a week, or converting long films where a failed encode wastes an evening, that is the signal to move up: keep VLC for playback and one-off tweaks, and let a purpose-built converter do the heavy lifting. Recognising when a handy built-in tool has reached its ceiling is part of using it well.
Conclusion
VLC’s built-in converter is the quickest way to change a video’s format when the software is already on your PC: Media > Convert/Save, add the file, pick the H.264 MP4 profile, name the destination with the right extension, and let it run. It converts audio to MP3 just as easily. For heavy or repeated work, step up to a dedicated converter — but for everyday one-off jobs, VLC is all most people need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VLC convert video for free with no watermark?
Yes. VLC is free, open-source software. Its converter adds no watermark, has no time limits and does not require any licence or account.
Why is my converted file playing with no sound?
The source file’s audio codec was probably not carried over correctly. Repeat the conversion, click the wrench icon next to the profile, open the Audio tab and set the codec to MP3 (for MP4 profiles) or AAC explicitly, rather than keeping the original.
Can VLC convert MKV to MP4?
Yes. Add the MKV file in Convert/Save, select the “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)” profile, name the destination with an .mp4 extension and start. VLC re-encodes the video, so the process takes some time on long files.
How do I convert a video to MP3 in VLC?
Open Media > Convert/Save, add the video, click Convert/Save, then choose the “Audio – MP3” profile. Set a destination ending in .mp3 and click Start. VLC writes an audio-only file.
Why does VLC conversion seem stuck?
VLC converts by playing the file silently, so the progress bar moves at roughly playback speed for long videos — it is working, not stuck. Very high resolutions and slow PCs extend the time further. Leave it running and do not close the window.
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