Download Files Using VLC Media Player
We all are pretty familiar with VLC Media Player. We usually use this multi-platform software to play various types of audio and video files. But only a few people know that VLC can also be used to download files.
Steps
- Open your web browser, open the website from where you want to download your desired media file. Lets say you want to download a video clip from YouTube.
- Search the video in YouTube and Copy the path of that video direct from address bar.
- Open VLC Media Player in your computer system & press CTRL+N. It'll open 'Open Media' window for you.
Paste that path (you copied in Step 2) in 'Please enter a network URL:' and click 'Play'. - As soon as you'll click 'Play', VLC player will automatically start streaming & playing that video clip. You may pause, stop, rewind, fast forward and play that clip at any point in VLC media player.
- Click "Tools" and select "Codec Information".
It'll open 'Current Media Information' window for you. - Under 'Location:', you'll be able to see a link. This is the actual download link of file.
- Right-click this download link & select 'Select All'.
- Right-click this download link again & select 'Copy'.
- Open your web browser, paste this link (you copied in Step 8) in address bar. Press 'Enter' key.
- Your browser will automatically start streaming & playing the video clip.
- Right-click anywhere on the browser window in which video is being played and select 'Save Video As'. Press 'Enter' key.
- Your browser will start downloading the video file.
That's all.
Tips
- You can also download .mp3, .mp4, .flv, .wmv, .avi and many more extension files using this trick.
- You can download videos form popular social networks like Facebook, Myspace, Google Plus as well.
Warnings
- You may also need administrative privileges in order to stream video over VLC Media Player and your browser. Better log in to your system as an administrator.
- You must have an active internet connection or your computer must be connected to internet to download files.
- Usually you can download almost every file using VLC Media Player. But if server restrictions are there, then you may not be able to download that file. For example: websites run by Government don't allow anonymous users to download video files directly.
