VLC

VLC opens local video and audio files in separate libraries, making a crowded Downloads folder easier to navigate. Tap a video to resume playback or browse by folder when filenames are more useful than thumbnails. Music can continue while another app is open, with playback controls in the notification area.

Subtitle handling goes beyond simply switching them on. You can choose an external subtitle file and adjust its timing when dialogue and captions drift apart. This is useful for a film kept on the phone with a separate translation, for example a subtitle file unpacked with an archiver like ZArchiver, where rebuilding the video would be unnecessary.

A network stream can be opened by entering its address, and VLC can browse supported sources on a local network. Playback quality then depends on both the connection and the source server. If a stream stalls, trying a local file helps distinguish a network problem from a decoding problem.

VLC for Android is published by VideoLAN, and the Google Play link leads to VideoLAN’s official listing, where the video and audio libraries shown in the screenshots come from. When an unfamiliar site offers a modified installer, compare the publisher and package name before installing anything on the device: a repackaged copy may look the same but come from someone else.

Built-in codecs cover MKV, FLAC and DVD ISOs

VLC comes with all its codecs included, so there is nothing extra to download when a file refuses to open. The supported list covers MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, Ogg, FLAC, TS, M2TS, Wv and AAC. DVD ISO images play directly, just as they do in the desktop version.

Files with several audio tracks or subtitle streams are handled too. You can switch the dub language or the caption track during playback without restarting the video. Teletext and closed captions are supported as well, which helps with recordings taken from TV broadcasts.

Media does not have to sit in the phone’s own memory. VLC reads files from SD cards, network shares and drives, and it also plays adaptive streams.

Swipes control volume, brightness and seeking

While a video plays, gestures on the screen change the volume and brightness and move through the timeline. That means the control bar rarely needs to be opened during a film. Auto-rotation follows the way you hold the phone.

Aspect-ratio settings are handy on tall modern screens. If a film shows thick black bars or looks stretched, switching the ratio usually fixes it in a couple of taps.

A complete music player with equalizer and widget

The audio side is a full player rather than an extra. Songs are organised in a media library with cover art, and an equalizer and filters let you tune the sound for headphones or a speaker. Rare audio formats play without any conversion.

A home-screen widget controls playback without opening the app. Headset buttons also work, so pausing or skipping a track does not require taking the phone out of a pocket.

No ads, no purchases, and what each permission does

VLC is free and open source. It has no ads and no in-app purchases, so every feature is there from the first launch. Volunteers develop the app, and its source code is public.

Access to photos, media and files is how VLC finds your videos and music, including those on an SD card. Permission to modify storage is used to delete files and to save subtitles. Full network access is needed for streams and shared folders.

Some requests look odd at first. Modify system settings lets you set a track as your ringtone. Draw over other apps powers the picture-in-picture window, and prevent phone from sleeping keeps the screen on during a film. Microphone and run at startup are only asked for on Android TV.