Download VLC for macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel)
Official VLC 3.0.23 for macOS — native Apple Silicon (M1–M4) and Intel builds from videolan.org. Install steps, Gatekeeper handling and macOS-specific issues.
Official Download — No Bundle · VLC 3.0.23 · ~55 MB
Official Download — No Bundle — VLC 3.0.23Note: videolan.org · macOS 12 (Monterey) and later · Apple Silicon & Intel
VLC for macOS is distributed as a .dmg file from videolan.org — there is no App Store sandbox on the official build, so it can access your whole media library. Choose the Apple Silicon build on M1–M4 Macs for native speed. Below: install steps, the Gatekeeper note, and the macOS-specific issues that come up most.
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Available builds
| Build | File | Note |
|---|---|---|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | vlc-3.0.23-arm64.dmg | Native ARM64 build for M1–M4 Macs. |
| macOS (Intel) | vlc-3.0.23-x86_64.dmg | For Intel Macs. |
System requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer; macOS 14/15 (Sonoma/Sequoia) fully supported |
| CPU | Apple Silicon (M1–M4) or Intel x86-64 |
| RAM | 1 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended for 4K |
| GPU | Integrated or discrete GPU with Metal support |
| Disk | ~200 MB free after installation |
| Display | Retina / HiDPI supported |
Install steps
Step 1Step 1 — Download the right architecture
Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4): choose "macOS (Apple Silicon)". Intel Macs: choose "macOS (Intel)". The .dmg is ~55 MB. The download mounts automatically when finished.
Step 2Step 2 — Drag to Applications
Drag the VLC icon into the Applications folder. The first launch may show a Gatekeeper warning ("VLC cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software") — right-click VLC → Open → Open. This is expected for ad-hoc-signed open-source apps.
Step 3Step 3 — First-run check
Open VLC, grant folder access when macOS asks (Desktop/Documents/Movies), then verify Help → About VLC shows 3.0.23. Play a test file to confirm picture and sound.