Skip to main content

VLC finally lands on Apple TV, with Plex support, and so much more

vlc mobile apple tv itv 2014 predictions
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple TV owners, the wait is finally over: Popular open-source video player VLC is now available on Apple TV. With a new app called VLC for Mobile, users can now play local video files from a wide variety of formats on the big screen.

The new app also offers a plethora of other features, including availability for multiple audio and subtitle tracks, playback from local servers like Plex and FTP, video navigation by chapters, custom playback speed, and casting from desktop computers and apps. VLC’s new compatibility with Apple TV is most helpful for those with large collections of local audio and video files.

Recommended Videos

VLC noted in a blog post that it’s the first video player on Apple TV to offer custom playback. The company made a point to implement this option because the app is “increasingly used to watch talks and documentation in education.” Users can also play web radio and other music, and view album art and artist bios when playing radio streams. In addition to Plex and FTP, VLC for Apple TV has compatibility with other local network services, including Windows Shares (SMB) and DLNA/UPnP media servers.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The casting feature called “Remote Playback” gives users the ability to play video files through the Apple TV directly from a browser or app. To use this function, users first need to navigate to an Apple TV web interface and then drag-and-drop files into a web browser. The web interface also has the option to control video playback.

As VLC for Mobile is a universal app, 9to5Mac notes that it will show up in the purchased section of the App Store when users download tvOS version 2.7.2. The app is also available on Android, Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and Chrome OS.

Native integration with cloud services including Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box is also in beta testing according to VLC.

Chris Leo Palermino
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chris Leo Palermino is a music, tech, business, and culture journalist based between New York and Boston. He also contributes…
iPhone 17 series could finally end Apple’s stingy era of slow screens
iPhone on charging stand showing photo screen in iOS 17 StandBy mode.

Apple has played a relatively slow innovation game when it comes to display upgrades on its phones. The company took its own sweet time embracing OLED screens, then did the same with getting rid of the ugly notch, and still has a lot of ground to cover at adopting high refresh rate panels.

The status could finally change next year. According to Korea-based ET News, which cites an industry source, Apple will fit an LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) screen across the entire iPhone 17 series, including the rumored slim version and the entry-point model.

Read more
What’s new on Apple TV+ this month (January 2025)
The cast of Severance stands together and looks up.

Apple TV+ is the rare streaming service that almost exclusively produces original content, meaning its release slate tends to be pretty thin every month. However, lack of quantity by no means leads to lack of quality, as Apple TV+ has delivered a host of Emmy- and Oscar-winning shows and movies, often headlined by A-list talent.

This January, perhaps its best offering returns for its second season. Severance has a decent case for the best show on TV these days, and expectations are sky-high for the second season. Not to be outdone, Rob McElhenney's (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) gamer comedy Mythic Quest also returns for its fourth season on the streamer.

Read more
12 best TV shows to stream this Halloween
A blonde-haired woman wears a skull mask in "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Halloween is a prime time for people to binge-watch scary stories. Thankfully, horror fans can sit back and stream countless TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and beyond for fun, frightening evening. Audiences can check out terrifying mysteries like Evil and Stranger Things, along with more lighthearted comedies like Wednesday and What We Do in the Shadows.

Ironically, picking the right Halloween show can make viewers feel like kids in a candy story. So for those unsure of what to watch this spooky season, here's a guide to the best TV shows to stream for All Hallows' Eve.

Read more