VLC Media Player for macOS Updated With Native M1 Support

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Popular media player VLC for macOS was today updated to version 3.0.12, bringing native support for Apple silicon Macs, including Apple's latest M1-equipped MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models.

vlc m1 macs
VLC 3's capabilities include automatic hardware decoding for 4K and 8K playback, support for 10-bit HDR, 360-degree video and 3D audio, and Chromecast streaming with support for non-native formats, so the fact that the app's now optimized for Apple silicon should bring some considerable performance and energy efficiency benefits when using these features.

In addition to adding native support for Apple silicon, 3.0.12 includes visual improvements to bring it into line with the macOS Big Sur design signature and fixes to audio distortion when starting playback.


As noted by 9to5Mac, the new VLC isn't a yet a universal binary, so the M1-optimized code isn't part of the app package. However, if you run VLC on Apple Silicon and select VLC Media Player -> Check for Update..., you will be offered the subsequent 3.0.12.1 update that actually installs the native application on your Mac.

VLC 3.0 is a free downloaded for Mac from the VideoLan website. Apple recently shared a list of popular apps optimized for Macs with the M1 chip that are also available in the Mac App Store, such as Pixelmator Pro, Adobe Lightroom, Affinity Designer, Darkroom, Fantastical, BBEdit, Instapaper, and Twitter.

Tag: VLC

Top Rated Comments

TwoBytes Avatar
TwoBytes
18 months ago
Really a fan of https://iina.io
it's really lightweight and feels a lot less sluggish than VLC. Maybe because it's new code written in Swift.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
femike Avatar
femike
18 months ago
Good news.
Now all I need is an M1 mac :)
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BollywooD Avatar
BollywooD
18 months ago
I'm not a fan of VLC's UI...
Im hoping iina gets M1 support soon.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eric5h5 Avatar
Eric5h5
18 months ago
The article is not accurate. Correct link: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html You can download either Intel or Apple silicon versions directly from the drop-down menu.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skogkatt Avatar
skogkatt
18 months ago
Very good news! Been using VLC since forever.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Squuiid Avatar
Squuiid
18 months ago

VLC 3.0 is a free downloaded for Mac from the VideoLan website ('https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/3.0.0.html'). Apple recently shared ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/14/apps-optimized-for-macs-with-m1-chip/') a list of popular apps optimized for Macs with the M1 chip that are also available in the Mac App Store, such as Pixelmator Pro, Adobe Lightroom, Affinity Designer, Darkroom, Fantastical, BBEdit, Instapaper, and Twitter.
Your link above leads to the old 3.0.0 version page which does not have the new features/fixes.
Probably worth changing to avoid confusion.
Old version: [URL unfurl="false"]https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/3.0.0.html[/URL]
New version: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
or: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/
or: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/3.0.12.html
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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