Do you dearest YouTube playlists, but wish you could spotter them exterior your browser? Yous tin can use VLC for the chore, thank you to a simple extension.

If y'all desire to watch YouTube outside the browser, you've got options. At that place's Minitube, for instance: it's a native YouTube player for Mac, Windows and Linux that lets you search for something and watch a continuous stream of search results. Apps like this are cool, but in that location are other options.

It's not ordinarily known, but VLC tin play YouTube videos. All you need to practice is click "File", then "Open Network". You'll meet a window like this (my screenshots are from a Mac, but I too tested the process in Windows – it works the same):

vlc-youtube-paste-url

Paste the YouTube URL, as seen hither, and then hitting "Enter" or click "Open". When you do, the video still start playing.

vlc-youtube-playing

So far and so skillful, but what happens if y'all paste a playlist URL? By default you'll merely become the first video. That'south where the trick comes in.

Download and Install the Extension

First things showtime: ensure that VLC is up-to-date. One time you've done that, download the YouTube Playlist parser from addons.videolan.org. When you click the "download" button, you'll be taken to a text file. Don't panic: click "Salvage As" in your carte. Ensure the file extension (the letters later on the final dot in the file's name) is .lua, so elevate the file to the proper folder. Where depends on your system, hither's the listing from the site:

  • Windows (all users):
                  %ProgramFiles%\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\            
  • Windows (current user only):
                  %APPDATA%\vlc\lua\playlist\            
  • Linux (all users):
                  /usr/lib/vlc/lua/playlist/            
  • Linux (current user simply):
                  ~/.local/share/vlc/lua/playlist/            
  • Mac Bone 10 (all users):
                  /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/share/lua/playlist/            

Windows and Linux users, this shouldn't exist hard. Mac users who aren't aware: you can add files to the within of Mac Apps, which is required for finding the directory higher up. Merely right/Command-click VLC in Applications, then click "Show Package Contents".

vlc-show-package-contents

One time you're in, finding the to a higher place folder is uncomplicated.

Play a YouTube Playlist in VLC

vlc-youtube-copy-link-address

Set up to watch something? Detect a YouTube playlist URL. You can usually discover these on the page of your favorite channel under "Playlists". A proper URL will include "&list", every bit seen here:

vlc-youtube-andlist

Paste this URL into the Open Network window, just similar we did earlier. You'll soon see all the vidoes in the playlist:

vlc-all-videos

The get-go video volition start playing in a couple of seconds. Lean back and enjoy. This is peculiarly keen if y'all accept VLC installed on a device continued to your Boob tube, or a second monitor on which you similar to watch things as you work.

If y'all desire to download the videos in a playlist and then y'all can play them later when you're offline, all you demand to do is use a YouTube playlist downloader.

More VLC More Tricks

This is far from the only pull a fast one on you lot can teach VLC. Tim outlined several absurd VLC tips and tricks, outlining everything from managing podcasts to using video furnishings. The ASCII art is a highlight:

Saikat went even deeper, showing you some top secret VLC features. Turns out you can use VLC to record from your webcam, and automatically shutdown your figurer when a video is over. Neat.

Know any other great tricks, or a better fashion to watch YouTube videos outside the browser? Share below.

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