Install and Use VLC Player on FireStick: In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to install VLC Player on your FireStick. This guide works for all Fire TV devices, including FireStick Lite, FireStick 4K, FireStick 4K Max, and Fire TV Cube.

What Is VLC Player for FireStick?

VLC Media Player is one of the most popular and widely used media players across platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and now FireStick. Known for its simplicity and reliability, VLC can handle virtually any media format — including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, and MP3. It also adapts playback based on your device, supports network streaming, and integrates smoothly with streaming services.

What makes VLC truly stand out?

It’s 100% free
No in-app purchases or hidden costs
No ads or user tracking
Maintained by an active community of volunteers

In short, VLC isn’t just another media player — it’s a must-have tool for anyone who streams or plays local media content. The best part? VLC is officially available on the Amazon App Store, so you can install it quickly without any technical steps. For those who prefer sideloading, it can also be installed using the Downloader app.

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How to Install VLC on FireStick via the Amazon App Store

Here’s how you can easily install VLC Media Player on your FireStick using the official Amazon App Store:

Navigate to the FireStick home screen and scroll to the Find option.
Select Search from the menu.
Type “VLC Player” in the search bar and choose it from the suggestions.
Under the Apps & Games section, click VLC for Fire.
Select Download (or Get, depending on your device) to begin installation.

That’s it! VLC is now successfully installed on your FireStick.

Important: Protect Your Streaming Privacy

Once your streaming apps are installed, your FireStick is ready to go — but before you dive in, here’s something critical to consider:Everything you stream online is visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and potentially to government agencies. If you’re accessing free or low-cost content from unofficial apps, this could put you at legal risk.

To stay safe and anonymous online, it’s highly recommended to use a reliable VPN. A VPN hides your IP address — like 2401:4900:881a:d773:b81e:48f5:6fe5:ef1f — and encrypts your connection, keeping your activity private and helping you bypass restrictions, throttling, and surveillance. I personally use and recommend ExpressVPN for FireStick. It’s fast, secure, and works perfectly with all major streaming apps.

Here’s how to set it up:

Subscribe to ExpressVPN here – it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
On your FireStick, go to Find > Search and type ExpressVPN.
Select the app from the results and click Download.
Open the app and sign in using the credentials from your subscription.
Hit the Power button to connect to a secure VPN server.

Your streaming activity is now private and secure. Enjoy worry-free streaming on your FireStick!

How to Install VLC Player on FireStick Using Downloader

If VLC Player isn’t available on your Amazon App Store or you prefer sideloading, you can install it using the Downloader app — a free, ad-free tool perfect for downloading third-party APKs directly on your FireStick.

Part 1: Prepare Your FireStick for Sideloading

Before sideloading VLC Player, you’ll need to tweak a few settings:

From the FireStick home screen, go to Find.
Click on Search.
Type Downloader and select it from the suggestions.
Click Download to install the app.
On the home screen, go to Settings (gear icon on the right).
Choose My Fire TV.
Select Developer Options. If you don’t see “Developer Options,” go to Settings > My Fire TV > About, select your Fire TV Stick device, and click it 7 times to enable developer options. Then go back, and you’ll see it listed.
Turn on ADB Debugging.
Select Install unknown apps.
Find Downloader and turn it ON.

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Part 2: Sideload VLC Player APK

Once your FireStick is ready, follow these steps to install VLC:

Open the Downloader app and click inside the URL box.
Enter the following URL: http://bit.ly/vlc334 and click Go.
Wait for the APK file to download. When prompted, click Install.
After the installation, click Done.
You’ll be returned to the Downloader window. Select Delete to remove the APK file and free up space.
Confirm by clicking Delete again.

Add VLC Player to Your FireStick Home Screen

If you plan on using VLC Player regularly, it’s helpful to move it to the home screen:

From the FireStick home screen, scroll to the right and click See All (next to the gear icon).
Navigate to VLC Player in the app list and press the menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote.
Select Move.
Drag the app to your desired position and press the select button to place it.
You’ll now see VLC Player directly on your FireStick home screen for quick access.

Let me know if you’d like a visual version or help turning this into a blog post or tutorial!

VLC Player Overview on FireStick

Once you launch VLC Player on your FireStick, you’ll be prompted to grant it permission to access photos, media, and files. Click Allow to continue. On the home screen, VLC offers four main sections: Video, Audio, Browsing, and Other. If you already have media files stored locally, you can access them directly by selecting either Video or Audio.

The Browsing tab lets you explore media from your FireStick’s internal storage or a local network connection. You can even add new servers for easier access to shared media. To adjust preferences or explore advanced settings, go to Other > Settings. Here you’ll find options for Interface, Video, Audio, Subtitles, and Advanced Settings, letting you fine-tune your playback experience.

How to Use VLC Player with Strix

VLC Player can be set as the default media player for streaming apps like Strix, much like MX Player. Here’s how to integrate VLC with Strix: Strix is an Android-based streaming app that provides free access to movies, TV shows, and live channels globally. Depending on your internet speed, content is available in resolutions ranging from 360p to 1080p. If you haven’t installed Strix yet, check out our guide on how to install Strix on FireStick.

Steps to Set VLC as the Default Player in Strix:

Open the Strix app.
Click the Settings icon in the top-left corner.
Choose Select Preferred Player.
From the list, select VLC.
You’ll see a confirmation message: Player Set To: org.videolan.vlc.

That’s it! VLC Player is now the default media player for Strix.

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VLC Playback Experience in Strix

When playing a movie via VLC in Strix, you’ll notice a clean, functional interface:

Bottom Left: Subtitle and audio track controls
Center: Play/Pause toggle
Bottom Right: Full-screen button and access to additional Settings

Under Settings, you can adjust things like playback speed, audio sync, and video scaling, allowing you to personalize the playback to your preferences.

Final Thoughts

VLC Player is one of the most reliable and flexible media players for FireStick users. It supports virtually every video and audio format, as well as network streams and local server access. With no ads, no cost, and no privacy concerns, VLC is a must-have for a smooth and feature-rich streaming experience on FireStick. Plus, it easily integrates with popular third-party streaming apps like Strix and Cinema APK.

FAQs

What file formats does VLC support on FireStick?

VLC for FireStick supports a wide range of media formats, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, and MP3. It can handle both video and audio files without requiring additional codecs.

Can VLC Player access local network media on FireStick?

Yes, VLC Player allows you to browse and stream content from local network sources. Using the Browsing tab, you can connect to shared drives or add servers to access media stored on your network.

Is VLC Player free and ad-free on FireStick?

VLC Player is 100% free and does not contain any ads or in-app purchases. It’s open-source software developed by a team of volunteers and does not track user activity or display promotional content.

How do I set VLC as the default player in Strix?

To set VLC as the default media player in Strix, go to Strix > Settings > Choose Preferred Player, and select VLC from the list. You’ll get a confirmation message indicating VLC is now your default player.

Does VLC offer subtitle and audio track support?

Yes, VLC Player supports subtitle and audio track switching during playback. You can access these features directly from the playback bar using the Subtitle/Audio button located in the bottom-left corner.

Can VLC play media directly from FireStick’s internal storage?

Absolutely. VLC scans your FireStick’s internal storage for compatible media files, which you can easily access through the Video or Audio sections on the VLC home screen.

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