How to Play Videos in VLC from a USB Stick – Step-by-Step Guide
Want to watch videos straight from your USB stick using VLC Media Player? This guide will show you how to do it easily, whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux. No need to copy files to your PC — just plug, play, and enjoy!
Step 1: Plug in the USB Stick
Insert your USB stick into any available USB port on your computer. Wait a few seconds for the system to recognize the drive and assign it a letter (like E:, F:, etc.).
Step 2: Open VLC Media Player
If you don’t already have VLC Media Player installed, download it for free from the official VLC website.
Once installed, open VLC Media Player from your desktop or Start menu.
Step 3: Play the Video from USB
Method 1: Use VLC Menu
- Click on Media in the top-left corner of VLC.
- Select Open File (or press Ctrl+O).
- Navigate to your USB stick.
- Select the video file you want to play and click Open.
Method 2: From File Explorer (Windows)
- Open the USB stick via File Explorer.
- Find the video file.
- Right-click the file, choose Open With, then select VLC Media Player.
Step 4: Enjoy Your Video
The video should start playing immediately in VLC. You can use the player controls to pause, skip, control volume, or enable subtitles.
Troubleshooting Tips
USB Not Recognized
If the USB stick isn’t showing up, try these steps:
- Use a different USB port.
- Restart your computer.
- Try the USB stick on another device.
Video Not Playing
If a video doesn’t play:
- Make sure the file isn’t corrupted.
- Try playing a different file format.
- Ensure you’re using the latest version of VLC.
Linux Users – USB Access Issue
If you’re using VLC via Snap on Linux and can’t access the USB stick, run this command to give VLC the needed permission:
sudo snap connect vlc:removable-mediaThis will allow VLC to read files from external drives like USB sticks.
Conclusion
Using VLC Media Player to play videos from a USB stick is quick and convenient. Whether you’re traveling, working on multiple PCs, or just keeping things portable, VLC handles it all with ease. For more useful guides like this, visit Husham.com and join the community at forum.husham.com.
Best IPTV boxes to buy
These are certified Android TV / Google TV media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps from Google Play. They are not pirate hardware. They do not come with channels or playlists. I am not claiming I personally lab-tested every SKU this month.
Buy one of these when: Fire TV sideload is a hassle on your model, you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS, or you want a dedicated player shell behind the sofa. No Fire TV device is on this shortlist.
- NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro: the premium pick, a certified Android TV player with AI upscaling, Dolby Vision/Atmos and Gigabit Ethernet for the main living-room telly. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Google TV Streamer 4K: solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet, 32GB storage and Dolby Vision/Atmos. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen): Google TV box with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos, the cheaper box route than the Streamer. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): budget Google TV stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos when you want HDMI-simple, not a full box. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Strong LEAP-NOVA: Google TV certified 4K stick on Android 14 with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision, for a second telly. Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK
Still shopping for a Fire TV device? Fine for Prime Video and the Appstore universe. Not the shortlist above. And none of these boxes magically make unlicensed streams legal.
