VLC on IOS - access local files?

iOS, iPad, iPhone, tvOS specific usage questions
alan sh
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 4
Joined: 18 Oct 2017 15:29

VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby alan sh » 18 Oct 2017 15:32

This is probably a really silly question:

I have an iPad Pro running IOS 11. I have some videos which I uploaded using iTunes which I can play using the default video app. How do I get VLC to see those files? When I click "all files" it says I have an empty media library.

Thanks for any info

Alan

alan sh
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 4
Joined: 18 Oct 2017 15:29

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby alan sh » 19 Oct 2017 11:08

So, is this not possible or has no-one thought about it?

It seems a simple thing to ask - but I don't know IOS that well.

Alan

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 20 Oct 2017 08:06

So far, it's not doable.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

alan sh
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 4
Joined: 18 Oct 2017 15:29

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby alan sh » 20 Oct 2017 10:19

OK - thanks.

wjcroft
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 18 Jan 2019 06:43
Operating System: Mac OS, Windows
Contact:

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby wjcroft » 18 Jan 2019 06:56

This is a variant on the previous question.

In my case, my friend (who I will direct to install VLC for Mobile on her iPad) has already downloaded the mp3 music file attachment that I emailed her, using her Mail app. The mp3 can play from within the Mail app window for that email. However this mp3 does not appear in Apple's Music app. I do understand that is a corporate decision to discourage such easy mp3 transfers.

Can it be accessed with VLC for Mobile? She does not have the VLC app yet. I assume that it might appear in the "Media Library" / "All Files" tab?

Or are such Mail app downloads firewalled and only are accessible from within the Mail app? Any way to get the file into a readable folder?

Regards,

William Croft

PS I just thought of this: some apps have a 'Share' button, feature, that lets you send the item to another app. Is that how it might be done? Her current attachment download probably can't be Shared. But if I sent her another mp3 attachment after she has installed VLC, there might be a way to share the mp3 with VLC.

fkuehne
Developer
Developer
Posts: 7264
Joined: 16 Mar 2004 19:37
VLC version: 0.4.6 - present
Operating System: Darwin
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby fkuehne » 19 Jan 2019 12:44

You should be able to tell the mail app to open the mp3 file in VLC, which will copy the item in VLC's context and in turn appear in the media library. VLC also includes a share button which let's you move the file other apps, too.
VideoLAN
Felix Paul Kühne
Medic. VLC developer for appleOS since before you were born.
Blog: https://www.feepk.net

rheinhold
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 07 Sep 2019 11:02

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby rheinhold » 07 Sep 2019 11:08

VLC access to ios, iphone local files, Library, home videos, downloads.
Is this still a big 'no no'?
itunes is useful for syncing. Are there any plans for enabling VLC access to the synced video files?

thepeacekpr
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 11 Nov 2020 12:27
VLC version: 3.2.13
Operating System: iOS

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby thepeacekpr » 11 Nov 2020 12:36

Hi All,

I found a perfect way to add your videos from your Files app on iOS to VLC video library.

1. Open VLC on your iOS mobile.
2. Select Network tab at the bottom.
3. Select Cloud Services. List of available cloud services will be shown.
4. Choose iCloud. This will open Files app.
5. From here you can go to your local folder by clicking on the Browse tab the bottom or Back button on the Top Left corner.
6. Select your video or multiple videos and click Done on Top Right corner.
7. Depending on your video size the VLC video library will take time to show the video.
8. Enjoy!

ArnoldGoat
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 28 Mar 2021 05:55

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby ArnoldGoat » 28 Mar 2021 06:07

That works for actual video. What I would like to do is to specify an .m3u playlist (which can be saved using WebMediaPortal) to open. The m3u file is visible in the folder, but greyed out in VLC so it won't open. Interestingly, if I copy this file to the MP server that it came from, iPadOS VLC willl happily open and play it via a URL, but not directly.

If you ask it to 'play' WebMediaPortal tries to open it (presumably with the Apple TV app) but it fails. So if VLC could be permitted to be the default video player, AND it obliged by opening the delivered .m3u file, all would be seamless.

A desperate solution would be to install a webserver on the iPad (which I believe is possible) to serve the m3u file locally.

Shemiahny
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 16 Mar 2023 15:21

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby Shemiahny » 16 Mar 2023 15:23

Hi All,

I found a perfect way to add your videos from your Files app on iOS to VLC video library.

1. Open VLC on your iOS mobile.
2. Select Network tab at the bottom.
3. Select Cloud Services. List of available cloud services will be shown.
4. Choose iCloud. This will open Files app.
5. From here you can go to your local folder by clicking on the Browse tab the bottom or Back button on the Top Left corner.
6. Select your video or multiple videos and click Done on Top Right corner.
7. Depending on your video size the VLC video library will take time to show the video.
8. Enjoy!
Hi All, this is the brainer, thanks for the correct answer lol. NETWORK-CLOUD -SELECT= EUREKAAA

fcku2
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 23 Feb 2024 15:50

Re: VLC on IOS - access local files?

Postby fcku2 » 23 Feb 2024 15:53

Playing local files requires this hacky workaround mentioned above using Network tab, but even then you can't add it to a playlist.

Why can't you people create a simple, easy to use player that doesn't suck on IOS?


Return to “VLC for iOS, iPadOS and Apple TV”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests