The VideoLAN Forums

Considering that VLC can play almost any video / audio file, is it necessary to install K-Lite codec pack, or for that matter any other codecs ? I and some of my friends are having a raging debate over it. I personally feel K-Lite or any other codecs iare not necessary. An informed advice is requested. ( I would like an advice for an average PC user as far as audio & video is concerned - not a professional).

No.

VLC usually cannot access any codecs that are not built-in inside VLC. So such codec packs like K-Lite cannot improve/harm the performance and abilities of VLC. If you would like to enable other video players who can access system codecs to play a variety of formats I'd recommend you not to use the K-Lite pack but rather the FFdshow filters, which provides access to nearly all formats VLC can play.