VLC Media Player is a super handy media player packed with lots of cool features. Sometimes, we might not even know about all the cool stuff it can do. Like, did you know you can play two videos at the same time with VLC? Yep, it sounds a bit tricky, but it’s pretty easy once you tweak a setting called “Allow only one instance.” This can be awesome for when you want to compare videos, watch a tutorial and its result together, or just double your video fun. Let’s walk through how you can set this up.
Also see: How to Picture in Picture in VLC (Windows, iOS or Android)
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Playing two videos side by side in VLC
Let’s get into how you can get VLC Media Player to show two videos at the same time. We’ll need to fiddle with a few settings, open up the videos, and place them next to each other.
Step 1: Adjust the “Allow only one instance” option
First off, we need to make sure VLC isn’t set to “Allow only one instance.” It’s usually on by default, but we want it off for our double video viewing.
- Start VLC Media Player by clicking its icon wherever you’ve got it saved.
- Hit up the “Tools” menu at the top, then choose “Preferences.” Or, just press Ctrl + P to get there faster.
- In the Preferences window, look for a bit that says “Show settings” at the bottom left. Click “Simple” to keep things easy.
- Scroll down to “Playlist and Instances” and find the “Allow only one instance” checkbox. It’s usually ticked, so go ahead and untick it. This lets you open more than one VLC window at a time.
- Hit “Save” to keep your changes, and the Preferences window will close up.
Useful tip: How to Merge Subtitles With Video Permanently Using VLC
Step 2: Open two videos in VLC
With that setting changed, VLC can open multiple videos in their own windows.
- Click on your first video file to play it in VLC. It’ll pop up in its own window.
- To open the second video, just double-click its file or drag and drop it into VLC. It’ll show up in another window, just like the first one.
Step 3: Put the two videos side by side
Now that you’ve got both videos open in VLC, you can put them next to each other on your screen.
- Resize and move the VLC windows around until you’ve got both videos comfortably on your screen.
- If you’re on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can use the snap feature. Just drag a VLC window to the edge of your screen, and it’ll automatically resize to half the screen. Do the same with the other window on the opposite side, and you’ve got a perfect setup.
- Each VLC window has its own set of controls, so you can play, pause, or skip around in each video on its own.
Handy guide: How to Download Subtitles in VLC on Windows 11
Additional customizations
VLC doesn’t just stop at letting you play multiple videos at once. It also has options for managing several media files and syncing their playback.
Opening multiple videos in VLC
- Open VLC and click on “Media” in the top menu, then choose “Open Multiple Files…”
- You can add lots of files by hitting “Add.” You can mix videos and audios however you like.
- Once you’ve picked all your files, press “Play” to start watching them in order.
This is super handy if you’ve got a bunch of clips or songs you want to go through without stopping.
Synchronous playback of additional media
This feature is awesome for when you’ve got a separate audio track you want to play along with your video.
- Open your main video in VLC, hit “Media” at the top, and select “Open Multiple Files…”.
- Add your main video if it’s not already open by clicking “Add.”
- There’s an option for “Play another media synchronously (extra audio file, …).” Tick that box, and then use the “Browse” button that appears to pick your secondary audio or video file.
- Hit “Play,” and VLC will start playing your main video with the secondary audio or video in sync.
This is perfect for movies with separate audio tracks or syncing up a video with commentary.
Linked issue: VLC Resume Playback Not Working? Try These Fixes
One last thing
Even though VLC usually sticks to playing one video at a time, with a little tweaking, you can watch two videos side by side. Just change that one setting, and you’re good to go. It’s a great way to compare videos and watch different content together.
If you want to play lots of videos or listen to multiple audio tracks in VLC, check out the “Open Multiple Files” and “Play another media synchronously” options.
