Alex Ruben
How To Play Downloaded Videos with VLC on iPhone in 2025 | How To Unzip Video Files on iPhone
Figuring out how to play downloaded videos on an iPhone is kind of a pain sometimes. Apple’s native stuff is limited, and if you download videos from weird websites or get zipped files, it can turn into a bit of a headache. That’s where VLC comes in — it’s pretty reliable for all sorts of video formats and can handle unzipping files too. This walkthrough aims to make it less of a dark art, so setting up and accessing your videos doesn’t feel like pulling teeth. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to watch your media straight from your phone without constantly fussing with iOS’s limited file support.
How to Play Downloaded Videos on Your iPhone Using VLC
Getting VLC ready on your iPhone
First, you need VLC installed. No way around it if you want to keep things simple. It’s free, and the app is pretty good at handling most video formats. To grab it:
- Open the App Store.
- Type VLC into the search bar.
- Tap Get and install.
On some older iPhones or if the App Store acts quirky, this sometimes stubbornly refuses to install the first time. Just restart the app or your phone and try again; it might work better after that.
Find your downloaded video files
Next, locate where your video actually lives. Usually, downloads are saved to the Files app, often under Downloads. Or maybe a zip archive if you downloaded a compressed file. Externally downloaded stuff can also reside in iCloud Drive or other cloud locations, so keep an eye out.
- Launch Files.
- Navigate to On My iPhone > Downloads, or wherever you stored it.
- Look for your video or zipped archive.
Unzip the file if needed (and it’s a zip)
If the file is a zip archive, you’ll want to unzip it. Usually, just tap on the zip in Files, and iOS automatically extracts it into a folder. If it doesn’t, maybe try a third-party app like Zip Extractor. Just a heads up: sometimes, the extraction isn’t instant, and you’ll see a new folder alongside the zip. Open that folder — your video should be inside.
Skipping this step if your video is already unzipped or in plain format.
Move the video into VLC’s folder
This part is kinda critical. You need to get the video into VLC’s space so it shows up in its library. Here’s how:
- Long press on the video file to bring up options and tap Copy.
- Open VLC.
- In VLC, tap the Streams tab or go to Open Network if you prefer network streams, but the local files are in the main library.
- To directly get files into VLC, go to VLC > Settings then tap on File Management. Alternatively, if you use the share menu:
- Long press in the VLC folder or tap the + icon, then select Add Files.
- Navigate to On My iPhone > VLC — if you don’t see it, you might need to first enable the Files sharing via iTunes/Finder or use the official VLC walkthrough.
- Paste or add your video file here. With iOS’s Files app, sometimes the easiest way is to use the Share button in Files and select Copy to VLC.
This will copy the video into VLC’s local storage, making it ready to play without fuss.
Start watching your video
Once the video is in VLC, just open the app, go to the Library (usually you’ll see it listed there), and tap your video. It should start playing as long as the format is supported — which, with VLC, is usually no problem. If it doesn’t show up instantly, try closing and reopening VLC; sometimes it’s a delay thing.
Extra tips & common hiccups
- If videos won’t play, double-check the format — VLC handles most, but not everything. Formats like MKV, MP4, AVI, and MOV should work, but if yours is weird, double-check compatibility.
- Make sure you’ve got enough free space. Files often fail to sync or save if your iPhone is nearly full.
- Updating VLC regularly makes sure bugs are fixed, and playback goes smoother. Don’t ignore updates.
- On some setups, if you try to add files via Share to VLC, it might not work at first. In that case, use iTunes/Finder to drag and drop the files directly into the VLC folder (connect your iPhone to your computer & then browse via iTunes or Finder). Easier than it sounds if you’ve done it before.
Getting videos onto your iPhone and into VLC doesn’t need to be the nightmare it’s sometimes made out to be. With a few steps — locating, unzipping, copying, and playing — it all comes together. The key is understanding where files live and how to get them into VLC without messing around too much in the iOS maze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can VLC handle all video formats on iPhone?
Pretty much. VLC supports most common formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, and MOV. So if your video plays on a PC, chances are good VLC will handle it on iPhone too.
What if I can’t find my downloaded video?
Check all possible folders. Sometimes downloads get saved in iCloud or Documents instead of the default Download folder. Fishing around in other cloud apps or the Recently Deleted folder can sometimes help.
Are there better apps for videos on iPhone?
Depends. Besides VLC, apps like Infuse or PlayerXtreme can offer more features or better UI, but VLC is usually enough for most needs.