Even though your phone has a built-in media player, there are better
options out there. Currently, our favorite music and video player app is
VLC, since it supports virtually every codec and file format
imaginable. Even better, you can use it to stream files from your
computer, as it can access media from your Windows PC over a local
network.
If your Windows computer is loaded with media, VLC makes
it easy to play music or videos on your phone or tablet. Below, we'll
take a look at how to set up sharing on a Windows computer for streaming
with the VLC app on Android. Also, I'll show you the tweak required to
allow media to play in the background, which is particularly useful when
playing music.
Install VLC for Android
First things first, install the VLC app on your Android device, which you can grab from the link below.
Before
we go too far, it would be a good idea to enable VLC's background
playback option so that you can listen to audio after leaving the app.
Whether you're streaming media on a network or playing a local file,
this can be easily accomplished by activating one small setting. To do
that, head to "Settings" from the VLC app's side navigation menu, then
check the box next to "Play videos in the background" and you're done.
Set Up Sharing from a Windows Computer
Though
VLC can use a variety of protocols for streaming, the easiest way to
accomplish this feat is with HomeGroup sharing. To do this, you will
likely need to change some settings on your Windows PC if you're not
already using this feature.
First, head to the Windows Control Panel and select the "Network and
Sharing" (or "Network and Internet") option. From here, click the
"HomeGroup" link. If a HomeGroup has not been set up, you'll need to
click the "Create a HomeGroup" button to get started.
After
an initial prompt explaining HomeGroup, you'll have the option to
choose what you'd like to share. I'd recommend just sharing music and
videos for the sake of using VLC. After clicking "Next," you'll be given
a password for allowing other Windows computers to access these files,
but this isn't necessary for the VLC app, so click the "Finish" button.
You'll
be taken back to the main HomeGroup settings screen after finishing the
setup process, so from here, click the link that says "Allow all
devices on this network such as TVs and game consoles to play my shared
content."
From
here, uncheck the box next to "Allowed" in the "Media programs on this
PC and remote connections…" field, since it's not needed for this
service. When you're done there, go ahead and click the "Next" button to
wrap things up.
Stream Media Over Your Local Network
From
now on, whenever you want to stream a media file from your PC to your
Android device, start by opening the VLC app on your Android device.
From there, head to the side navigation menu and select the "Local
Network" link. As long as both devices are connected to the same
network, you should see your computer's name appear next to a folder
icon. Open it up, navigate to wherever your media is stored, and tap a
file to listen or watch from VLC — it's really that easy!
Post a Comment