Can we change audio language in VLC Android?

VLC media player is a popular open source, cross-platform media player available on desktop and mobile. The Android version of VLC allows you to play various media files and streams.

One useful feature in VLC for Android is the ability to change the audio language for videos that have multiple language tracks. This can be helpful when you want to watch a foreign film and read subtitles in your native language, or listen to a different dubbing.

Why Change Audio Language?

There are several benefits to changing the audio language in videos and other media. Here are some of the main reasons people switch languages:

Access content in different languages – By changing the audio to another language, you can access movies, shows, videos, and more in languages you understand better. This allows you to enjoy the content even if you don’t know the original language it was produced in (source).

Language learning – Switching the audio to a language you’re learning is an excellent way to improve your listening comprehension skills. Listening to shows, videos, and music in the target language helps your brain get used to the sounds and patterns of the new language (source).

Improve accessibility – Changing languages can make content more accessible for those with hearing impairments or other needs. Dubbed audio tracks allow people to enjoy content in their native language (source).

Locating Audio Language Options

To locate the audio language options in the VLC Android app, first open the app and select the video you want to watch. Tap the play icon to begin playback.

Once the video starts playing, tap the audio track icon in the bottom right corner. This icon looks like a speaker with sound waves coming out of it. Tapping this will open up a list of all available audio tracks for that video.

This list will display the name of each audio track, allowing you to see which languages are available. Often times, the language will be indicated in parentheses next to the track name (i.e. English, Spanish, French, etc.).

You can scroll through this list and select whichever language you want the video to play in. Tapping on a track will set it as the active audio.

The VLC Android app makes it easy to find and change between audio languages for videos that have multiple language tracks available. Just tap the audio icon in the player to see all of your options.

Selecting an Audio Language

Once you have located the audio language options in VLC, you can easily switch between different languages. VLC shows a list of available audio languages for each video. To change the language, simply tap on your desired language from the list.

For example, if a video has both English and Spanish audio tracks, you will see both languages listed in the audio options. Tapping on “Español” will switch the audio track to Spanish. This provides a quick and convenient way to toggle between languages without having to adjust separate audio files.

According to a Reddit user, selecting a language in the audio options will set that track as the default for future videos: “When I remove the sub language option, the video opens in English but when I set Spanish before playing, it retains Spanish as the default track” (source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VLC/comments/gkcibd/vlc_for_android_default_audio_track_language/).

So if you prefer to watch videos with a specific language audio, you can select it once in the options and VLC will remember that preference. Then the videos should automatically play with your chosen language by default.

Enabling Subtitles

Subtitles can be a helpful supplement when changing the audio language in VLC. They allow you to read dialogue and text while listening to audio in another language. This reinforces understanding and helps connect the words you’re hearing to the on-screen content.

Turning on subtitles in VLC for Android is easy. First, open the VLC app and start playing a video. Tap the screen to open the playback controls. Next to the playback bar is an icon that looks like a chat bubble – this is the subtitle toggle. Tap it to open subtitle options. From here you can enable subtitles and select the subtitle language and encoding if multiple options are available.

Subtitles can be enabled manually each time you watch a video, or you can make them default in the VLC settings. Go to Tools > Preferences > Subtitles/OSD to find additional subtitle configuration options. Here you can set subtitles to always remain on by default. You can also adjust subtitle font, size, color and more for your preferred viewing experience.

Enabling subtitles is recommended when changing between audio languages in VLC for Android, as it allows you to follow along with the dialogue and text. Subtitles connect the audio and visual content, creating a more immersive multilingual viewing experience.

For more details on configuring subtitle options in VLC for Android, see this helpful guide: https://www.vlchelp.com/android-app-downloading-subtitles-automatically/

Audio Language Unavailable?

There are a few reasons why a specific audio language may not be available in the VLC Android app:

  • The media file itself may not contain that audio language track. VLC can only play the audio tracks that are encoded into the file.
  • Some audio languages may be disabled by default in VLC. You may need to enable them in the app settings.
  • It could be a bug or issue with VLC failing to detect existing audio tracks in the file. This is rare but can happen.

Here are some things you can try if a desired audio language is missing:

  1. Check if the media file actually contains that audio track by inspecting its properties on a computer.
  2. Go to Settings > Audio > Audio Tracks and make sure the language is enabled and not disabled.
  3. Update VLC to the latest version in case it’s a bug that has since been fixed.
  4. Try re-encoding the media file to include the desired audio language track.
  5. Submit a bug report to the VLC Android developers so they can investigate the issue.

In most cases, the solution is either that the audio track is missing from the file itself, or needs to be enabled in the VLC settings. If neither fixes it, an app update or bug report may be needed.

Other Audio Options

Beyond simply changing the audio language, VLC for Android provides additional audio settings to customize your listening experience.

Under Audio > Audio Track, you can switch between Stereo and Mono audio output. Stereo provides two distinct audio channels, while Mono combines them into one. This may be useful if you are listening on a single speaker.

The Audio Delay option allows adjusting the synchronization between audio and video. Positive values delay the audio, while negative values delay the video. This can fix mismatched lipsync.

For more advanced audio tweaking, VLC includes audio filters under Audio > Audio Filters. Options like Compressor and Equalizer allow customizing the sound signature. See Access Graphic Equalizer & Other in-player Options – VLC Help for details on utilizing the graphic equalizer and other filters.

With the wide range of preferences available, VLC for Android provides the flexibility to tailor the audio experience to your exact needs.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are still experiencing issues with changing the audio language in VLC for Android after trying the steps outlined, there are some troubleshooting tips you can try:

First, try restarting the VLC app by closing it completely and reopening it. Sometimes a simple app restart can resolve temporary glitches.

You can also try reinstalling the VLC app from the Google Play Store. This will give you a clean install of the app which may fix any corrupt files causing audio issues.

Another option is to clear the app cache and data for VLC. Open your Android device’s Settings app, go to Apps > VLC > Storage, and tap Clear Cache and Clear Data. This will wipe the app data and force VLC to reload.

If the problem persists after trying the above steps, you may need to report the issue on the VLC forum or VLC Android bug tracker. The VLC developers may be able to further troubleshoot and identify any bugs causing audio language issues.

Providing details like your Android device model, VLC version, and steps to reproduce the problem will assist the VLC team in resolving the issue in a future update.

Alternative Apps

While VLC is one of the most popular and full-featured video players for Android, there are other apps worth checking out if you want additional audio language support:

MX Player is another top Android video player that allows changing audio tracks. According to https://www.gumlet.com/learn/best-android-video-player/, MX Player Pro supports multiple audio streams and subtitles. Users note that it can play just about any video format too.

KMPlayer is an alternative with audio track selection support. As mentioned on this Reddit thread, KMPlayer handles many codecs and has customizable audio options. It’s especially useful for playing anime with multiple audio tracks.

There are various other video players to check out if you need expanded multi-language options beyond VLC, including Video Player – OPlayer, BSPlayer, MPV-Android, and more. While VLC covers the basics well, exploring alternatives could provide you with additional audio language controls.

Summary

Changing the audio language in VLC for Android is straightforward once you know where to find the settings. You simply open VLC media player, tap the audio track icon while a video is playing, and select your desired language from the list.

Some key takeaways include:

  • The audio track icon appears in the toolbar at the bottom while a video plays.
  • You may need to enable subtitles if your language is unavailable.
  • Alternative apps like MX Player also allow changing audio language.
  • If you have trouble, check for updated language packs or consider reinstalling VLC.

Knowing how to change the audio language expands your entertainment options and allows you to view more diverse content. VLC makes it easy across all platforms.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *