The Best Video Players for Chromebook Users

ByJim Miller

The built-in video player on Chromebooks is often limited in functionality, lacking keyboard shortcuts, subtitle support, and the ability to open multiple videos side-by-side. Additionally, it may not support popular file formats like MKV and AVI. To enhance your video watching experience on a Chromebook, it's essential to use a third-party video player. Here are the four best video players for Chromebooks that you should try.

InBasic MediaPlayer Chrome Extension

The InBasic MediaPlayer Chrome extension is a feature-rich video player that supports both local and online videos. Built on the popular video.js project, it aims to provide a VLC-like media playing experience to Chrome extensions. With this player, you can enjoy keyboard shortcuts, subtitles, picture-in-picture mode, loop and shuffle options, Chromecast support, and the ability to change the audio track if the video file allows it. It also supports audio files and displays wave visuals while playing them. However, it has some limitations, such as not being available in the app drawer and lacking features like aspect ratio adjustment and video syncing.

MX Player Android App

MX Player is a highly acclaimed video player for Chromebooks and offers a wide range of features. From keyboard shortcuts to an equalizer and subtitle syncing, MX Player has you covered. Unlike the InBasic Chrome extension, you can directly open MX Player from the app drawer and set it as the default video player. However, it's worth noting that MX Player is designed for touch-input devices like smartphones, which can make it less convenient to control with a mouse. Some features, such as adjusting zoom, may only work with touch controls.

VLC Player Android App

VLC Player is another excellent option for Chromebook users. It shares many similarities with MX Player, including support for various video file formats, sleep timer, playback speed adjustment, keyboard shortcuts, and aspect ratio customization. However, VLC Player lacks the extensive customizations available in MX Player. On the positive side, VLC Player is ad-free and offers better response times. It can also be used for audio and photo playback, and it has the added capability of converting video files.

VLC Player Linux App

For those looking for a desktop-grade video player experience, the VLC Player Linux app is a perfect choice. It works seamlessly with the mouse, supports a wide range of video formats (including MKV), and offers all the features you need. However, installing the Linux version of VLC on a Chromebook requires enabling Linux and using the terminal. Keep in mind that Linux apps cannot be set as the default on Chromebooks as they run in their own virtual environment.

In conclusion, the choice of the best video player for your Chromebook depends on your preferences and needs. While both MX Player and VLC Player Android apps are feature-rich, they may have limitations when it comes to mouse control. On the other hand, the VLC Player Linux app provides a comprehensive video player experience but may be resource-intensive for some Chromebooks. Personally, I recommend trying the InBasic MediaPlayer Chrome extension, as it offers a lightweight solution with enough features to enhance your video watching experience on a Chromebook.