2

Is there any way to have a video player such as VLC replace the built-in player that exists within web browsers for HTML5 content?

I would like to be able to watch YouTube (and preferably also other HTML5-based) videos at varying speeds (i.e. 1.5x, 2x, etc.) - without needing to download them completely and then watch them via a separate program. Is there any addon/browser/player that can make this work?

I am looking for a free Windows-based solution, but I would be interested to know if this is possible on other systems as well.

Improve this question
4
  • 2
    for firefox, look down these addons: addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search/?q=vlc There seem to be plugins which will enqueue videos into vlc, and one which will let you 'preview' videos before it's finished downloading.
    – user3791372
    Aug 28, 2014 at 17:30
  • @user3791372 - based on your suggestion I'll try to provide an answer that I also want to have here for reference
    – cipricus
    May 17, 2016 at 10:24
  • @user3791372 - two of the addons in that list worked very well, the rest seem outdated. I'll complete the list
    – cipricus
    May 17, 2016 at 11:06
  • 1
    Worth pointing out now that the native youtube player seems to allow you to adjust the speed of the video. Great for studying / revising.
    – user3791372
    May 17, 2016 at 15:02

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

The idea would be to open an embedded video in an external video player. (For Windows: VLC, MPC-HC, MPC-BE, PotPlayer, Windows Media Player; for Linux: VLC, mpv, SMPlayer; on Mac: VLC). A good way to do that is to use Firefox addons. (there were also some Chrome addons, but now Chrome seems to go in different direction by removing NPAPI plugins):

FlashGot

Made to send videos to external download managers: can be set to send the video to an external video player. After installing and adding the players as described in this answer, make it easily accessible like so: open the 'customize' options for Firefox and drag&drop the needed icon in a visible location on the toolbar (that will then be visible only during media play).

enter image description here

Start the video and that icon will become visible.

enter image description here

Do not left-click that! (For some sites like youtube multiple streams are available for a title and left-clicking starts them all, as FlashGot is intended for downloading and this is a 'download them all' feature.)

Right click on that and select 'Flashgot options' if you want to select between multiple video players if the case:

enter image description here

enter image description here

Right-click the icon to select the stream to play (different are available on Youtube).

enter image description here

Cross-platform, different video players, different (HTML5 and Flash) websites.

OpenWith

Made to open links in other internet browsers: can open a link into a video player.

enter image description here

enter image description here

Cross-platform, multiple video players, tested in Youtube (other sites may work, although none that I tested does).

Watch with MPV

Made to start internet video in mpv video player. Adds a toolbar icon and a context menu entry and can use a short-key to start. It is supposed to be set to work with other players too (but trying VLC it doesn't seem to work well).

enter image description here

Cross-platform, mpv-based but can be set for other video players, different (but not many) websites

VLC Youtube shortcut

Adds a context menu entry to start playing a Youtube video in VLC.

enter image description here

Cross-platform. Youtube-only, VLC-only.

YT2Player.

enter image description here

Cross-platform, Youtube-only, different video players (but only one can be set at the same time; in FlashGot and OpenWith you can add and select between different players).

Last two addons were suggested by a comment made by user3791372. Other addons in the link included in the comment are outdated and even buggy.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.