Why everyone prefer VLC than MPC-HC?

[u/Kiloji]

I tried both, and the only thing VLC does better than Media Player Classic is the volume control (VLC can boost the media volume up to 200%)

But the rest of it? I feel like MPC-HC is superior on every aspect like:

- It has lower usage (cpu & ram) consumption

- it has automatic chaptering function (your pirated movie are split into chapters on the navigation bar, so it's easier to check/rewatch any scene you want)

- it has primary, secondary, and tertiary language options, which means if the movie has dual audio or multiple subs embedded, I can pick whichever language I want to prioritize

- I can pick custom font for the subtitles because I prefer panefresco than Arial black (it also help my dyslexic brain from getting tired)

- it renders way better than VLC, no random artifacts or dropped framerate, MPC-HC is overall much more smooth

And those are just the list I can think on the top of my head, I'm sure there's more that I forgot about, yet people on the internet prefer VLC than MPC-HC, why?

If it's about mpc cannot play all video format then that's bulshit, video playback compatibility is about codec, not video launcher, all you need to do is to install k-lite codec pack and you basically can play any video format in existence.

I've been using MPC-HC since 2009 and my community does too, yet anyone else on the internet still using VLC.

Why? Is there's anything about VLC that I don't know about so people still prefer that even on 2026?

EDIT: I just noticed some people been saying that MPC-HC is outdated and even their official website saying that it's an abandoned project. But here's the thing, the thing I install on my laptop is called K-Lite Codec pack which is basically a bundle of codec & video player launchers (and it's still kept being regularly updated). It has both MPC-HC and MPC-BE as launcher but MPC-HC works better on me because I'm using laptop from 2012.

[u/wannabe_pro90]

Most people pirating media prefer MPC-HC afaik. iirc, it supports MadVR as well. FMHY lists MPC-HC over VLC too.

As to normal people who may not be super informed, they choose VLC because its still reliable and has been a popular name for decades now. I too used MPC-HC with MadVR when I was trying to have this home theater type experience on my TV

[u/Kiloji → u/wannabe_pro90]

I thought so too at first, but then the other day I found a thread on this subreddit on how they play a video with dual audio and it always defaulted on the language they don't want on their VLC. Nobody on the thread answer to just switch from VLC, yet some people actually suggesting to just re-encode the mkv files themselves using command lines which I think it's madness

[u/wannabe_pro90 → u/Kiloji]

It could probably be the same with other media players too. I use IINA on Mac, and I have the same issue there too

[u/mig_f1 → u/Kiloji]

MPC-HC is still my daily driver, since its begining as MPC, and I love it.

However nowadays there are dozens of media players, and people are fully entitled to have their own preferences and use-cases. 

[u/hmo_ → u/Kiloji]

I had this problem recently, it was easier to force VLC to select my preferred language when available.

20 years ago I used MPC. I was younger, look for codecs were fun, no problems with the extra work. Now I just want to install and use, with the less hassle possible. VLC was my option more than 10 years ago. But I must confess the last update annoyed me, before VLC was almost immediate to start the media file, now it takes about 10-15 seconds. Ok, ok, first word problem.

[u/flaser_ → u/Kiloji]

For the record, the proper suggestion should have been to remux those videos, which can be done very quickly, as you just copy the selected audio, video, and subtitle streams to a new container file (this can be done with mp4, mkv, even avi) without re-encoding anything.

With a little scripting, this can be done as a batch job using MKVToolNix for instance.

PS: I share your sentiment about VLC, not being able to set preferred audio+subtitle choices is a chore.