MPC-HC: Stream YouTube - Here's how
The MPC-HC can play as many formats as the VLC player. However, you cannot simply stream YouTube with it. If you enter the classic link of a YouTube video under "File" -> "Open media", you will get the error message "Cannot process file". You can still play YouTube videos with one trick. We show how it's done.
Media Player Classic - Home Cinema: Stream YouTube videos
The following work-around makes it possible to play YouTube videos in the MPC-HC. It works equally well in Firefox and Chrome browsers:
- Install the Greasemonkey extension in Firefox or the Tampermonkey extension in Chrome.
- Install the Download YouTube-Videos As MP4 script directly from the website.
- Restart your browser.
- Go to YouTube and choose a video. As soon as the video page is loaded, you will see the word "Download" under the video heading on the left.
- Click on "Download". A dropdown menu appears in which the video is available for download in various qualities (see picture).
- Choose a quality that is well represented by your internet connection and click on it with the right mouse button.
- Do not be alarmed: the dropdown menu disappears, but the context menu window remains. Click here on "Copy link address" (Firefox) or "Copy link address" (Chrome). You have now copied the download link of the video provided by the script to the Windows clipboard.
- Open the MPC-HC and click on "File" -> "Open Media". In the new window, right-click in the upper white field with the heading "Media" and select "Paste". The link from the clipboard appears.
- Finally, confirm with "Okay" at the bottom right. After a short loading time, the desired YouTube video is played in the MPC-HC.
YouTube in the MPC-HC: advantages and disadvantages
- Advantage: A program that specializes in playing videos can be much more fluid and stable than a player that was made available for a browser. The MPC-HC in particular is considered to be extremely performant. This is particularly beneficial on older devices and those with a slow internet connection.
- Disadvantage: If you want to stream a YouTube video with the MPC-HC and want to fast forward to a certain point, you should keep an eye on the percentage display at the bottom left. You can only fast forward there if the percentage of the buffer is so high that the desired position is within the buffer. So if you want to select a position in a three-minute film after one minute of play, you have to wait until the buffer display reaches around 35 percent.
In the next practical tip, we will show you whether downloading YouTube videos is legal.