Guide How to Fix "VLC Unable to Open the MRL"? 8 Methods to Quickly Resolve

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Have you encountered the issue of VLC prompting "VLC Unable to Open the MRL" when opening external sources? I have found 8 quick solutions that I hope will be helpful to you.
Here are the common reasons causing "VLC Unable to Open the MRL" and their corresponding solutions.

Issues	Solutions
Source Incorrect or Not Local Source Content	Check the Source Content
Outdated VLC Media Player	Check for VLC Media Player Updates
Corrupted VLC Media Player Installation	Uninstall and Reinstall VLC Media Player
Default Settings and Preferences in VLC	Reset VLC Media Player Preferences
Network Configuration Issue	Check Network Settings
Firewall or Antivirus Software Blocking	Adjust Windows Firewall and Antivirus Software Settings
No Permission to Access MRL Media Files	Claim File Ownership
Source DVD or Video Copy Protected	Decrypt source DVD

Method 1: Verify Source Content

1. Open VLC and click on "Media."
2. Select "Open Network Stream" or press "Ctrl+N."
3. Copy the URL.
4. Paste the URL into your browser and check if it works. If not, the URL might be incorrect or there could be issues with the streaming service.
5. You can also try playing the source content with a different video player to determine if the problem is with the link or with VLC.

Method 2: Update VLC Media Player

1. In VLC, go to "Help" in the top right corner.
2. Select "Check for Updates."
3. If a new version is available, you'll get a notification.
4. Click "Yes" to install the updates.
5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
6. Retry streaming the video link to see if the "VLC is unable to open the MRL" error is fixed.

Method 3: Reinstall VLC Media Player

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for and open "Control Panel."
3. Click on "Programs and Features."
4. Select VLC from the list.
5. Click "Uninstall" at the top.
6. Visit the official website or Google Store to download VLC media player.
7. Follow the installation prompts, then reopen the MRL to check if the issue is resolved.

Method 4: Reset VLC Preferences

1. Open VLC media player and go to the Tools menu.
2. Select Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, click Reset Preferences at the bottom.
4. Confirm by clicking OK in the confirmation message window.
5. Check if the issue with VLC unable to open MRL is resolved.

Method 5: Verify Network Settings

1. Access network settings. On Windows, right-click the network icon in the taskbar and choose “Open Network & Internet settings.” On macOS, go to System Preferences > Network. Confirm you're connected to the correct network and the connection type (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.) is appropriate.
2. Troubleshoot network issues using built-in tools like network diagnostics or third-party software if necessary.
3. Sometimes, restarting your device or router can solve network problems. Power off both, then turn them back on after a few seconds.

Method 6: Adjust Windows Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Allow VLC through Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Search for “Windows Security” in the Windows taskbar and open the Windows Security app.
2. Go to Firewall & Network Protection and select “Allow an app through firewall.”
3. Click “Change Settings” at the top right.
4. Scroll down to find VLC Media Player. If not listed, click “Allow another app,” then “Browse.”
5. Navigate to “C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC” and select VLC.exe.
6. Check both “Private” and “Public” options, then click OK.
7. Restart your computer and try playing videos in VLC.

Disable Third-party Antivirus Software:

1. Open the “Settings” app from the Start menu.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and then “Windows Security.”
3. Select “Virus & threat protection.”
4. In “Virus & threat protection settings,” click “Manage settings” and turn off “Real-time protection.”
5. If you have other antivirus software, follow similar steps to disable it temporarily.

For example, for AVG Antivirus:

1. Search for AVG in the taskbar and open it.
2. Click “Temporarily disable AVG protection” and choose the duration.
3. Click OK to disable the antivirus.

After adjusting firewall and antivirus settings, try opening the MRL in VLC again to see if the issue is resolved.
Method 7: Claim File Ownership

1. Right-click on the problematic file.
2. Select “Properties.”
3. Go to the “Security” tab.
4. Click “Advanced” at the bottom right.
5. Next to “Owner,” click “Change.”
6. In the new window, type “Administrator” and click OK.
7. Check the box that says “Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object,” then click Apply.
8. Check if claiming ownership resolves the issue.

Method 8: Decrypt Source DVD

1. Download DVD decryption software like WinX DVD Ripper Platinum.
2. Load the DVD and choose MP4 H.264 as the output format.
3. Click RUN to start decrypting and digitizing the DVD.
4. Play the converted video file with VLC after decryption.

For more detailed visual tutorials, please click: How To Fix VLC Unable To Open MRL File. Click to get an IPTV free trial of GTV IPTV.