VLC Volume Too Low on Mac? Boost It Past 100%

You're watching a video in VLC. The dialogue is quiet, so you turn VLC up all the way, then your Mac all the way. Still hard to hear. Some files are simply recorded too quietly.

Before reaching for another app, check the basics on your Mac, then use VLC's own boost.

1. Check your Mac first

• Output volume: open System Settings > Sound and make sure the right output device is selected and its volume is at the top.
• Left/right slider: in the same Output section, make sure the slider between left and right is centered. If it's off to one side, one ear will be quieter.
• Headphone Safety: with headphones, look in Sound settings for Headphone Safety. If 'Reduce Loud Audio' is on, macOS may be limiting headphone volume.
• Bluetooth headphones: if you use AirPods or similar, see Bluetooth headphones too quiet on Mac for headphone-specific causes.

If everything is maxed and the video is still quiet, the problem is the file, not your settings.

2. Use VLC's own volume boost

VLC's own volume slider can go above 100%. Most people never notice because they stop when the slider looks full.

Ways to raise it:

• The Audio menu: in VLC's menu bar, open Audio and choose Increase Volume. Repeat it and watch the volume level shown in the player.
• Key combination: on Mac, Command + Up Arrow raises VLC's volume and Command + Down Arrow lowers it. Keep pressing to go past 100%.
• Scrolling: in many versions, hovering over the volume slider and scrolling up raises it too.

If VLC stops at 100%, look in VLC's preferences (audio or interface settings) for an option about the maximum volume; the exact place depends on your VLC version.

A word of caution: pushing any boost hard can make loud parts sound harsh. Raise it until the dialogue is clear, not as far as it will go.

3. Check the track itself

Some videos have more than one audio track (for example a stereo track and a surround track). In VLC's Audio menu, look for the audio track list and try another track. A surround track played on stereo speakers or headphones can make dialogue sound quieter than the music and effects.

4. Boost VLC without making everything else louder

There's one thing VLC's boost can't fix: the rest of your Mac. If you turn the system volume up to hear VLC, your music, browser and notifications get louder too, because macOS has one output volume for every app.

SoundDial gives each running app its own slider in the menu bar. For VLC that means:

• Boost VLC above 100%: up to 200%, while Spotify, Safari and everything else stay where they were. See how per-app volume boost works
• Lower everything else instead: keep the system volume where it is and turn down the apps you don't want to hear
• Mute one app: silence a noisy app with one click while VLC keeps playing

SoundDial's slider works on VLC as a whole app, alongside VLC's own volume setting. Use whichever combination gets the dialogue clear.

If you also watch video in the browser, YouTube too quiet in Safari or Chrome covers that case.

SoundDial, a per-app volume mixer for Mac needs macOS 14.2 or later and costs €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, no subscription.

Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store.