How to Upscale Video in VLC

General
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Hey everyone,

I’ve seen a lot of questions recently about whether VLC Media Player can actually upscale video quality — and the answer is yes, to some extent.
While VLC doesn’t use AI like professional tools, it does include several hidden settings that can make your playback look noticeably sharper and cleaner.
Here’s a full breakdown of what I’ve tested :backhand_index_pointing_down:

:clapper_board: Part 1: How to Upscale Video in VLC

VLC offers multiple ways to enhance playback — not true AI upscaling, but smart adjustments that improve sharpness, color depth, and stability.

:brain: Method 1: Change Output Modules

  • Go to Tools → Preferences → Show Settings → All → Video → Output Modules

  • Choose DirectX (DirectDraw) for smoother playback or OpenGL for better color accuracy

  • Disable hardware YUV→RGB conversions for cleaner rendering

  • Restart VLC and check the difference — you’ll see smoother edges and better color gradients.

:rainbow: Method 2: Enable Full Color Range

If you have an NVIDIA GPU:

  • Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Video → Adjust video color settings

  • Select Full (0–255) range instead of Limited (16–235)
    This unlocks richer blacks and brighter highlights, especially noticeable in dark movie scenes.

:gear: Method 3: NVIDIA Video Super Resolution

If you’re on RTX hardware:

  • Go to NVIDIA Control Panel → Video → Adjust video image settings

  • Enable Super Resolution, set the level between 1–4
    This uses AI at the GPU driver level to upscale playback in real-time — and it works with VLC too.

:artist_palette: Method 4: Use VLC Video Filters

  • In VLC, go to Tools → Effects and Filters → Video Effects

  • Under the “Essential” tab, tweak Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness, and Saturation
    You can fine-tune these for quick, visual improvements without extra plugins.

:balance_scale: Part 2: Pros and Cons of VLC Upscaling

:white_check_mark: Pros

  • 100% free, built into VLC

  • Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux

  • NVIDIA integration for better GPU performance

  • Great for fast playback improvement

:cross_mark: Cons

  • No true AI upscaling

  • Limited to manual adjustments

  • Cannot reconstruct lost pixels or upscale to real 4K

:robot: Part 3: Best AI Alternative – HitPaw VikPea

If you want real 4K or 8K enhancement, HitPaw VikPea is a solid AI-powered alternative to VLC’s manual tweaks.
Unlike VLC, VikPea actually analyzes every frame and rebuilds missing details using deep learning models.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • :puzzle_piece: Multiple AI Models: Choose General, Portrait, or Quality Repair for the best match

  • :film_frames: Upscale up to 8K: No noise, no artifacts — just natural sharpness

  • :light_bulb: Fix Compression & Blur: Repairs low-bitrate or damaged footage automatically

  • :brain: Batch Processing: Enhance multiple videos at once

  • :high_voltage: Real-Time Preview: Instantly see original vs. enhanced

Steps:
:one: Download and launch HitPaw VikPea
:two: Import your video file
:three: Select an AI model (e.g., Portrait for faces or General for all-purpose)
:four: Preview → Export your enhanced video in HD/4K/8K

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:thought_balloon: Final Thoughts

VLC is great for everyday use — it’s lightweight, free, and flexible.
But if you’re serious about restoring or enhancing old clips, AI-based tools like HitPaw VikPea will give you professional-level results without the guesswork.