Play and Stream Google Drive Videos on VLC Player | PC and Mobile

#Google Drive is the best cloud storage and file hosting platform available. People use Google Drive as a very personal space storing all their images, videos, files, and more. Though google drive has a built-in video player preview, it may not be possible for GDrive to Play all kinds of videos. This is when 3rd party video players come in handy.

The 3rd party video players like VLC can stream all formats of videos and video codecs without any streaming error. If you wish to play Google Drive videos on VLC Player for Windows, MacBook, Android, or iOS, a trick works. Follow the guide below, and you can stream Google Drive Videos on VLC player without downloading the video.

Stream Google Drive Video to VLC Player

Here are Few Simple Steps to Stream and Play Google Drive Videos on VLC Player on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Step 1. Generate Google Drive API Key

Google offers a cloud console tool for developers and users. You can use this free tool to create an API Key for your Google Drive.

1. Open Google Cloud Console, which is a freemium service offered by Google.
2. Log in with your Google Account and Password to access the Clouse Console.
3. Once successfully logged in, you will be taken to Google Cloud Dashboard Homepage.
4. Tap on the Project icon to create a new project.
   
5. Here create a New Project.
   
6. Give the project a name, location, and hit Create.
   
7. Click on 3 horizontal lines on the left sidebar to open the menu option.
   
8. Here click on APIs & Credentials and Open Library.
   
9. An API Library page will open; here, look for Google Drive API and click to open it.
   
10. Click on Enable button to Turn ON Google Drive API
    
11. Once enabled, click on Manage.
    
12. Open Credentials Tab
    
13. Select Google Drive API from the drop-down menu for Credential Type.
    
14. Select User data and click Done.
    
15. Now tap on + Create Credentials on the top of the page.
    
16. An API key will be generated, copy the key and paste it somewhere as we will need it later.
    

Step 2. Get Google Drive Sharing Link URL

1. Now look for the Google Drive file that you wish to stream on VLC player.
2. Right-click on the file and click on the Get link
   
3. If the link is restricted, select Anyone with the link.
   
4. Copy the Sharing URL
   
5. Paste the sharing URL and just copy the File ID and save it somewhere safe.
   

   https://drive.google.com/file/d/file-id/view?=sharing

   

Step 3. Create the Google API Link

1. Open Notepad and enter the following Google APIs URL.

   https://www.googleapis.com/drive/v3/files/file-ID?alt=media&key=APIKey

2. Paste the file id copied in the file ID section and API key in the APIKey section.
   
3. Copy the URL created and Paste it into VLC Network Stream.

Note: It may take few seconds to load the video in VLC Player based on file size, so just keep a little patience.

Video Tutorial Guide

If you wish, you can watch the video below for a detailed guide to showing API creation and URL tweaking to stream and play GDrive videos on your media player using VLC Network streaming.

Play Google Drive Videos on VLC (Mac)

• Open the VLC player on MacBook.
• Now click on the File tab from the top menu option.
• Here click on the Open Network option
  
• Paste the googleapis URL created.
  
• Hit the open button; the google drive video will start streaming online on VLC.

  Note: It may take a few seconds to load the video based on video size

  

Play Google Drive Videos on VLC (Android)

• Open VLC Player on Android
• Click on the More tab.
• Tap on New Stream.
  
• Here paste the Drive API URL, hit the button, and the video will start playing.
  Note: It may take a few seconds to load the video based on video size

Play Google Drive Videos on VLC (iOS)

• Open VLC Player on iPhone or iPad
• Here click on the Network tab and Open Network Stream 
  
• Paste the Google Drive API URL and click on Open Network Stream to play the video.
  

Alternately, you can also use the Cloud Services feature in VLC for iOS to connect your G-account with VLC and stream Google Drive videos in the VLC player.

Play Google Drive Videos on VLC (Windows PC)

• Open VLC on Windows
• Click on Media
• And Open Network Stream…
  
• Paste the URL and stream the video

Sync Google Drive to PC and Play Videos on VLC

You can install Google Drive for Desktop on Windows and Mac PC. Once installed, sync the Google Drive with PC, this will show all the Google Drive files and folders on your PC Finder/Explorer. Locate the video file and open the file using VLC Player.

Conclusion

With this simple Guide above, you can stream and play the Google Drive Video on VLC Player on Android, iPhone, Mac, and Windows without downloading.