How to Play WebM Files

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This wikiHow will show you how to play files with the WEBM file extension. A WEBM file is most likely a compressed video file found online. Since WebM is such a popular video format online, many programs will open it, like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and VLC Media Player.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Web Browser

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-1.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This method works without downloading any extra applications.
    • You cannot use Safari.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/50\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/50\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-2.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is the keyboard shortcut to open a file. Your file browser will open.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-3.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It will open and start playback in your browser. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using VLC Media Player

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-4.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this on your Start Menu or in your Applications folder. VLC is a media player available for Mac and Windows computers that supports playback of a wide variety of video formats, including .webm.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-5.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your file browser will open and you can navigate to and open your WebM file.
    • You can also drag and drop your file into the VLC application window.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-6.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • Click the stop icon stop playback.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using the VLC Mobile App

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-7.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The app icon looks like an orange and white safety cone. You can find this app on your Home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching. VLC handles the playback of most video formats, including WebM.
    • If you don't have VLC, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store or App Store offered by the developer "Videolabs" or "VideoLAN." The app is titled "VLC for Android" in the Google Play Store and "VLC for Mobile" in the App Store.
    • If this is your first time using VLC, you'll go through a tutorial before you can begin.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-8.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When you open the app, a list of all your videos will appear. If you don't see your WebM file, continue through the next steps. If you do, tapping on your video will start playback.
    • Tap ☰ and Directories . You’ll see folders for your internal storage and folders where video files are typically found. Tapping on your video will start playback.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Play-WebM-Files-Step-9.jpg\/aid11298740-v4-728px-Play-WebM-Files-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    These are the icons at the bottom of your screen that can pause, play, stop, and rewind the video.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://fileinfo.com/extension/webm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a web browser, like Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Opera on your computer.
      2. Press Ctrl+O (Windows) or Cmd+O (Mac) to open a file.
      3. Navigate to and double-click your file.
      4. Watch your file play in your web browser.

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