www.makemkv.com

As I discussed here https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.ph ... ce#p551275 , while fast/slow motion are effortlessly accessible via the [ and ] keys, using the Z key only displays that zoom mode is being accessed. But I can't zoom in or out, to any degree of magnification, on a downloaded Youtube video. Furthermore, like slow motion, there would have to be two keys to switch from zoom in and zoom out, but the VLC forum member only spoke of the Z key. Please help.

As said in the discussion, it will zoom smaller window sizes to larger but stops when you reach full screen. If you start at full screen it does not change the window.

I'm guessing you want the image zoomed within a full screen window, but it doesn't seem to do that.

Here is what grok has to say:

The issue you're describing with VLC Media Player's zoom function—where it changes the window size but doesn't enlarge the image within the window—can often be addressed by using VLC's **Interactive Zoom** feature or other methods to magnify a specific portion of the video. Below, I'll explain how to achieve this and troubleshoot potential issues, based on the information available and common VLC functionality.

### Methods to Enlarge the Image Within the Window in VLC

#### 1. **Using Interactive Zoom (Recommended)**
The Interactive Zoom feature allows you to magnify a specific part of the video within the existing window, with a picture-in-picture (PiP) preview to control the zoomed area.

**Steps to Enable Interactive Zoom**:
- Open VLC Media Player and load your video (Media > Open File).
- Go to **Tools** > **Effects and Filters** (or press **Ctrl + E**).
- In the "Adjustments and Effects" window, select the **Video Effects** tab.
- Navigate to the **Geometry** sub-tab.
- Check the box for **Interactive Zoom**.
- Click **Save** and then **Close**.
- A small PiP window will appear in the top-left corner of the video, showing a preview of the video with a draggable rectangle.
- Drag the rectangle to select the area you want to zoom in on. The selected area will be magnified within the main video window.
- Adjust the zoom level using the vertical slider next to the PiP window.

**Note**:
- This feature works in both windowed and full-screen modes.
- If the Interactive Zoom box doesn't move or work as expected, it could be due to video rotation metadata (common in smartphone videos). See the troubleshooting section below for fixes.[](https://www.videoproc.com/troubleshoot- ... e-zoom.htm)[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/news/vl ... oving.html)[](https://www.leawo.org/entips/how-to-fix ... -1398.html)

#### 2. **Using the Zoom Option Under the Video Menu**
The Zoom option under the Video menu (Video > Zoom) allows you to select predefined zoom levels (e.g., 1:4 Quarter, 1:2 Half, 1:1 Original, 2:1 Double). However, as you noted, this often resizes the entire window rather than enlarging the image within it, especially in full-screen or maximized modes.

**To Make It Work in Windowed Mode**:
- Ensure VLC is in **windowed mode** (not full-screen or maximized). You can toggle this by pressing **Ctrl + H** or dragging the window corners to resize it manually.
- Go to **Video** > **Zoom** and select a zoom level (e.g., 2:1 Double).
- Alternatively, use the hotkeys **Z** or **Shift + Z** to cycle through zoom levels.
- This method changes the video resolution within the window, but the window size may still adjust to fit the resolution, which might not achieve the desired effect of enlarging within a fixed window.[](https://www.vlchelp.com/how-to-zoom-int ... ia-player/)[](https://ccm.net/sound-image/tv-video/16 ... de-in-vlc/)

**Limitation**: This method is less flexible than Interactive Zoom and may not work as expected in full-screen mode or if the video resolution exceeds your display resolution.

#### 3. **Using the Crop Feature for a Zoom Effect**
VLC's Crop feature can simulate zooming by cropping the edges of the video, making the remaining portion appear larger within the window.

**Steps to Crop**:
- Open your video in VLC.
- Go to **Tools** > **Effects and Filters** (Ctrl + E).
- Select the **Video Effects** tab, then the **Crop** sub-tab.
- Enter pixel values for the top, bottom, left, and right to crop the video (e.g., cropping 100 pixels from each side will zoom in on the center).
- The video will scale to fit the window, effectively enlarging the visible portion.
- You can fine-tune crop values during playback for precise control.

**Note**: Cropping is a manual process but allows pixel-level control and can be used in both windowed and full-screen modes.[](https://superuser.com/questions/40063/f ... vlc-player)[](https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?t=98541)

#### 4. **Using the Magnifier Tool (Windows)**
If VLC's built-in zoom features don't meet your needs, you can use your operating system's accessibility tools, like the Windows Magnifier, to enlarge the video within the VLC window.

**Steps for Windows Magnifier**:
- Open the Magnifier by pressing **Windows + S**, typing "Magnifier," and selecting it.
- Play your video in VLC.
- Use **Windows + Plus (+)** to zoom in or **Windows + Minus (-)** to zoom out.
- The Magnifier will enlarge the entire screen, including the VLC window, allowing you to focus on specific details.
- Note that this method may reduce resolution or cause distortion at high zoom levels.[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/moviema ... n-vlc.html)[](https://digitional.com/how-to-enable-in ... lc-player/)

#### 5. **Fine-Tuning Zoom with Advanced Preferences**
You can set a custom zoom factor in VLC's advanced settings, which may help adjust the video size within the window.

**Steps**:
- Go to **Tools** > **Preferences** (Ctrl + P).
- In the bottom-left, select **All** under "Show settings."
- Navigate to **Video** in the left pane.
- Scroll to **Zoom video** and set a custom zoom factor (e.g., 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 5).
- Click **Save** and restart VLC to apply the changes.
- Note: This affects future videos and may not work for the currently playing video.[](https://www.leawo.org/entips/how-to-fix ... -1398.html)

#### 6. **Fine Zoom Control (Small Increments)**
For more precise zoom adjustments, you can use VLC's scaling hotkeys:
- **Increase scale factor**: **Alt + O**
- **Decrease scale factor**: **Alt + Shift + O**
- **Toggle autoscaling**: **O**
- These allow smaller zoom increments compared to the Video > Zoom options, but they may still affect window size in some cases.[](https://www.reddit.com/r/software/comme ... _have_the/)

### Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. **Interactive Zoom Not Working or Box Not Moving**:
- **Cause**: This is often due to rotation metadata in videos, especially those recorded on smartphones (e.g., 90-degree rotation). VLC correctly rotates the video but may fail to adjust the Interactive Zoom overlay, causing the zoom box to freeze.[](https://www.videoproc.com/troubleshoot- ... e-zoom.htm)[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/news/vl ... oving.html)[](https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/t ... video.html)
- **Solutions**:
- **Update VLC**: Ensure you're using the latest version of VLC (go to **Help** > **Check for Updates**). Some bugs are fixed in newer releases.[](https://windowsreport.com/vlc-interacti ... t-working/)
- **Remove Rotation Metadata**: Use a third-party tool like **VideoProc Converter AI** or **WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro** to remove rotation metadata from the video file. This can resolve the issue by making the video compatible with Interactive Zoom.[](https://www.videoproc.com/troubleshoot- ... e-zoom.htm)[](https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/t ... video.html)
- **Use Transform Filter**: In VLC, go to **Tools** > **Effects and Filters** > **Video Effects** > **Geometry**, enable the **Transform** checkbox, and rotate the video (e.g., 90° or 270°) or flip it vertically/horizontally. This may override problematic metadata.[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/news/vl ... oving.html)
- **Reset Preferences**: Delete VLC's configuration file to reset settings:
- On Windows: Navigate to `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\vlc` and delete the `vlcrc` file.
- Restart VLC to regenerate default settings.[](https://ccm.net/sound-image/tv-video/16 ... de-in-vlc/)[](https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?t=126196)
- **Check Hardware Acceleration**: If Interactive Zoom stopped working after installing new drivers (e.g., NVIDIA), try changing the hardware acceleration setting. Go to **Tools** > **Preferences** > **Video** > **Output**, and set it to **VDPAU** or **Automatic**.[](https://www.reddit.com/r/VLC/comments/z ... ore_after/)

2. **Zoom Not Working in Full-Screen Mode**:
- The Video > Zoom feature often doesn't work in full-screen mode because it relies on resizing the window. Use **Interactive Zoom** or **Crop** for full-screen zooming, or switch to windowed mode before applying zoom.[](https://www.vlchelp.com/how-to-zoom-int ... ia-player/)[](https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?t=98541)

3. **Video Starts Zoomed In or Shows Only a Portion**:
- If the video appears zoomed in by default (e.g., showing only the top-left corner), it could be due to corrupted preferences or incorrect video parameters.
- **Fixes**:
- Reset preferences (see above).
- Check the video's codec and resolution using **Tools** > **Codec Information**. If the display resolution differs from the video resolution, try converting the video using a tool like HandBrake to match your display.[](https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?t=57368)
- Ensure Interactive Zoom is disabled if not needed (Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects > Geometry > Uncheck Interactive Zoom).[](https://ccm.net/sound-image/tv-video/16 ... de-in-vlc/)

4. **Low Quality After Zooming**:
- Zooming beyond the video's native resolution (e.g., 8x with Interactive Zoom) may cause pixelation or quality loss, as VLC digitally upscales the video. For better results, use a higher-resolution source video or a video editor like Wondershare Filmora for permanent zoom edits.[](https://digitional.com/how-to-enable-in ... lc-player/)[](https://filmora.wondershare.com/video-e ... n-vlc.html)

### Alternative Software
If VLC's zoom features don't meet your needs (e.g., due to persistent bugs or lack of fine control), consider these alternatives:
- **Wondershare Filmora**: Offers precise zooming and cropping with a user-friendly interface. Import your video, use the "Crop" or "Pan & Zoom" tools, and export the zoomed video. Available for Windows and Mac.[](https://filmora.wondershare.com/video-e ... n-vlc.html)[](https://mediapeanut.com/how-to-zoom-in- ... ndows-mac/)
- **MiniTool MovieMaker**: Supports zooming via motion effects, allowing you to focus on specific areas and save the edited video.[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/moviema ... n-vlc.html)[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/news/vl ... oving.html)
- **Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPCHC)**: Provides fine-grained zoom control using the number pad, ideal for precise adjustments.[](https://superuser.com/questions/40063/f ... vlc-player)
- **PotPlayer**: A lightweight player with robust zoom and pan features, often more reliable than VLC for zooming.[](https://moviemaker.minitool.com/news/vl ... oving.html)

### Notes
- **Interactive Zoom** is the most effective way to enlarge a specific part of the video within the window without resizing the window itself. It’s ideal for focusing on details during playback.
- If you need to save the zoomed video permanently, use a video editor like Filmora or MiniTool MovieMaker, as VLC’s zoom features are temporary and apply only during playback.
- For persistent issues with Interactive Zoom, especially with smartphone videos, removing rotation metadata using a third-party tool is often the most reliable fix.
- If you want to check video metadata to diagnose issues, tools like **MediaInfo** can reveal rotation parameters or other settings affecting VLC’s zoom.[](https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/t ... video.html)

If you encounter specific errors or need further assistance (e.g., with a particular video file), let me know more details, such as the video format, resolution, or any error messages, and I can provide more tailored guidance. Alternatively, if you want to try a specific alternative software or need help with a third-party tool, I can walk you through the steps!

wmcclain wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:16 pm

I'm guessing you want the image zoomed within a full screen window, but it doesn't seem to do that.

Yes, that's what I want, just like when I use my Oppo 203's or Pioneer LX500's zoom functionality to magnify up to twice the original image size-AND also using the four remote buttons to center any part of the desired image on the screen.

Yes, I tried using VLC's "interactive" zoom tool,but it's a total PITA to use; horribly clunky.
Why couldn't they develop the same kind of two-key control for zooming in and out like they did for slow motion? The only other thing they'd have to add are the four keys to center the zoomed image.

As for the zoomed image becoming pixelated, that's completely expected as I probably can't expect great resolution from the free version of Youtube. But zooming on my commercially pressed DVDs and BDs is another story, and thus would expect much better results. Ideally, at least for such quality obtainable from physical media, I'd prefer to stay with VLC because I love its slow motion quality.

What's also amazing about it is that the audio is also enabled during slo mo. I remember applying slo mo to this one scene in a TV episode on DVD. While the girl was sprinting across the bare wood floor in the bedroom I could actually hear her foot thumps and the floor boards creak. So it would be great if VLC's zoom could be versatile an as easily accessible as its slow motion.

So, any other options to realize this kind of zooming?

I don't know of any and searching doesn't find a solution, so I suspect it is not possible.

MPV has a decent slow motion/high speed capability that I use with some regularity. The documentation suggests there's a video zoom, but I've never tried it.