VLC Media Player for Linux: Features, Installation, and Tips

VLC Media Player has long been recognized as the Swiss Army knife of media playback. Developed by the VideoLAN project, this open-source and completely free application has built a solid reputation for its ability to play virtually any audio or video file you throw at it—without the hassle of installing extra codecs.

For Linux users, VLC offers more than just convenience—it delivers stability, performance, and flexibility in a package that integrates well with almost any desktop environment. Whether you’re running a lightweight distro on an older laptop or a high-powered workstation for multimedia editing, VLC adapts to your setup with ease.

Beyond simple playback, VLC provides a range of advanced tools: from streaming and recording to converting files and applying real-time filters. It’s equally loved by casual viewers who just want to watch a movie and by power users who appreciate having fine-grained control over playback, subtitles, and audio settings.

In this article, we’ll look at what makes VLC such a powerful choice for Linux users, how to install it on different distributions, and a few tips to get the most out of it.

Key Features of VLC

• Plays virtually all multimedia files without additional codecs.
• Supports DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
• Lightweight, fast, and works well even on older hardware.
• Customizable interface with themes and extensions.
• Advanced playback controls, including frame-by-frame and playback speed adjustment.

Installing VLC on Linux

Vlc preview

On Ubuntu-based distributions, you can install VLC from the official repository:

sudo apt update
sudo snap install vlc

On Fedora:

sudo dnf install vlc

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S vlc

Tips for Using VLC

• Use Ctrl + Up/Down to adjust volume quickly.
• Press Space to pause or play instantly.
• Enable hardware acceleration in settings for smoother playback on weaker hardware.
• Try VLC’s built-in streaming feature to watch online videos directly.

VLC Keyboard Shortcuts (Linux)

• Space – Play / Pause
• F – Toggle Fullscreen
• Ctrl + Up / Down – Volume Up / Down
• M – Mute / Unmute
• Shift + Left / Right – Jump Backward / Forward (3 seconds)
• Alt + Left / Right – Jump Backward / Forward (10 seconds)
• Ctrl + Left / Right – Jump Backward / Forward (1 minute)
• Ctrl + Q – Quit VLC
• N – Next Item in Playlist
• P – Previous Item in Playlist
• + – Increase Playback Speed
• - – Decrease Playback Speed
• = – Normal Playback Speed

Customizing VLC Theme on Linux

VLC supports custom skins (themes) in the form of .vlt files. Using a skin replaces the default native/Qt interface with the classic VLC “skin” interface — handy if you prefer a different look or want a compact player UI.

1. Download a skin

Visit the official VLC skins page and pick a .vlt file to download: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.html

2. Place the skin (optional)

You can keep the file anywhere (Downloads is fine). If you prefer a central location, create a folder like ~/.local/share/vlc/skins2 and move the .vlt file there.

3. Enable and apply the skin

1. Open VLC and go to Tools → Preferences.
2. At the bottom-left, switch Show settings to All (if needed) to reveal interface options, or stay in Simple view and look for Interface settings.
3. Under Interface (or Look and feel), choose Use custom skin (or enable Skins2 / Use custom skin option).
4. Click Choose (or Browse) and point to the downloaded .vlt file.
5. Save preferences and restart VLC. The skin should appear on next start.

4. Reverting to the default interface

To go back, open Tools → Preferences and select the native/Qt interface (usually labeled Use native style or uncheck Use custom skin), then restart VLC.

Tips & Caveats

• Some skins are optimized for standard DPI and may look small or blurry on HiDPI displays.
• Skins replace the native interface — certain Qt-specific integrations or plugins may behave differently.
• If VLC fails to start with a custom skin, delete or move the .vlt file and start VLC; it will revert to the native interface.
• Skins are purely visual; they do not add new playback features or codecs.

Conclusion

VLC is more than just a video player—it’s a complete multimedia toolkit for Linux users. With its powerful features, cross-platform availability, and open-source nature, it’s a must-have for anyone who watches or listens to media on their computer.