The rate at which we consume multimedia is certainly higher than ever. Although the contributing factor behind the phenomenon is undoubtedly the advancement in technology, we also have to address the issue that content is easily available for consumption.
But what if you are using a niche system? Are you still able to view your favorite movies or listen to the latest songs back to back? You can if you love VLC. It is a media player that is loved all around the globe and is available on Linux.
For our readers who love the app and want to run it on their Linux distro, here is a complete guide on how to install VLC on Linux.
What is VLC?
VLC is a free and open-source multimedia player app/software that is not only portable but also available across different platforms. Over time, VLC became capable of streaming online videos.
Although initially, the developer behind VLC, the VideoLAN Project intended it to be an exclusive desktop-oriented software, with the rise of smartphones, the app became available for both Android and iOS.
The feature that sets VLC apart from traditional media players is its inbuilt codec. Hence, users do not have to download a different codec to run a different file format. As such, VLC is versatile enough to run almost any audio and or video file without issues.
Prerequisites for VLC Installation
In order to run VLC on any Linux device, one has to heed the following requirements:
- Have a Linux OS system.
- A working internet connection
- And the supported Linux distros, which are:
- Alma
- Alpine
- Arch
- CentOS
- Debian
- Fedora
- Linux
- Mint
- openSUSE
- Pop!_OS
- RHEL
- Rocky
- Stream
- SUSE
- Ubuntu
- Kali Linux
Method 1. Install VLC using Snap
Snapd is a daemon and Linux tool that allows users to install snap packages on their Linux devices. Hence, those users who want to install VLC, must first install snapd.
Install VLC on Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, and Mint
In order to install VLC, follow the steps prescribed below:
Step 1. Launch the Command Terminal by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + T buttons.
Step 2. Enter the following command to install snapd:
sudo apt install snapdStep 3. Now, run the snap command to find VLC:
sudo snap find vlcStep 4. Finally, install VLC:
sudo snap install vlcInstall VLC on Arch Linux
Similarly, for Arch Linux, first, we have to install snapd. Hence, the steps are:
Step 1. Run the Command Terminal
Step 2. Install snapd using the codes below:
sudo yaourt -S snapdsudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socketStep 3. Finally, install VLC using the same snap code mentioned in the previous step.
sudo snap install vlcInstall VLC on Fedora Linux
In the same way, users can enjoy VLC on Fedora if they follow the instructions given below:
Step 1. Open the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Now, enter the following codes to install snapd.
sudo dnf install snapdsudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap Step 3. And finally, you can install VLC by copying the apt code from the first example.
sudo snap install vlcInstall VLC on Open SUSE
Finally, we have Open SUSE that uses the zypper code. Thus, use it to install snapd and then VLC.
Step 1. Start by running the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Then execute the zypper code.
sudo zypper addrepo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/ snappyOR
sudo zypper addrepo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Leap_42.3/ snappyStep 3. Then install snapd.
sudo zypper install snapdsudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socketStep 4. In the end, install VLC using the snap command.
Method 2. Install VLC GUI using the Ubuntu Software Center
The next method pertains to VLC GUI which can be installed very easily on any Ubuntu device. The OS itself offers a GUI for installing Linux-supported software. Hence, those who want a VLC GUI can follow the steps mentioned below:
Step 1. First, click on the Show Application button on your device’s screen.
Step 2. Then in the search box, type Ubuntu Software.
Step 3. Open the Ubuntu Software GUI and search for VLC.
Step 4. Finally, click on the VLC icon and press the Install button. If prompted for a password, enter it.
Method 3. Install VLC using Command Line
The last method is to use the traditional way of loading software on Linux. First, users can try the apt or apt-get commands to install VLC.
This will work for most of the Debian-based distros such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, Deepin, MX Linux, PureOS, Parrot OS, Zorin OS, Raspbian, Tails, Devuan, BunsenLabs Linux, antiX, SparkyLinux, BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions), KNOPPIX, SolydXK.
If it doesn’t work on a distinct distro, heed the additional commands mentioned below:
Step 1. Launch the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Update the apt repository by entering the following command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yStep 3. Install VLC.
sudo apt install vlc Or
sudo apt-get install VLCInstalling VLC on Debian
Users can install VLC by adding the Wheezy-backport repository. Thus the steps are as follows:
Step 1. Start by loading the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Then, add the wheezy-backports repository.
echo 'deb http://http.debian.net/debian wheezy-backports main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wheezy-backports.listStep 3. Now, run an update for the same.
sudo apt-get updateStep 4. Finally, install VLC.
sudo apt-get -t wheezy-backports install vlcInstalling VLC on Gentoo
The Gentoo distro already comes with VLC all you have to do is:
Step 1. Run the terminal.
Step 2. Use the ‘emerge’ code
emerge vlcStep 3. Your software will be installed.
Installing VLC on Fedora
Users can rely on the RPM fusion for Fedora. Then they can install rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm and after that VLC.
Step 1. Go to the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Enter the following code to get RPM Fusion
su -dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpmStep 3. Install the repository.
dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpmStep 4. Lastly, use the RPM package to install VLC.
dnf install vlcOptionally install python-vlc
dnf install python-vlcInstalling VLC on Arch Linux
Users simply need to run the pacman code to get VLC on Arch Linux. The code is:
pacman -S vlcInstalling VLC on RHEL/CentOS 8
Finally, for RHEL or CentOS, RPM fusion is also available for these distros. However, this repository uses EPEL instead. Hence the steps are as follow:
Step 1. Start the Command Terminal.
Step 2. Install the EPEL repository.
su -sudo yum install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-8.noarch.rpmStep 3. Now, install the RPM fusion.
sudo yum install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/el/rpmfusion-free-release-8.noarch.rpmStep 4. Finally, install VLC.
sudo yum install vlcMethod 4. Installing VLC via Flatpak
Flatpak is another popular way to install software on Linux systems. It’s designed to work across a variety of distributions, making it an excellent choice for users who want flexibility. If you want to install VLC using Flatpak, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Install Flatpak
If you don’t already have Flatpak installed on your system, you need to add it. For most Linux distributions, this can be done by running the following commands in the terminal:
For Debian-based distributions (like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc.):
sudo apt install flatpakFor Fedora:
sudo dnf install flatpak
For Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S flatpak
Step 2. Add the Flathub Repository
Flathub is the best place to get Flatpak apps. To add the Flathub repository to your system, use the following command:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
Step 3. Install VLC using Flatpak
Once you have Flatpak and the Flathub repository set up, installing VLC is as simple as:
flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC
Step 4. Launch VLC
After the installation, you can launch VLC either through your system’s application launcher or by typing the following command in your terminal:
flatpak run org.videolan.VLC
Method 5. Building VLC from Source
For advanced users, compiling VLC from source is an option, especially if you want the latest version with custom features or optimizations. While this is more complex, it gives you complete control over your installation.
Step 1. Install Dependencies
Before building VLC, you need to ensure that all required dependencies are installed. These vary by distribution, but for Debian-based systems, you can use:
sudo apt-get build-dep vlc
For Fedora:
sudo dnf builddep vlc
Step 2. Clone the VLC Repository
Once the dependencies are installed, clone the official VLC repository from Git:
git clone https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc.git
cd vlc
Step 3. Compile VLC
Next, configure and compile VLC. This process may take a while depending on your system:
./bootstrap
./configure
make
Step 4. Install VLC
Finally, after the build is complete, you can install VLC by running:
sudo make install
Now VLC should be installed and ready to use!
Troubleshooting Common VLC Installation Issues
Although installing VLC on Linux is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and their fixes:
Issue 1: VLC not launching after installation
Sometimes, VLC might not launch properly after installation due to missing libraries or conflicts with existing software. To fix this, try reinstalling VLC or resetting its configuration:
vlc --reset-config
If that doesn’t work, reinstall VLC:
sudo apt remove vlc && sudo apt install vlc
Issue 2: Snap or Flatpak installations are slow
Snap and Flatpak apps can sometimes be slow to launch due to the nature of their sandboxed environments. If speed is a concern, consider installing VLC via traditional package managers like apt, dnf, or pacman for faster performance.
Issue 3: Video playback issues
If you’re experiencing choppy video or other playback problems, ensure your system has the latest graphics drivers installed. Additionally, adjusting VLC’s video output settings in the preferences menu can often resolve such issues.
