This page describes how to make VLC the default media player. | Other 'how to' pages |
VLC media player nightly builds for macOS. Remember to test the latest nightly build before reporting a bug (in one of the older nightly builds).
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Windows
- See also: How to associate media files with VLC.
XP
The simplest way to set VLC as the default media player for Windows is during installation of VLC. During set-up, VLC will ask you if you want to associate certain media file types (such as .mp3, .flv, .wav) with VLC; for each 'association' chosen opening that file type will launch it in VLC. By default, all are selected, though you might (or might not) want to un-check file types you'd like to open with another programme.
If you've missed this chance at making it the default media player during set-up, perhaps the easiest way is to un-install it and then install it again.
A word of caution regarding re-installation—be sure to un-check the box that deletes your preferences and cache, or all your customisations will be gone!
A word of caution regarding re-installation—be sure to un-check the box that deletes your preferences and cache, or all your customisations will be gone!
Vista, 7, 8
Open VLC player, click on Tools in the menu, and from there select Preferences.
Click on the Interface button on the left panel and then click on Set up associations... (it's close to the bottom).
Select types of files from the list that appears. Check any file types for which you want VLC to be the default player, or just check the select all option.
Mac
Right-click on the type of file you want to always open with VLC. Click 'Get Info'. In the 'Open With' section, select VLC from the drop-down menu. To apply this change to all files of this type, click the 'Change All' button.
For optical media, like CDs or DVDs, go to Apple -> System Preferences and choose 'CDs/DVDs' in the Hardware section. Choose 'Other Application' from the respective popup menu button. The list is alphabetical, so VLC should be near the bottom of the list.
Linux
Fedora
GNOME
Gnome uses two lists (located at /usr/share/applications/) – mimeinfo.cache and defaults.list – to register applications to file types.
You can either edit these manually or use the tools that GNOME has for this.
You can either edit these manually or use the tools that GNOME has for this.
Instructions on how to do it in GNOME
Changing the default application for videos using menus (the easy way):
Using Nautilus 2.30.1, from the top menu bar choose 'Places', then Home Folder -> Edit menu -> Preferences -> choose Media tab -> and in the drop-down list next to 'DVD Video' choose 'Open VLC media player'.
Voilà.
Voilà.
Alternatively, try: System -> Preferences -> Personal -> Preferred Applications -> Multimedia -> Custom -> Type this: vlc %U
(P.S.: this alternative hasn't been tested yet).
Changing the default application for videos using menus (the not-so-easy way):
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Changing the default application for videos manually (the hard way):
In Fedora 10 the path /usr/share/applications/ will take you to these 2 files that configure what application opens a type of file.
defaults.list
mimeinfo.cache
P.S.: Both files will point to a Desktop Entry file ([name of the file].desktop) that is inside the applications folder, and the 2 important things inside that file are the configurations for what MIME Types the application can handle, and how to launch the application.
defaults.list
mimeinfo.cache
P.S.: Both files will point to a Desktop Entry file ([name of the file].desktop) that is inside the applications folder, and the 2 important things inside that file are the configurations for what MIME Types the application can handle, and how to launch the application.
A Desktop Entry file is a data file that provides information about an item in a menu.The desktop entry specification describes desktop entries as files describing information about an application such as the name, MIME Types it handles, icon, and description. These files are used for application launchers and for creating menus of applications that can be launched.
If you don't have the VLC Desktop Entry file, or it disappears for some reason you will have to make one. Look here for some pointers.
If you don't have the VLC Desktop Entry file, or it disappears for some reason you will have to make one. Look here for some pointers.
You only need to modify mimeinfo.cache, I hope. It works for me. If it doesn't work for you, please edit this!
So what you have to do is:
- Open mimeinfo.cache as root.
- Search for the MIME Types for video.
- Change all of them to use VLC.
For example:
Registry of MIME Type (video/quicktime) in mimeinfo.cache to use VLC.
video/quicktime=livna-vlc.desktop;totem.desktop;miro.desktop;
The format is:
[MIME Type]=[Name of the Desktop Entry file]
Note: You can put more than one Desktop Entry, but they need to be separated by a semi-colon (;), see the example above.
Those extra entries will appear as options when you right-click on the video file and go to the Open With submenu.
Tip: Nautilus don't show the real names of the Desktop Entry files. Either drag and drop it on gedit so you see the name on the tab, or use ls to list the files on the command line.
Registry of MIME Type (video/quicktime) in mimeinfo.cache to use VLC.
video/quicktime=livna-vlc.desktop;totem.desktop;miro.desktop;
The format is:
[MIME Type]=[Name of the Desktop Entry file]
Note: You can put more than one Desktop Entry, but they need to be separated by a semi-colon (;), see the example above.
Those extra entries will appear as options when you right-click on the video file and go to the Open With submenu.
Tip: Nautilus don't show the real names of the Desktop Entry files. Either drag and drop it on gedit so you see the name on the tab, or use ls to list the files on the command line.
References
- Registering Applications for MIME Types (Editing defaults.list and mimeinfo.cache)
KDE
[TODO]
Retrieved from 'https://wiki.videolan.org/index.php?title=VLC_HowTo/Make_VLC_the_default_player&oldid=57893'
Take a sneak peek at the future of VLC Media Player
Video’s a funny old thing: it’s not enough there’s no single standard for video playback, the situation is complicated by the fact video is effectively split into two parts: the “container” the file is placed in, identifiable by its three-letter file extensions like MOV, WMV or VOB, plus the “codecs” used to render the video. The end result is a confusing mess where you can get one MP4 file to play on your computer, but not another – simply because they’ve been created using different codecs.
It’s all very confusing, and can lead to an explosion of different media players finding themselves installed on your computer in order to watch video from a variety of different sources. Very annoying.
Thankfully there are media players out there designed to play a wide variety of video, and one of the best is completely free (open-source in fact). That magic bullet with video’s name on it VideoLAN’s VLC Media Player.
Thankfully there are media players out there designed to play a wide variety of video, and one of the best is completely free (open-source in fact). That magic bullet with video’s name on it VideoLAN’s VLC Media Player.
Like most good apps, VLC Media Player is constantly in development, and if you’re a brave soul you can get a heads up on the next release by installing this preview – and untested – build instead of the stable version, which we’d recommend most people use instead.
Why would you want to install VLC Media Player Nightly then? Perhaps you’ve come across a bug and want to see if it’s in the process of being fixed. You may strike gold by trying this build, although you may also discover it’s more fool’s good as you encounter more bugs that have yet to be wheedled out through testing.
It’s difficult to recommend this Nightly build to any but the most experienced of users with a good backup system already in place. It’ll overwrite your stable build for starters, so if things do go wrong, you’ll need to remove it and reinstall the previous, working version.
You’ll also have to download the latest build manually – the links above will redirect to the appropriate download page where you subsequently follow the instructions to download the latest nightly build for your platform. The links are for Windows (32-bit), Mac (Intel) and Linux – there are also links for Windows 64-bit and older PowerPC Macs.
And if that doesn’t put you off, consider this caveat from the VideoLAN team itself: “WARNING: The nightly builds are UNSTABLE and may not work at all. There is absolutely NO SUPPORT for it from the VideoLAN Team.”
You can’t say you weren’t warned.
VLC Media Player is an essential tool in any videophile’s library, but this unstable Nightly build isn't recommend except in extreme circumstances.
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