VLC

Audio and video (in French)

VideoLAN Project

GPL v2 or later (player)

Installation for your system

Install VLC Official VLC website

Methods, packages and limitations are explained below.

English edition published on 29 October 2026.

Original tutorial published and checked on 23 October 2026.

VLC is a free and open-source media player for music, video and network streams. On Linux and BSD, start with the package provided for your system. Flatpak is another option on Linux, particularly on atomic desktops. Available modules and formats can vary by package.

This tutorial assumes a supported system with a working graphical desktop and configured repositories. Administrative commands show changes for confirmation: read the list before accepting. Run VLC afterwards with your normal account, without administrator privileges.

Install VLC: choose your system

Using a software centre: search for VLC, open its details, check the source and install. Results may include both distribution and Flatpak packages: choose one method and keep it for updates. If VLC is already in your application menu, check it before installing a second copy.

Ubuntu, Debian and Linux Mint: APT

On Ubuntu, Debian (in French) and Linux Mint, install vlc. The first command refreshes package lists; the second installs the player and dependencies.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlc

If the package cannot be found, check that refreshing the lists completed without errors and that your system release is supported. On Ubuntu, VLC is in Universe: check that repository in your software sources. You do not need to add an arbitrary third-party repository or PPA for this method.

Sources: Debian VLC package, VideoLAN's Ubuntu APT instructions and the APT manual.

Fedora: native package or Flatpak, depending on the edition

On traditional Fedora installations such as Workstation or KDE Plasma Desktop, VLC is available from Fedora repositories:

sudo dnf install vlc

This installs components from enabled repositories. It does not guarantee support for every format or protected disc. If a particular file does not play, identify its format and available modules before changing repositories.

For Silverblue (in French) and other Atomic desktops, follow the Flatpak instructions for this graphical application. The DNF command above applies to traditional installations.

Source: Fedora's VLC package.

Arch Linux: include playback modules

On Arch Linux (in French), the player and modules are split into packages. This adds the base and common extra modules:

sudo pacman -Syu vlc vlc-plugins-base vlc-plugins-extra

This command also upgrades the whole system. Read any current Arch upgrade instructions before confirming. The vlc package alone does not include every playback module; check optional dependencies for specialised needs.

Sources: VLC in the ArchWiki, the VLC package and pacman manual.

openSUSE: using Flatpak

For openSUSE (in French) Leap and Tumbleweed, this tutorial uses Flatpak. If it is not installed:

sudo zypper install flatpak

Then follow the Flathub setup below. The setup guide recommends restarting after installing Flatpak for the first time to complete desktop integration. If your existing VLC comes from openSUSE repositories, retain that update source unless you have a reason for a second installation.

Source: Flatpak setup on openSUSE.

Flatpak: install VLC from Flathub

This method is for Linux. Set up Flatpak using your distribution's instructions. Add Flathub if missing, then install:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC

Who provides this package? At the original tutorial's verification on 23 October 2026, VLC's Flathub page identified a community package, not verified by the project. Do not assume direct VideoLAN support. Check the current package information and permissions before confirming.

Start VLC from the application menu or run:

flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

If media on an external disk is unavailable, try VLC's file chooser, then review permissions. Grant only the access you need. Per-user and system-wide installations can coexist: remember which scope you chose.

Sources: VLC on Flathub and Flatpak commands.

FreeBSD: install the binary package

On FreeBSD (in French), with desktop and sound already configured, open a root administrative terminal session and install:

pkg install vlc

Review the proposed changes, then leave the administrative session. Start the player in your ordinary graphical session. Availability depends on the FreeBSD release, architecture and configured repository.

Source: FreeBSD multimedia handbook.

OpenBSD: check availability first

On OpenBSD (in French), search the packages for your system:

pkg_info -aQ vlc

If available, run this in a root administrative session:

pkg_add vlc

If variants are offered, read their descriptions before choosing. The OpenBSD 8.0 amd64 repository contained VLC when checked on 23 October 2026; that does not prove availability on every architecture. Do not mix packages from a different OpenBSD release.

Sources: OpenBSD package management and the 8.0 amd64 repository.

First use: picture, sound and subtitles

Open a local file. Start VLC and use its open-file menu. Choose familiar music or video to check playback and sound.
Select the right track. Audio and subtitle menus let you select tracks in the video; you can also add an external subtitle file.
Try a second file if something fails. If only the first fails, inspect the file or its format. If everything is silent, also check your desktop's audio output.
Then choose a default player. Use file-type properties or “Open with” in your file manager. Different formats can have separate defaults.

Network playback also depends on the stream's address, accessibility and format. Installing VLC does not automatically grant access to every video service or its protected content.

Source: VLC user guide.

Update VLC using the same source

Prefer your system's or software centre's update manager. VideoLAN's advertised version may differ from your distribution's version; that alone does not justify replacing repositories.

APT: sudo apt update, then sudo apt upgrade. The second proposes updates for all applicable packages.
Traditional Fedora: sudo dnf upgrade vlc, including required dependencies.
Arch: sudo pacman -Syu to keep the complete system updated.
Flatpak, including the openSUSE method above: flatpak update org.videolan.VLC.
FreeBSD, as root: pkg upgrade for installed packages.
OpenBSD, as root: pkg_add -u for installed packages.

Further references: DNF upgrades and FreeBSD package management.

Uninstall VLC using the correct installation method

Remove VLC through the software centre that installed it or the matching command below. Close the player and review the removal list before confirming.

Ubuntu, Debian, Mint: sudo apt remove vlc.
Traditional Fedora: sudo dnf remove vlc.
Arch, if all three tutorial packages are installed: sudo pacman -R vlc vlc-plugins-base vlc-plugins-extra.
Flatpak: flatpak uninstall org.videolan.VLC.
FreeBSD, as root: pkg delete vlc.
OpenBSD, as root: pkg_delete vlc.

These commands do not ask to delete your music or video collection. Preferences and dependencies may remain; do not add recursive or forced cleanup without understanding what it removes. If a VLC icon remains, check for another installation before deleting files manually.

References: the OpenBSD pkg_delete manual and VideoLAN's VLC overview and licence.

Continue with our software catalogue (in French) or software checklist before choosing Linux.