VLC media player is a popular and versatile media player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats. It’s a go-to choice for many users due to its user-friendly interface and customizable features. However, did you know that VLC also has a variety of keyboard shortcuts that can make your media playback experience even more efficient?
In this article, we’ll explore 23+ keyboard shortcuts that will help you master VLC and enhance your media playback experience.
Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts in VLC?
Using keyboard shortcuts in VLC can save you time and effort while navigating through your media files. Instead of clicking on various buttons and menus, you can simply use a combination of keys to perform a specific action. This can be especially useful when you’re watching a movie or listening to music and don’t want to interrupt your viewing or listening experience.
How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in VLC
To use keyboard shortcuts in VLC, simply press the corresponding keys on your keyboard while the VLC media player is open. You can also customize the keyboard shortcuts by going to Tools > Preferences > Hotkeys.
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Playback Control
Play/Pause: Spacebar
The spacebar is the most commonly used keyboard shortcut for media playback. Pressing it once will pause the media, and pressing it again will resume playback.
Fast Forward/Rewind: Right/Left Arrow Keys
The right and left arrow keys can be used to fast forward or rewind the media by 5 seconds. You can also hold down the keys to fast forward or rewind continuously.
Jump Forward/Backward: Ctrl + Right/Left Arrow Keys
To jump forward or backward in the media by 10 seconds, use the Ctrl + right/left arrow keys.
Jump to Specific Time: Ctrl + T
If you want to jump to a specific time in the media, use the Ctrl + T shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can enter the time you want to jump to.
Increase/Decrease Playback Speed: /
To increase or decrease the playback speed, use the and keys respectively. This can be useful when you want to quickly skim through a video or slow down a fast-paced scene.
Mute/Unmute: M
To mute or unmute the media, simply press the M key. This can be useful when you want to quickly silence the audio without pausing the video.
Volume Up/Down: Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow Keys
To adjust the volume, use the Ctrl + up/down arrow keys. This will increase or decrease the volume by 5%.
Fullscreen: F
To enter or exit fullscreen mode, press the F key. This will expand the video to fill your entire screen.
Advanced Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigation
Open File: Ctrl + O
To open a file in VLC, use the Ctrl + O shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can select the file you want to play.
Open Network Stream: Ctrl + N
If you want to play a media file from a network stream, use the Ctrl + N shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can enter the URL of the media file.
Open Disc: Ctrl + D
To play a media file from a disc, use the Ctrl + D shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can select the disc drive and the media file you want to play.
Open Playlist: Ctrl + L
To open a playlist in VLC, use the Ctrl + L shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can select the playlist you want to play.
Next/Previous Playlist Item: Alt + Right/Left Arrow Keys
To navigate through the items in a playlist, use the Alt + right/left arrow keys. This can be useful when you want to quickly switch between different media files in a playlist.
Loop: L
To enable or disable loop mode, press the L key. This will continuously play the media file until you manually stop it.
Shuffle: S
To enable or disable shuffle mode, press the S key. This will randomly play the items in a playlist.
Repeat: R
To enable or disable repeat mode, press the R key. This will continuously play the current media file until you manually stop it.
Take Snapshot: Shift + S
To take a snapshot of the current frame, use the Shift + S shortcut. This will save the snapshot in the default Pictures folder on your computer.
Miscellaneous Keyboard Shortcuts for VLC
Show/Hide Controls: Ctrl + H
To show or hide the controls in VLC, use the Ctrl + H shortcut. This can be useful when you want to focus solely on the video without any distractions.
Show/Hide Subtitles: V
To show or hide subtitles, press the V key. This will toggle the subtitles on or off.
Show/Hide Playlist: Ctrl + P
To show or hide the playlist in VLC, use the Ctrl + P shortcut. This can be useful when you want to quickly access your playlist without navigating through menus.
Show/Hide Equalizer: Ctrl + E
To show or hide the equalizer in VLC, use the Ctrl + E shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can adjust the audio settings.
Show/Hide Extended Settings: Ctrl + J
To show or hide the extended settings in VLC, use the Ctrl + J shortcut. This will open a dialog box where you can access advanced settings and information about the media file.
Quit VLC: Ctrl + Q
To quit VLC, use the Ctrl + Q shortcut. This will close the media player and stop any media playback.
Take Your VLC Experience to the Next Level
By using these keyboard shortcuts, you can take your VLC experience to the next level and become a master of media playback. Whether you’re watching a movie, listening to music, or streaming a video, these shortcuts will help you navigate through your media files with ease.
So the next time you use VLC, remember to use these keyboard shortcuts and see how they can enhance your media playback experience. Happy viewing!
