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user39949
Asked: 2011-12-31 23:29:16 +0800 CST

How do I set VLC media player as default video player?

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I can't seem to set VLC media player as the default video player. I have gone to System Settings → System Info → Default Applications, and changed "Video" to VLC media player.

However, all movies still open with Movie Player (Totem) by default. The video default application setting appears to have no effect. I have tried changing the setting and logging out/rebooting, but it doesn't appear to work.

Is there some command-line magic that can work on this?

vlc

8 Answers

  1. Go to System Settings → System info → Default Applications, and set it there. It works in Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot).

    In Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) and later, it's found in System Settings → Details → Default Applications.

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  2. Rightclick any video file, choose properties. Choose Open With and there you can select VLC and the option set as default (bottom right).

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    --

    14.04 and 16.04 also has this option:

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  3. Ubuntu 13.10, 14.04

    Click on the gear icon in the top right corner then select the option About this computer. From that set Vlc media player as default application for opening videos.

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  4. In Ubuntu 12.10, go to

    "System Settings" "Details" "Default Applications"

    CLick on the "down arrow" for "Video"

    Select "VLC Media Player"

    Then close window.

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  5. If you want to assocoate all video mimetypes with vlc for current user, you can do this:

    1. Check totem is currently default for all video mimetypes:

      cat /usr/share/applications/defaults.list | grep video

      You will see lines like this:

      video/x-avi=totem.desktop

    2. Append all the lines containing video types to the local file:

      cat /usr/share/applications/defaults.list | grep video >> ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

    3. Replace all occurences of "=totem.desktop" with "=vlc.desktop" in vim, nano, geany or gedit. E.g. Search->Replace in gedit:

      gedit ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

    P.S.: If you want to open audio by default in vlc too, then just replace "grep video" with "grep audio" and "=totem.desktop" with "=rhythmbox.desktop" in above 1,2,3.

    Source: http://www.libre-software.net/change-the-default-application-ubuntu-linux

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  6. Remove the totem video player via ubuntu software center. It appears with name "Video". This will make every video format use VLC automatically.

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  7. For 12.04

    In Ubuntu Tweak under File Type Manager you can change and set the default for all media types and their specific formats.

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  8. I managed to fix this by right click on the video file > Open With Other Applications > Right click on Banshee and click Forget association

    I say Banshee, because I already uninstalled Totem in order to fix the issue.

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