How to Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu (26.04, 24.04, 22.04)

Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu to get a free, open-source video and audio player that handles virtually every media format out of the box, including MP4, MKV, FLAC, DVDs, and network streams. Ubuntu’s default repositories include VLC on all supported LTS releases, so most users can install it with a single APT command. You can also install VLC through Flatpak for a sandboxed setup, Snap for automatic background updates, or the VideoLAN PPA for VLC 4.0 development builds.

Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu with APT, Flatpak, or Snap

Each installation path trades off stability, update speed, and system integration differently.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Ubuntu Repository)	Ubuntu Packages	Stable	With system updates	Most users who want reliability
APT (VideoLAN PPA)	Launchpad PPA	Development	Daily builds	Testers and developers only
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Independent of system	Users wanting sandboxed apps
Snap	Snapcraft	Latest stable	Automatic background updates	Users preferring Canonical ecosystem

APT from Ubuntu’s repository is the best starting point for most users because it integrates cleanly with normal system updates and avoids the extra overhead of sandboxed packages. Use the VideoLAN PPA only when you specifically need VLC 4.0 development builds for testing.

These steps cover Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. The commands stay the same across all three releases, but the VLC package version from Ubuntu repositories differs by release.

The VideoLAN master-daily PPA currently publishes builds for resolute, noble, and jammy, while Flatpak and Snap remain broadly compatible choices on Ubuntu.

Install VLC on Ubuntu with APT (Repository or PPA)

Update Ubuntu Before Installing VLC

Refresh your package index and apply pending updates so APT resolves the latest available VLC version without dependency conflicts:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This guide uses sudo for system-wide package commands. If your account does not have sudo access yet, follow our guide on adding a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu before continuing.

Option 1: Install VLC from Ubuntu Repositories

The Ubuntu repository ships a stable, tested version of VLC that receives security patches alongside your system. This option suits most users who prioritize reliability over having the newest features:

sudo apt install vlc

Ubuntu’s default repositories currently ship the VLC 3.0.x branch across supported LTS releases, but the exact package revision differs by release and point updates. If you need the current candidate on your system before installing, check it with apt-cache policy vlc.

Verify the installation by checking the version:

vlc --version | head -n 1

VLC version 3.0.20 Vetinari (3.0.20-0-g6f0d0ab126b)

Option 2: Install VLC from the VideoLAN Development PPA on Ubuntu

The Launchpad page for the VideoLAN master-daily PPA states the archive is fully automated and not maintained by VideoLAN developers. These packages are useful for testing VLC 4.0 release candidates, but build regressions and breakages are expected.

First, add the VideoLAN master-daily PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:videolan/master-daily -y

Next, refresh your package list to include packages from the newly added PPA:

sudo apt update

Before installing, confirm the PPA is now offering a VLC 4.0 release-candidate package:

apt-cache policy vlc | grep -E 'Installed:|Candidate:'

Installed: (none)
Candidate: 4.0.0~rc1~~git...

Now install VLC, which will pull the development version from the PPA:

sudo apt install vlc

Finally, verify the installation by checking the version number, which should show a 4.0 development build:

vlc --version | head -n 1

VLC version 4.0.0-rc1 ...

Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu with Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak isolates VLC from your system libraries in a sandboxed environment. This method delivers the latest stable release independent of your Ubuntu version and applies security updates automatically.

Ubuntu does not include Flatpak by default. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For full setup including the Flathub repository, follow our guide to install Flatpak on Ubuntu.

Add the Flathub Repository for VLC on Ubuntu

Ensure the Flathub repository is configured on your system. The --if-not-exists flag skips this step if Flathub is already added:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists --system flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install VLC via Flatpak on Ubuntu

With Flathub configured, install VLC. The -y flag auto-confirms the installation prompt:

sudo flatpak install --system flathub org.videolan.VLC -y

Verify the installation and confirm the --system scope, which makes VLC available to all users on the machine:

flatpak info --system org.videolan.VLC

VLC - VLC media player, the open-source multimedia player

          ID: org.videolan.VLC
         Ref: app/org.videolan.VLC/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 3.0.x
      Origin: flathub
Installation: system

Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu with Snap

Snap packages are self-contained and update automatically in the background. Ubuntu desktop installations include Snap by default, so most users can install VLC immediately without additional setup.

Ubuntu includes Snap by default on standard installs. If snap is missing on a customized VM, minimal install, or WSL setup, install it first with sudo apt install snapd.

Install VLC from the Snap Store:

sudo snap install vlc

Verify the Snap installation by listing the installed package:

snap list vlc

Name  Version               Rev   Tracking       Publisher   Notes
vlc   3.0.x-...             3777  latest/stable  videolan**  -

Launch VLC Media Player on Ubuntu

Launch VLC from the terminal or through your desktop environment’s application menu, depending on your preference.

Launch VLC from Terminal on Ubuntu

For an APT installation, launch VLC directly:

vlc

For a Flatpak installation, use the Flatpak run command:

flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

For a Snap installation, use the snap run command:

snap run vlc

Launch VLC from the Ubuntu Applications Menu

Open VLC from your desktop environment. In GNOME, click Activities, then Show Applications, and select VLC media player from the application grid.

Troubleshoot VLC Media Player Not Opening on Ubuntu

If VLC does not open from the application menu (a common report on Ubuntu 24.04 after package changes or switching between installation methods), identify which package source is active and troubleshoot from there.

Check Which VLC Installation Method Is Installed on Ubuntu

command -v vlc
snap list vlc
flatpak list --app --columns=application,version,installation | grep org.videolan.VLC

/usr/bin/vlc
error: no matching snaps installed
org.videolan.VLC	3.0.x	system

Identify the active package source from the output, then run the matching launch command from a terminal to read the actual error. If more than one method appears installed at the same time, remove the copy you are not using to avoid launcher confusion.

# APT package
vlc

# Snap package
snap run vlc

# Flatpak package
flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

Refresh or Reinstall VLC on Ubuntu by Installation Method

Run only the command that matches your installation method. Reinstalling one method while launching another is a common reason VLC still fails to open afterward.

# APT (Ubuntu repository or PPA)
sudo apt install --reinstall vlc vlc-bin

# Snap
sudo snap refresh vlc

# Flatpak (system scope)
sudo flatpak update --system org.videolan.VLC

After applying the matching command, launch VLC again from the terminal first. If it opens successfully there, the application-menu launcher should work again as well.

VLC Codecs and DVD Playback on Ubuntu

VLC on Ubuntu already includes support for most common audio and video formats, so you generally do not need a separate “codec pack” as you might on Windows. If playback still fails, launch VLC from a terminal first to read the actual error and confirm you are troubleshooting the same package source (APT, Snap, or Flatpak) that is installed.

For encrypted DVD playback, VLC may require additional DVD libraries that are not enabled by default for legal/licensing reasons in some regions. On Ubuntu, this usually means installing the libdvd-pkg package (which handles libdvdcss setup where permitted) before testing DVD playback again.

Manage VLC Media Player on Ubuntu

Update VLC Media Player on Ubuntu

The update process depends on which installation method you used.

Update VLC with APT

To update only VLC with APT, refresh package metadata and upgrade the package directly. Regular full-system upgrades also update VLC.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade vlc

Update VLC with Flatpak

To update only VLC with Flatpak:

sudo flatpak update --system org.videolan.VLC

Update VLC with Snap

Since Snap packages update automatically, you typically do not need to take action. However, you can trigger a manual refresh if needed:

sudo snap refresh vlc

Remove VLC Media Player from Ubuntu

If you no longer need VLC, remove it using the method that matches your original installation.

Remove VLC with APT

Remove both vlc and vlc-bin, then clean up orphaned dependencies. Removing only vlc can leave the /usr/bin/vlc binary behind until autoremove runs:

sudo apt remove vlc vlc-bin
sudo apt autoremove

If you installed VLC from the VideoLAN PPA, remove the repository and refresh APT metadata so Ubuntu falls back to the archive package source:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:videolan/master-daily -y
sudo apt update

Verify the removal completed successfully:

apt-cache policy vlc | grep 'Installed:'
command -v vlc || echo "vlc binary removed"

Installed: (none)
vlc binary removed

Remove VLC with Flatpak

To remove the Flatpak installation and its application data:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --delete-data -y org.videolan.VLC

Verify the removal completed successfully:

flatpak list --system --app --columns=application | grep org.videolan.VLC || echo "Flatpak VLC app removed"

Flatpak VLC app removed

Remove VLC with Snap

Remove the Snap installation. The --purge flag deletes the snap without saving a data snapshot:

sudo snap remove --purge vlc

Verify the removal:

snap list vlc

error: no matching snaps installed

Frequently Asked Questions About VLC on Ubuntu

Conclusion

VLC Media Player is ready to handle local files, DVDs, and network streams on Ubuntu through whichever package source fits your workflow: stable APT, the VideoLAN development PPA, Flatpak, or Snap. For alternative media players, install MPV on Ubuntu for a lightweight option, install Celluloid on Ubuntu for a GTK-native front-end, or install HandBrake on Ubuntu for video conversion.