How to Install VLC Media Player on Ubuntu Linux

VLC Media Player handles virtually any audio or video format you throw at it, from local files to network streams and DVDs. Whether you need to play obscure codecs without hunting for additional software, convert media between formats, or stream content from a URL, VLC provides a single solution that works reliably across platforms. By the end of this guide, you will have VLC installed on Ubuntu and verified working, with options ranging from the stable Ubuntu repository version to development builds and sandboxed alternatives.

Choose Your VLC Installation Method

Ubuntu offers multiple installation paths for VLC Media Player. However, each method has trade-offs between stability, update frequency, and system integration that suit different use cases.

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

For most users, the APT method using the Ubuntu repository is recommended because it provides a tested, stable version that integrates seamlessly with your system and receives security updates automatically. Only use the VideoLAN PPA if you specifically need to test development features.

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The VideoLAN PPA provides development builds for both LTS releases, while Flatpak and Snap remain compatible across all Ubuntu versions. Commands shown work identically on both supported LTS releases.

Method 1: Install VLC Media Player from Ubuntu Repository or Development PPA

Update Ubuntu Before VLC Installation

Before installing any software, refresh your package index and apply pending updates. This ensures you install the latest available version and avoid dependency conflicts:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Option 1: Install VLC from the Ubuntu Repository

The Ubuntu repository includes a stable, tested version of VLC that receives security updates alongside your system. As a result, this option suits most users who prioritize reliability over having the newest features:

sudo apt install vlc

Once installation completes, verify VLC is accessible by checking its version:

vlc --version

VLC media player 3.0.20 Vetinari (revision 3.0.20-0-g6f0d0ab126b)

Option 2: Install VLC from the VideoLAN Development PPA

The VideoLAN master-daily PPA provides automated development builds (currently VLC 4.0 release candidates). These builds do not undergo quality assurance and may contain bugs or regressions. Only use this PPA if you are prepared to troubleshoot issues and report bugs upstream.

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

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

VLC media player 4.0.0-rc1 Otto Chriek

Method 2: Install VLC via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides a sandboxed environment that isolates VLC from your system libraries. As a benefit, this method offers the latest stable release independent of your Ubuntu version and includes automatic security updates.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup including the Flathub repository, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu.

Add the Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is configured on your system:

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

Install VLC via Flatpak

With Flathub configured, install VLC using the following command:

flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC -y

Then, verify the installation completed successfully:

flatpak info 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: 3.0.21

Method 3: Install VLC via Snap

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

Ubuntu includes Snap by default, but minimal installations may lack it. To ensure Snap is available, run sudo apt install snapd -y before proceeding.

To proceed, install VLC from the Snap Store:

sudo snap install vlc

Afterward, verify the Snap installation:

snap info vlc

name:      vlc
summary:   The ultimate media player
publisher: VideoLAN✓
store-url: https://snapcraft.io/vlc
license:   GPL-2.0+
installed: 3.0.21 (3777) 322MB -

Launch VLC Media Player

After installation, you can launch VLC either from the terminal or through your desktop environment’s application menu.

Launch VLC from Terminal

If you installed VLC via APT, launch it directly:

vlc

Alternatively, if you installed via Flatpak, use the Flatpak run command:

flatpak run org.videolan.VLC

Similarly, Snap installations require the snap run command:

snap run vlc

Launch VLC from Applications Menu

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

Manage VLC Media Player

Update VLC

The update process depends on which installation method you used.

Update via APT

With the APT method, VLC updates arrive with your regular system updates:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Update via Flatpak

To update only VLC, run the following command:

flatpak update org.videolan.VLC

Update via 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

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

Remove via APT

To remove VLC via APT, run the following commands to clean up orphaned dependencies as well:

sudo apt remove vlc
sudo apt autoremove

Additionally, if you installed VLC from the VideoLAN PPA, remove the repository:

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

Then, verify the removal completed successfully:

which vlc

If the command returns no output, VLC has been removed from your system.

Remove via Flatpak

To remove the Flatpak installation, run the following command which also removes application data:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.videolan.VLC

Afterward, verify the removal completed successfully:

flatpak list | grep -i vlc

If the command returns no output, VLC has been removed from Flatpak.

Remove via Snap

To remove the Snap installation, use the remove command. Additionally, the --purge flag deletes all saved data and configurations:

sudo snap remove --purge vlc

Finally, verify the removal:

snap list | grep vlc

If the command returns no output, VLC has been removed from Snap.

Conclusion

You now have VLC Media Player installed on Ubuntu using either the stable APT repository, the development PPA, Flatpak, or Snap. The APT method provides the most integrated experience with automatic security updates, while Flatpak and Snap offer newer releases with application sandboxing. For alternative media players, consider installing MPV on Ubuntu for keyboard-driven playback and scripting, or Celluloid if you prefer a GTK-based frontend. To convert and transcode video files, HandBrake on Ubuntu pairs well with VLC for media workflows.