How To Install VLC Media Player on CentOS Stream 10

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install VLC Media Player on CentOS Stream 10. VLC is a versatile and powerful multimedia application that has become a staple for Linux users worldwide. Its ability to play a wide range of audio and video formats, coupled with its open-source nature, makes it an essential tool for CentOS Stream 10 users. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing VLC on your CentOS Stream 10 system, ensuring you have access to this robust media player.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, let’s ensure you have everything necessary to proceed smoothly:

• A CentOS Stream 10 system with up-to-date packages
• Root access or sudo privileges on your system
• A stable internet connection for downloading packages
• Basic familiarity with the command line interface

It’s crucial to have your system updated to avoid any compatibility issues. Run the following command to update your system:

sudo dnf update -y

Installation Methods Overview

There are several ways to install VLC on CentOS Stream 10, each with its own advantages. We’ll cover the following methods:

1. Using the RPM Fusion repository (recommended)
2. Installing via the EPEL repository
3. Using Snap package manager

The RPM Fusion method is generally preferred as it provides the most up-to-date version of VLC and ensures compatibility with your CentOS Stream 10 system.

Primary Installation Method: RPM Fusion Repository

The RPM Fusion repository is a third-party repository that provides additional software packages for Fedora and CentOS systems. It’s the recommended source for installing VLC on CentOS Stream 10.

Setting Up Required Repositories

First, we need to enable the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, which is a prerequisite for RPM Fusion:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Next, we’ll add the RPM Fusion repository. For CentOS Stream 10, use the following commands:

sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/el/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %rhel).noarch.rpm -y
sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/el/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %rhel).noarch.rpm -y

After adding these repositories, update your system’s package cache:

sudo dnf update -y

Installing VLC

With the necessary repositories in place, installing VLC is straightforward:

sudo dnf install vlc -y

This command will install VLC along with all its dependencies. The process might take a few minutes, depending on your internet connection speed.

Verification

To verify that VLC has been installed correctly, you can check its version:

vlc --version

If the installation was successful, you should see the VLC version information displayed in your terminal.

Alternative Installation Methods

While the RPM Fusion method is recommended, there are alternative ways to install VLC on CentOS Stream 10.

Using Snap Package Manager

Snap is a universal package manager that works across many Linux distributions. To install VLC using Snap:

1. First, install Snap on CentOS Stream 10:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf install snapd -y
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

2. After installing Snap, you may need to log out and back in or restart your system to ensure snap’s paths are updated correctly.
3. Install VLC using Snap:

sudo snap install vlc

The Snap version of VLC might have some limitations compared to the RPM version, particularly regarding system integration and performance.

Post-Installation Steps

After successfully installing VLC, there are a few steps you should take to ensure optimal performance and functionality.

Initial Configuration

1. Launch VLC for the first time:

vlc

2. On first launch, VLC will create its configuration files and may prompt you to scan your media library. You can skip this step if you prefer to add media manually.
3. Go to “Tools” > “Preferences” to access VLC’s settings. Here you can configure various aspects of the player, such as video and audio output, subtitles, and hotkeys.

Codec Installation

While VLC comes with a wide range of built-in codecs, you might encounter media files that require additional codecs. To install extra codecs:

sudo dnf install gstreamer1-plugins-{bad-\*,good-\*,base} gstreamer1-plugin-openh264 gstreamer1-libav --exclude=gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-devel -y
sudo dnf install lame\* --exclude=lame-devel -y
sudo dnf group upgrade --with-optional Multimedia -y

These commands will install a comprehensive set of codecs and multimedia libraries, ensuring VLC can play virtually any media file you throw at it.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with a smooth installation, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

Repository Errors

If you encounter errors related to repositories, try cleaning the DNF cache and updating again:

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf update

Dependency Conflicts

In case of dependency conflicts, you can try forcing the installation:

sudo dnf install vlc --allowerasing

Be cautious with this command, as it might remove conflicting packages.

Missing Codecs

If you’re having trouble playing certain file formats, ensure you’ve installed the additional codecs mentioned in the post-installation steps. You can also try installing the VLC plugin package:

sudo dnf install vlc-plugins -y

Advanced Configuration

For users looking to get more out of VLC, there are several advanced configurations you can explore:

Performance Settings

To optimize VLC’s performance, especially for high-definition content:

1. Go to “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Input / Codecs”.
2. Under “Hardware-accelerated decoding”, select “Automatic” or choose a specific acceleration method compatible with your hardware.

Custom Configurations

VLC allows for extensive customization through its configuration file. You can edit this file directly:

nano ~/.config/vlc/vlcrc

Here, you can modify various settings, such as default playback behavior, network settings, and more.

Plugin Installation

Enhance VLC’s functionality by installing additional plugins. You can find plugins in the VLC addon repository or through third-party sources. To install a plugin:

1. Download the plugin file (.lua for scripts, .vlc for binary plugins)
2. Place the file in `~/.local/share/vlc/lua/extensions/` for Lua scripts or `~/.local/share/vlc/plugins/` for binary plugins
3. Restart VLC for the changes to take effect

Usage Tips

To help you get started with VLC, here are some essential tips:

Basic Controls

• Play/Pause: Space bar
• Full Screen: F
• Jump Forward/Backward: Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow
• Volume Up/Down: Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow

Essential Features

• Streaming: Media > Stream
• Convert/Save: Media > Convert/Save
• Take Snapshot: Shift + S

Keyboard Shortcuts

VLC offers a wide array of keyboard shortcuts. You can view and customize these under “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Hotkeys”.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed VLC. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the VLC Media Player on CentOS Stream 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the VLC website.