VLC is the ultimate open-source media player for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It will play any video format you throw at it and provides many useful VLC features. If you use VLC often and want to become more proficient with the tool, you should check out these VLC keyboard shortcuts.
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One of the great things about VLC is that most of the keyboard shortcuts are single keys. Some may be a combo, but many of the most critical ones are just one key. If you ever forget these, you can find them in the “Hotkeys” section of your preferences menu in VLC.
| macOS | Windows / Linux | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Display Options | ||
| Cmd + F | F | Enter fullscreen mode. |
| Esc | Esc | Exit fullscreen mode. |
| Z | Z | Change zoom. |
| Shift + Z | Shift + Z | Reset zoom. |
| A | A | Change aspect ratio. |
| O | O | Switch to original size of the video. |
| Playing Operations | ||
| Spacebar | Spacebar | Toggle play/pause. |
| Shift + Right arrow | Shift + Right arrow | Fast forward 3 seconds. |
| Shift + Left arrow | Shift + Left arrow | Rewind 3 seconds. |
| Alt + Right arrow | Alt + Right arrow | Fast forward 10 seconds. |
| Alt + Left arrow | Alt + Left arrow | Rewind 10 seconds. |
| Ctrl + Right arrow | Ctrl + Right arrow | Fast forward 1 minute. |
| Ctrl + Left arrow | Ctrl + Left arrow | Rewind 1 minute. |
| Not set by default | ] | Increase play speed (faster). |
| Not set by default | [ | Decrease play speed (slower). |
| Equal (=) | Equal (=) | Resume normal play speed. |
| N | N | Move to next track. |
| P | P | Go back to previous track. |
| S | S | Stop video. |
| E | E | Move to next frame. |
| Shift + O | Go to previous title. | |
| Shift + B | Move to next title. | |
| Shift + P | Go to previous chapter. | |
| Shift + N | Move to next chapter. | |
| Cmd + Q | Ctrl + Q | Quit VLC Player. |
| Volume Controls | ||
| Cmd + Up | Ctrl + Up | Volume up. |
| Cmd + Down | Ctrl + Down | Volume down. |
| M | M | Mute sound. |
| J | J | Decrease audio delay. |
| B | B | Cycle through audio track. |
| Shift + A | Shift + A | Cycle audio device. |
| Subtitle Controls | ||
| Cmd + 0 | Ctrl + 0 | Reset subtitle scale. |
| Cmd + Mouse wheel up | Ctrl + Mouse wheel up | Scale subtitles up. |
| Cmd + Mouse wheel down | Ctrl + Mouse wheel down | Scale subtitles down. |
| H | H | Increase subtitle delay. |
| G | G | Decrease subtitle delay. |
| Shift + H | Shift + H | Sync subtitles. |
| V | V | Cycle subtitle track. |
| Shift + V | Shift + V | Toggle subtitles. |
| Menus & Settings | ||
| Cmd + B | Ctrl + B | Open Bookmarks. |
| Cmd + C | Ctrl + C | Open capture device. |
| Cmd + D | Ctrl + D | Open disk. |
| Cmd + E | Ctrl + E | Access Extended Settings. |
| Cmd + F | Ctrl + F | Open folder. |
| Cmd + H | Ctrl + H | Hide or show menus. |
| I | I | Show controller in fullscreen. |
| Cmd + I | Ctrl + I | View media information. |
| Cmd + J | Ctrl + J | See codecs information. |
| Cmd + L | Ctrl + L | Show/hide the playlist. |
| Cmd + M | Ctrl + M | View Messages. |
| Cmd + N | Ctrl + N | Open network stream. |
| Cmd + O | Ctrl + O | Open a file. |
| Cmd + P | Ctrl + P | View Preferences. |
| Cmd + R | Ctrl + R | Convert/save files. |
| Cmd + S | Ctrl + S | View Streaming menu. |
| Cmd + T | Ctrl + T | Go to time. |
| Cmd + V | Ctrl + V | Paste location/MRL. |
| Opt + A | Alt + A | Open Audio menu. |
| Opt + H | Alt + H | Open Help menu. |
| Opt + I | Alt + I | View menu. |
| Opt + L | Alt + L | Open Playback menu. |
| Opt + M | Alt + M | Open Media menu. |
| Opt + S | Alt + S | Open Tools menu. |
| Opt + T | Alt + T | Open Subtitle menu. |
| Shift + R | Shift + R | Record something. |
Image credit: Pexels
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