Keyboard Shortcut: Spacebar. Play/pause are the most using functions by everyone. VLC Media Player shortcut to take snapshot of the current playing video. Press and hold, shift and s keys together in your keyboard. This will take the snapshot, the current moment of the media file as given below.

• To take a snapshot in the VLC media player, you can use Shift + S on Windows. While for Mac you can use Command + Alt + S keys as a snapshot shortcut. Also, you can look at these methods to take a screenshot without buttons on Windows, Android, and iPhone. So these were some of the cool VLC shortcuts that can be helpful in everyday.
• VLC Global Hotkeys are shortcuts you can use even if VLC does not have the focus. Here is how to configure Global Hotkeys: Tools, Preferences, HotKeys. Under the Global column, double-click the value corresponding to the function you want a global key assigned to. Press the key or key combination you want; Click Apply; Click Save.

Be it a software or the operating system itself, having the main keyboard shortcuts memorized and using them each day can save you a ton of time in the long run. While some might like the mouse more and feel that they could be more productive with that, keyboard is something which you tend to use far more than the mouse and hence knowing how to use it faster and better doesn’t harm.

We have already covered 15 killer Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts that might surprise you. Today we will see 15 cool keyboard shortcuts you can use on VLC, one of the leading cross platform media players, to increase your productivity. The chances of you knowing them all is unlikely, so I insist you check them out. You never know, some of these could make things really easy for you when it comes to playing videos on VLC.

Important Note: We have written an amazing guide on VLC called The Ultimate Guide to VLC Media Player. It’s available as a beautiful page as well as a downloadable ebook. Make sure you check that out.

1. Space Bar to Play or Pause

Now, two of the most-used functions while playing a video are play and pause, and thus VLC assigned it to the biggest key on your keyboard, the Space Bar. While Space Bar is the de facto play/pause key when it comes to media players, you can’t take it for granted. For example, many versions of Windows Media Player don’t have it. So knowing where it works and where it doesn’t is useful.

2. F to toggle Full Screen

So you have selected a movie, embedded the subtitle (if any), prepared a tub of popcorn, switched off the lights and then finally, you are all set to switch the movie to full screen and play it. Don’t bother with the mouse, just hit the ‘F’ key. It’ll let you toggle between full screen mode and window mode on VLC.

Vlc Shortcut On Desktop

Speaking of mouse, check out the VicTsing Wireless Portable mouse on Amazon.

3. A to Change Aspect ratio

Aspect ratio in simple words is the width to the height ratio of the video. When you play a video, it will not automatically fit your window, and thus you will have to try various predefined available aspect ratios to bring out the best. Using the context menu to cycle aspect ratio can be really time talking. Just press the button A on the keyboard to do that quickly.

4. Z to Change Zoom Mode

Using Z you can quickly zoom in and out the video in window mode. It cycles between one-quarter, half, original and double.

Buy the Microsoft Wired Keyboard from Amazon, if you haven’t already.

5. Alt+Left/Alt+Right to Fast Forward slow

Want to skip few seconds on the video? Simply press the Alt button along with the direction key in which you want to skip (right for forward and left to go back). Each key event will skip 10 seconds of your video.

6. Ctrl+Left/Ctrl+Right to Fast forward Medium

To skip a minute in the video, replace the Alt key in the above shortcut with the Ctrl key.

7. Ctrl+Alt+Left/Ctrl+Alt+Right = fast forward long

If the seconds and a minute is not long enough, just combine both, the Alt and the Ctrl key along with the directional button to skip 5 minutes of the video. Well, that’s the longest you can get using the shortcut, any more than that, and you will have to use the seek bar.

Note: People who are using Intel HD Graphics card might want to disable their cards’ global hotkey before using the above shortcut. I didn’t do it, and my screen turned upside down.

8. Ctrl+Up/Ctrl+Down to Increase or Decrease Volume

To decrease or increase the volume of the video, just press the Ctrl key and use the up and down directional keys. It’s always easier to use the mentioned shortcut key than to hunt for the volume button. If your laptop is bestowed with some quick volume function button, you can directly use them to control the windows device volume.

9. M to Mute

There is nothing much to say about this. Pressing the M button will mute or un-mute your video.

10. CTRL + E to Adjust Audio/Video Effects

While playing a video or listening to a song, if at all you want to adjust the audio or video effects like equalizer, color contrasts, etc. pressing the Ctrl button along with E will bring on the Audio/Video Effects window.

11. T to Show Time(Remaining and Elapsed)

In window mode, you can just look at the seek bar to get information regarding the elapsed and remaining video time. If you want to know the remaining or elapsed time of the video in full-screen mode, simply press the T button to get a three-second info on the top right hand corner of the video.

12. +/- to Play Faster/Slower

If you want to watch your videos in adrenaline or bullet time mode (If you are not a gamer, you will probably not get that), pressing the minus(-) button will slow your video playback speed, and the plus (+) will increase it.

13. N/P = Play next in list/Play previous in the list

If you have multiple tracks in your playlist you can simply press the N or P to play the next or previous media respectively.

14. S to Stop the playback

If you didn’t like the video or you some urgent work came up, press the S button to stop your video. If you are in full-screen mode, your video will be stopped, and VLC will return to window mode.

15. Ctrl+ H to Hide/Unhide Controls

With so many shortcut keys who needs the on-screen control while watching a video? All of them seem so unnecessary!! If you would like to hide these controls, you can simply press the Ctrl + H button. You can bring it back using the same.
The above 15 are the shortcut keys I use the most in VLC while playing both audio and video.

Which of the above you discovered today? Which ones you are likely to use most frequently from now on? Any cool shortcuts we missed? Tell us!

Liked the Article? Then You Would Love Our Ebook on VLC

Here’s the link, check it out: The Ultimate Guide to VLC Media Player.

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

Ebooks by Guiding Tech

The Ultimate Guide to VLC Media Player

Learn how to use this amazing, free and open source media player to make your video watching experience truly grand.

Windows

Jump to: Most used, Mouse actions, Movie Navigation, Jump in playback, Manage VLC, Playlists, and Special Commands

F	Fullscreen
Space	Pause or play movie
S	Subtitles on/off
B	Audio track cycle
Ctrl+Arrow Up/Ctrl+Arrow Down	Volume

Double click	Fullscreen
Scroll	Volume or Position (see settings)
Right click	Local menu (play controls, audio/video)

Ctrl+D	Open disc menu
Ctrl+F	Open folder (browse folder menu)
Ctrl+R/Ctrl+S	Advanced open file
Ctrl+O	Open single file(s)
M	Mute and unmute audio
P	Play movie (from the very beginning)
S	Stop movie
Esc	Exit full screen mode
[+]/-/=	Faster, slower, normal
A	Aspect ratio
C	Crop screen
G/H	Decrease subtitle delay / Increase subtitle delay
J/K	Decrease audio delay / Increase audio delay
Z	Change zoom mode
Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3, Ctrl+4	Recent media (in Media - Recent media menu)
T	Show time
Ctrl+T	Goto time
E	Next Frame. Advance forward frame-by-frame

Command+Ctrl+Arrow Left/Arrow Right	Very short jump (3 seconds) default
Command+Alt+Arrow Left/Arrow Right	Short jump (10 seconds) default
Command+Shift+Arrow Left/Arrow Right	Medium jump (1 minute) default
Command+Alt+Shift+Arrow Left/Arrow Right	Long jump (5 minutes) default

Ctrl+H	Hide / unhide controls
Ctrl+P	Preferences/ interface settings
Ctrl+E	Adjustments and audio/video effects
Ctrl+B	Edit bookmarks
Ctrl+M	Open messages
Ctrl+N	Open network
Ctrl+C	Open captue device
Ctrl+L	Open playlist
Ctrl+Y	Save playlist
Ctrl+I/Ctrl+J	Media information
Alt+A	Open audio menu
Alt+H	Open help menu
Alt+M	Open media menu
Alt+P	Open playlist menu
Alt+T	Open tool menu
Alt+V	Open video menu
Alt+L	Open playback menu
D	Show movie path
N	Play next movie from playlist
F1	Show Help
F11	Window full-screen (not equal to pressing F)
Alt+F4, Alt+q or Ctrl+Q	Quit VLC

Created by bernd on 7/8/2013. Last updated by brainspaghetti on 8/12/2015

43 Comments for 'VLC Media Player '

Comment #43 by Matt Aug 29, 2016 at 02:28 pm Reply

Keyboard shortcuts--lowercase 'e' will advance the video one frame. Is there a keyboards shortcut that will 'go back' one frame?

Comment #42 by N M Jun 18, 2016 at 05:13 am Reply

Is there any shortcut to open subtitle window? Please help

Comment #41 by Peter Jun 17, 2016 at 10:43 pm Reply

Hi. It seems the default transport controls for various Media Players all work differently. I use J River's Media Player to manage my Music Library, (which I love) but if I want to play something quickly and not contaminate my library I use VLC Player. When a song is playing ... I expect the 'Previous' button to go back to the song start on the first press and go to the previous track on the second press. I can't figure out how to get this to happen with VLC player. Hoping someone can help me. Cheers Peter.

Comment #40 by vikas kumar May 30, 2016 at 08:20 am Reply

Thanks for this list... Kuch jano

Comment #39 by François Mar 10, 2016 at 10:09 am Reply

To add: p Play previous movie/song from playlist To edit: n Play next movie/song from playlist

Comment #38 by Bill Feb 3, 2016 at 07:43 am Reply

Shift-S will take a snapshot of the screen

Comment #37 by Mark Dec 16, 2015 at 09:10 am Reply

You need to have a reverse play feature. Hit the 'left arrow' to reverse at play speed. Hit the 'up arrow' to reverse at half speed.

Comment #36 by Tad Dec 10, 2015 at 03:48 am Reply

S is used for Stopping the movie, not for subtitles. For subtitles there's V key.

Reply #1berndDec 10, 2015 at 08:56 am

thanks for clarification; i had the 's' as an alternate for Subtitles which i am taking out.

Comment #35 by ian Nov 15, 2015 at 07:37 am Reply

After I press ctrl right arrow to move a minute ahead I press the space bar to play and nothing happens. What's the problem?

Comment #34 by vinod kumar Oct 11, 2015 at 02:05 am Reply

How to rotate screen in vlc player...plz tell me short cut key

Comment #33 by stu Sep 21, 2015 at 01:00 pm Reply

I have a vlc install with a failed skin install. It is switched to the skin and nothing displays except the taskbar icon. Id love a shortcut to find how to break it out of this mess rather than having to un/re install.

Vlc Player Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Shortcut

Reply #1 sandy Oct 17, 2016 at 01:15 pm

Check 'Tools > Preferences > Interface' and look to see if 'Start in Minimal View Mode' is checked, and uncheck if so. Maybe what you are seeing.

Comment #32 by Michael Aug 9, 2015 at 06:42 pm Reply

I would like a next chapter/title keyboard shortcut the 'n' one goes to the next file the one i want is for use within files them self you have a button for it already

Comment #31 by Ammu Jun 12, 2015 at 01:36 pm Reply

Use Shift+R to Record.

Comment #30 by Vinod Kumar May 25, 2015 at 02:25 am Reply

Its really a way to learn high command line in few shortcut way

Comment #29 by NAGENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT May 16, 2015 at 11:55 am Reply

this is all shortcuts keys is very useful thanks!

Comment #28 by Kailas V Apr 27, 2015 at 10:58 am Reply

thanks it is very helpful

Comment #27 by muffdiver Mar 5, 2015 at 11:09 am Reply

Is it possible to loop from point A to point B from the keypad?

Comment #26 by CHATHURANGA Dec 29, 2014 at 05:32 am Reply

Thank you, its very helpful

Comment #25 by RASTAMIKE Oct 13, 2014 at 09:07 pm Reply

THANK YOU. VERY HELPFUL.

Comment #24 by Esmail Oct 7, 2014 at 06:17 am Reply

How can I change the default name of the snapshot?
When I take a snapshot, it is saved like this (for example):
vlcsnap-2012-08-13-01h32m09s39
How can I change it some way that next time I take a snapshot, the name of it be like this: the name of the video+time+date

Reply #1 Sandy Oct 17, 2016 at 01:06 pm

You can do some settings to do with that here: Tools > Preferences >Video Settings > Video Snapshots

Comment #23 by Adarsh Sep 30, 2014 at 03:33 am Reply

Hi,
If you use free app VLC Mobile Remote on Android and Windows Phone, you will never have to think about VLC keyboard shortcuts again. It has all the basic features such as play, forward, full screen, file selection and advanced controls crop, aspect ratio, screenshot, subtitle, audio delay sync and many more features. App download link - http://app.lk/AXC

Comment #22 by Merbin joe Aug 24, 2014 at 12:53 pm Reply

List of VLC player Shortcut Keys http://allinworld99.blogspot.com/2014/08/vlc-player-shortcuts.html

Comment #21 by basem Saba May 8, 2014 at 09:53 am Reply

How to minimize in VLC Media Player

Comment #20 by dipen May 1, 2014 at 01:45 am Reply

how to take screen shot ??????

Reply #1berndMay 1, 2014 at 01:20 pm

MAC OS X: Command+Alt+s,
Windows,Linux, and Unix: Shift+s.
adding to list.

Comment #19 by kj5wi Apr 11, 2014 at 09:33 pm Reply

Looking at the VLC shortcut list I did not see the fine speed control shortcuts which allow a 0.10 speerd change more usefull to a dance group such as cloggers. The shortcuts are [ & ] but only wortk when something is loaded into VLC.

Comment #18 by guy Apr 7, 2014 at 02:39 am Reply

Great list. One addition could be use 'E' key to advance one frame at a time while paused, great for brief nudity, gore, and explosions and the like.

Reply #1berndJun 27, 2014 at 06:09 pm

good one; that was missing. just added. thanks

Comment #17 by yoav Mar 22, 2014 at 02:42 pm Reply

you can add F1/F2 Decrease subtitle delay / Increase subtitle delay

Comment #16 by Dani Dec 8, 2013 at 12:52 am Reply

You are freaking awesome! I've been trying to figure out what key I've been accidentally pressing to make videos speed up :P

Comment #15 by Nacho Monreal Sep 29, 2013 at 01:26 pm Reply

STOP FUCKING SHOUTING RAJU!
Use CTRL + Shift + Z/X
Your welcome

Comment #14 by RAJU SHAHA Aug 11, 2013 at 09:11 am Reply

HELLO DEAR SIR/OR/MADAM I AM USING VLC MEDIA PLAYER ON MY ALL IN ONE HP PC WHEN I AM ON ONTER PROGRAN THEN I WANT SHORTCUT KEY FOR CHANGE SONGS

Comment #13 by kenneth Jul 8, 2013 at 06:26 am Reply

thank u for this bro!

Download Vlc Player For Mac

Comment #12 by tommytee Jul 7, 2013 at 04:27 pm Reply

The key v does not turn on or off subtitles. (OS X Snow Leopard)
I would love to know a key that does.

Reply #1 tommytee Jul 7, 2013 at 04:31 pm

Found it. it is: s

Comment #11 by curter Apr 9, 2013 at 03:39 am Reply

Is it possible to apply smooth scrolling on vlc volume ? sometimes if i scroll down once, it decreases more and if i scroll up, it increases more than i need, so i think there should be a way of applying smooth scrolling...

Comment #10 by harihar Mar 9, 2013 at 02:45 am Reply

thAnks for this wonderful info.

Comment #9 by Akash Pareek Mar 8, 2013 at 06:59 am Reply

How to minimize to tray in vlc media player please tell someone.

Comment #8 by Eva Mar 3, 2013 at 04:55 pm Reply

What do you mean by 'Left' and 'Right' in 'Jump in Playback' shortcuts? What keys are you referring to?

Reply #1berndMar 4, 2013 at 02:23 pm

Good point asking for clarification. It was supposed to say 'arrow left', and 'arrow right'. I corrected the Shortcut page. Thanks for pointing it out!

Comment #7 by Sunny Jan 2, 2013 at 02:40 am Reply

For shortcut keys in vlc player;
open vlc player and go to
Tools>preferences>hotkeys.

Comment #6 by kaviyarasu Sep 28, 2012 at 12:36 am Reply

thanks

Comment #5 by jjdoe Jul 10, 2012 at 09:55 am Reply

I think the increase decrease audio delay and increase decrease subtile delay are reversed

Reply #2 Jon Sep 28, 2013 at 09:27 pm

Still reversed....

Comment #4 by Lokesh Jena May 24, 2012 at 01:13 am Reply

vary needfull for palying Vlc

Comment #3 by Anne Crawford May 15, 2012 at 09:41 pm Reply

Very good. Have just typed up minutes without having to use my mouse at all. I agree with Alex - it would be great to have this on the player menu.

Comment #2 by Alex Mar 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm Reply

Would be really awesome to have this listed in the Menu of the player itself.
So noone needs to google for the Fullscreen shortcut.

Comment #1 by Priyanka Jan 28, 2012 at 12:23 pm Reply

nice Shortcuts key working for vlc