Difference between revisions of "Skins"

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{{VLC}} supports skins (sometimes also called themes) through it's skins2 interface module. To get new skins go to the [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php Skins website].
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{{VLC}} supports skins (sometimes also called themes) through its ''skins2'' interface module. To get new skins go to the [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php Skins website].
  
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== Using a skin ==
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''The steps mentioned here apply to VLC 0.9 and upward.''
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In order to use skins you have to switch to the skins2 interface. To do that do the following:
 
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Start VLC, open menu "Preferences", select "Interfaces" and click "Main interface". Change the setting in the drop-down menu "Interface module" from 'Default' to '''Skinnable Interface'''. Click the 'Save' button and restart VLC. To change get the old interface choose 'Default from the "Interface module" drop-down menu.
 
  
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== Adding a new skin ==
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'''Skins are not available on [[macOS]].'''
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To add a new skin go to the [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php Skin page], choose a skin and click the "Download" link. Alternatively you can obtain the 'Skin Pack' which contains all available skins.
 
  
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<div style="border-width:2px;background:#ffffe0;border-style:solid;border-color:red;padding:20px;margin:30px">
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''If you do have problems with VLC after applying a skin, a reinstall is NOT necessary. See [[#How do I fix VLC when it does not anymore show up properly]].''
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Important: '''It is recommended to download the 'Skin Pack''''! This is, because the download package of some 'specific' skins (e.g. ASkin and WMP11), don't include it's '.vlt' file, that is needed to use it. These '.vlt' files are only found in the 'Skin Pack', which, on the other hand, doesn't include other files needed by other skins. <!-- So, '''besides the 'Skin Pack', you should download the specific skins you want''' and see if they do not include '.vlt' files, mainly '.png' files, that are not included at the "complete" 'Skin Pack', that has only '.vlt' files. ??? Is this still valid? -->
 
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</div>
 
  
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In addition to the skins listed on the 'Skins Page', VLC supports all Winamp2 and XMMS skins (.wsz files).
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== How to switch to the Skins interface ==
  
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To install, move the skins' ".vlt" file to the 'VLC\skins' (Linux users '''~/.vlc/skins2/''') directory. For the the 'Skin Pack' goes: unzip it to 'VLC\skins'.
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In order that you can use skins you have to change from VLC's [[Qt Interface|native interface]] to the skinnable one. You can do that by opening the [[preferences]] and choosing ''Use custom skin'' in the section ''Look and feel''. Then click the ''Save'' button and '''restart''' VLC. It should then show up in the default skin.
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Each skin will have it's own sub-folder created containing it's files.
 
  
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Finally, to set the skin, right-click in the title bar or control bar, go to 'Select skin' and select the desired skin.
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[[File:ToolsPreferences-Windows 8.png|400px|alt=]]
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[[File:Preferences-Windows 8.png|400px|alt=]]
  
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== Creating a skin ==
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or use [[command-line]] to start VLC with skins interface
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You can either use the [https://trac.videolan.org/skin-designer/ Skin Designer] or compose the skin manually. For more information in general (and on the latter, in particular) consult the [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins2-create.html Create your own skin] How-To.
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vlc -I skins2
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== How to get new skins and where to save them ==
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You can download a variety of skins from the [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php Skins website]. They usually should come as files with the extension "VLT". Although your browser or operating system might identify them as archive files, don't unpack them. Rather put them as they are into the skins folder of VLC.
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On '''Windows''' this folder is located in the installation directory of VLC,
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:e.g. '''''C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\skins'''''.
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On '''Linux/Unix''' it is located in
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:'''''~/.local/share/vlc/skins2'''''.
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If you downloaded the skin pack just unpack it to the folders mentioned above.
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'''''Warning: Not all of the skins available for download are fully functional.'''''
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== How to change to another skin ==
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To change to a downloaded skin, '''right-click''' anywhere on the skin's background and choose ''Interface''.
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Then chose either ''Select skin'' to change to a skin that is located in the default skin folder of VLC or ''Open skin'' to open a skin file that is located elsewhere.
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https://images.videolan.org/images/wiki/change_skin.jpg
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== How to switch back to VLC's default interface ==
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When you open VLC and the skin you chose appears, right-click somewhere on the skins background and then choose ''Interface'' and ''Preferences'' (also accessible by pressing Ctrl+P). In the preferences dialog change the ''Interface type'' to ''Native''. Then click save and restart VLC. It should show up in its default interface.
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== How do I fix VLC when it does not anymore show up properly ==
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If you chose a broken skin it might happen that VLC does not anymore show up properly and that you cannot anymore access the settings as mentioned above.
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Then you have to switch back to the default interface.
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On Windows you can just open your Start menu and open
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:''All programs > VideoLAN > Quick Settings > Interface > Set Main Interface to Qt (default)''
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On any other system, or when the start menu entry is missing, run VLC with the following command line:
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vlc -I qt
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Now that VLC has been started with its native interface you can open the preferences (Ctrl+P) and change the active skin file. Chose the default skin or a skin you know that works. Then again set the skin interface to be the default one and restart VLC.
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== Are there skins with a full screen controller? ==
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[[File:Skinned2.png|400px|alt=]]
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Full screen controllers in skins are supported since VLC 1.1. But apart from the default skin coming with VLC not many other skins have this feature.
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== How to create your own skin ==
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There exists a program that enables you to create skins without any deep knowledge how skins are made up exactly. It is the [https://www.videolan.org/vlc/skineditor.html VLC Skin Editor]
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If you'd rather want to explore all the possibilities of the skin system and get to know how skins are made up and how to create them in detail, check out the [https://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins2-create.html Skins2 documentation].
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If you have any problems while creating your skin, please turn to the [http://forum.videolan.org/viewforum.php?f=15 skins forum].
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== See also ==
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* [[Skins2 Contest]] (contest over)
  
 
[[Category:Interfaces]]
 
[[Category:Interfaces]]

Latest revision as of 04:23, 19 March 2019

VLC media player supports skins (sometimes also called themes) through its skins2 interface module. To get new skins go to the Skins website.

The steps mentioned here apply to VLC 0.9 and upward.

Skins are not available on macOS.

If you do have problems with VLC after applying a skin, a reinstall is NOT necessary. See #How do I fix VLC when it does not anymore show up properly.

How to switch to the Skins interface

In order that you can use skins you have to change from VLC's native interface to the skinnable one. You can do that by opening the preferences and choosing Use custom skin in the section Look and feel. Then click the Save button and restart VLC. It should then show up in the default skin.

or use command-line to start VLC with skins interface 

vlc -I skins2

How to get new skins and where to save them

You can download a variety of skins from the Skins website. They usually should come as files with the extension "VLT". Although your browser or operating system might identify them as archive files, don't unpack them. Rather put them as they are into the skins folder of VLC.

On Windows this folder is located in the installation directory of VLC,

e.g. C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\skins.

On Linux/Unix it is located in

~/.local/share/vlc/skins2.

If you downloaded the skin pack just unpack it to the folders mentioned above.

Warning: Not all of the skins available for download are fully functional.

How to change to another skin

To change to a downloaded skin, right-click anywhere on the skin's background and choose Interface. Then chose either Select skin to change to a skin that is located in the default skin folder of VLC or Open skin to open a skin file that is located elsewhere.

change_skin.jpg

How to switch back to VLC's default interface

When you open VLC and the skin you chose appears, right-click somewhere on the skins background and then choose Interface and Preferences (also accessible by pressing Ctrl+P). In the preferences dialog change the Interface type to Native. Then click save and restart VLC. It should show up in its default interface.

How do I fix VLC when it does not anymore show up properly

If you chose a broken skin it might happen that VLC does not anymore show up properly and that you cannot anymore access the settings as mentioned above.

Then you have to switch back to the default interface.

On Windows you can just open your Start menu and open

All programs > VideoLAN > Quick Settings > Interface > Set Main Interface to Qt (default)

On any other system, or when the start menu entry is missing, run VLC with the following command line: 

vlc -I qt

Now that VLC has been started with its native interface you can open the preferences (Ctrl+P) and change the active skin file. Chose the default skin or a skin you know that works. Then again set the skin interface to be the default one and restart VLC.

Are there skins with a full screen controller?

Full screen controllers in skins are supported since VLC 1.1. But apart from the default skin coming with VLC not many other skins have this feature.

How to create your own skin

There exists a program that enables you to create skins without any deep knowledge how skins are made up exactly. It is the VLC Skin Editor

If you'd rather want to explore all the possibilities of the skin system and get to know how skins are made up and how to create them in detail, check out the Skins2 documentation.

If you have any problems while creating your skin, please turn to the skins forum.

See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.videolan.org/index.php?title=Skins&oldid=59932"