View source for Skins

{{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].

''The steps mentioned here apply to VLC 0.9 and upward.''

== How to switch to the Skins interface ==

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 ''Skins'' as the ''Interface type''. Then click the ''Save'' button and '''restart''' VLC. It should then show up in the default skin.

http://images.videolan.org/images/wiki/open_preferences.jpg http://images.videolan.org/images/wiki/enable_skins2.jpg

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 [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php Skins website]. They come as .vlt files. 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.

== 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 ''Change 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.

http://images.videolan.org/images/wiki/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 simply pushing 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.

If that didn't help or you can't access the preferences in the skin you use, start VLC from the command line with '''-i qt4''' as parameter. That should start VLC with its native interface.

== 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 [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skineditor.html 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 [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins2-create.html Skins2 documentation].

If you have any problems while creating your skin, please turn to the [http://forum.videolan.org/viewforum.php?f=15 skin forum].

[[Category:Interfaces]]