FunOS

VLC media player is one of the most popular and widely used multimedia applications on Linux. It is known for its ability to play almost any audio or video format without requiring additional codecs. On FunOS, which is based on Ubuntu, installing VLC is straightforward and can be done in more than one way depending on your needs.

In this article, you will learn what VLC is, how to install VLC on FunOS using two different methods, how to launch it, and how to completely uninstall VLC if it is no longer needed.

What is VLC?

VLC media player is a free and open-source multimedia player developed by the VideoLAN project. VLC supports a wide range of audio and video formats, DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It is lightweight, reliable, and does not require proprietary codecs, making it an excellent choice for a minimal Linux distribution like FunOS.

Some key features of VLC include:

• Supports almost all audio and video formats
• Plays local files, DVDs, and network streams
• Subtitle synchronization and audio track switching
• Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, macOS, and more)
• Free, open-source, and actively maintained

How to Install VLC on FunOS

You can install VLC on FunOS using two different methods:

• Method 1: Installing from the official Ubuntu repositories (recommended)
• Method 2: Installing from the VLC PPA (for newer versions)

Method 1: Installing from the Ubuntu Repositories

Work on: 22.04.5 ✅ | 24.04.3 ✅ | 25.04 ✅ | 25.10 ✅ | 26.04 ✅

This method installs VLC from the official Ubuntu repositories. It is the recommended option for most users because it provides good stability and security.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in one of the following ways:

• Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard

Step 2: Update the Package List

Before installing any new software, it is recommended to update the package list so FunOS knows about the latest available packages.

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install VLC

After the package list is updated, install VLC by running the following command:

sudo apt install vlc

During the installation process, you may be asked to confirm by pressing Y, then Enter.

Step 4: Reload the Menu

After the installation is complete, reload the FunOS menu so VLC appears correctly.

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Method 2: Installing from the VLC PPA

Work on: 22.04.5 ✅ | 24.04.3 ✅ | 25.04 ✅ | 25.10 ✅ | 26.04 ❌

This method installs VLC from a Personal Package Archive (PPA) maintained by Panda Jim. This option is useful if you want a newer version of VLC than the one provided in the Ubuntu repositories.

Note: PPAs are third-party repositories. While generally safe, they may not be as thoroughly tested as official Ubuntu packages.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Open the Terminal using one of the following methods:

• Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Add the VLC PPA

Add the VLC PPA maintained by Panda Jim:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/vlc

When prompted, press Enter to confirm.

Step 3: Update the Package List

After adding the PPA, update the package list so FunOS can recognize the new repository.

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install VLC

Now install VLC from the PPA:

sudo apt install vlc

Step 5: Reload the Menu

Once the installation is complete, reload the menu:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Launching VLC

After installing VLC, you can launch it from the FunOS menu:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Navigate to the Multimedia category
• Click VLC media player

You can now start playing audio and video files using VLC.

How to Uninstall VLC on FunOS

If you no longer need VLC, you can remove it completely from your system. The uninstallation steps depend on how VLC was installed.

Uninstall VLC Installed from the Ubuntu Repositories

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Open the Terminal using one of the following methods:

• Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Remove VLC

Remove VLC and its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge vlc

Step 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies

Clean up unused packages that were installed automatically:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Step 4: Remove User Data (Optional)

If you want to completely remove VLC user settings and cache files, run:

rm -rf $HOME/.config/vlc
rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/vlc

Step 5: Reload the Menu

Reload the FunOS menu to remove VLC from the menu list:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Uninstall VLC Installed from the VLC PPA

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Open the Terminal using one of the following methods:

• Click Menu in the left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Remove VLC

Remove VLC and its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge vlc

Step 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies

Remove unused dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Step 4: Remove the VLC PPA

Remove the VLC PPA from your system:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/vlc

Step 5: Update the Package List

Update the package list after removing the PPA:

sudo apt update

Step 6: Remove User Data (Optional)

Delete VLC user configuration files if desired:

rm -rf $HOME/.config/vlc
rm -rf $HOME/.local/share/vlc

Step 7: Reload the Menu

Reload the menu to finalize the removal:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Conclusion

VLC media player is a powerful, lightweight, and reliable multimedia player that fits perfectly with FunOS’s minimal and efficient design. Whether you choose to install VLC from the official Ubuntu repositories for stability or from the VLC PPA for newer features, both methods are simple and effective.

By following this guide, you now know how to install VLC, launch it, and remove it completely from FunOS when it is no longer needed. This flexibility ensures you can manage your multimedia software efficiently while keeping your FunOS system clean and well-organized.