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How To Enable and Activate Dark Mode Theme in VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is one of the most popular and versatile media players available. It can play almost any audio or video format you throw at it. However, one thing it has lacked is an integrated dark mode or dark theme option.

Fortunately, with a few simple tweaks, you can easily enable a VLC dark mode on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Activating dark mode not only gives VLC a sleek, modern look but also helps reduce eye strain when watching videos in low light conditions.

Benefits of Using Dark Mode on VLC

Here are some of the benefits of enabling dark mode on the VLC media player:

  • Reduces eye strain – Staring at bright screens in dark rooms can cause significant eye fatigue over time. Dark mode creates a darker interface and inverts text/icons to alleviate this issue.
  • Better contrast – A darker backdrop provides better contrast for video playback, especially in low-light viewing environments. This helps the actual video content stand out more.
  • More immersive viewing experience – By limiting brightness and making the interface fade into the background, dark mode puts more focus on the video itself for a more immersive viewing session.
  • Cool, modern look – Dark color schemes are sleek and modern. VLC dark mode makes the dated interface feel fresh and up-to-date.

How to Activate Dark Mode on VLC

The exact steps to enable dark mode on VLC vary slightly depending on which platform you use. Refer to the instructions below for your specific operating system or device.

Windows 10 and 11

Enabling dark mode on Windows VLC involves downloading and applying a custom skin:

  1. Download the eDark VLC skin from this site.
  2. In VLC, go to Tools > Preferences.
  3. Under Interface, select “Use custom skin”.
  4. Browse to and select the eDark skin file you downloaded.
  5. Click Save to apply the new skin.
  6. Restart VLC for changes to take effect.

MacOS

The process is simpler on Mac. Just:

  1. Go to VLC > Preferences > Interface.
  2. Under General Settings, choose the Dark option.
  3. Click Save and relaunch VLC.

Linux

Linux users can install a dark theme called Kvantum:

  1. Install Kvantum Manager from your distro’s repository.
  2. Search for and apply a dark Kvantum theme of your choice.
  3. Open VLC and it will now display the selected dark theme.

Android and iOS

There’s no built-in setting in the VLC app for mobile. Instead:

  1. Go to your device’s main Settings.
  2. Find and enable the system-wide Dark Mode option.
  3. Open VLC again and it should now display the dark theme.

Customizing Your VLC Dark Mode Experience

The default dark themes and skins might not be to your taste. Fortunately, you have a few options to customize the VLC interface to your liking:

  • Try different dark mode VLC skins from the official skins page until you find one you like.
  • Use the VLC Skin Editor to modify an existing skin or even create your own from scratch.
  • On Windows and Linux, use a third party theme engine like Kvantum to completely customize VLC’s look and feel.

Take some time to explore all the customization options at your disposal. Part of the appeal of VLC is tailoring it to your needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Having an integrated dark theme or dark mode has been a long requested VLC feature. While not officially supported yet, the methods outlined above allow you to easily enable dark mode on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Activating VLC’s dark mode not only gives it a sleek, modern look but also helps provide better contrast and reduce eye strain when enjoying videos. It’s a simple setting that can greatly improve the overall viewing experience.

So give one of the above methods a try and breathe new life into your VLC media player! Let us know in the comments if you have any other tips for customizing VLC’s interface and enabling dark mode.

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