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6

Can't seem to set VLC as the default video player. I have gone to System Settings -> System Info -> Default Applications, and changed "Video" to VLC media player.

However, all movies still open with Movie Player (Totem) by default. The video default application setting appears to have no effect. I have tried changing the setting and logging out/rebooting, it doesn't appear to work.

Is there some command line magic I can work on this?

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I guess this is a bug for video category. See and vote for it: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-control-center/+bug/… – Andy Feb 8 at 14:03

6 Answers

up vote 17 down vote

Rightclick any video file, choose properties. Choose Open With and there you can select VLC and the option set as default (bottom right).

enter image description here

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This step is to be done on all video filetypes. You can also replace /usr/share/applications/totem.desktop with /usr/share/applications/vlc.desktop to fool Ubuntu that VLC is Totem but I don't recommend this method. – jcisio Dec 31 '11 at 9:42
No in 11.10 it is set for all video files iirc. – Rinzwind Dec 31 '11 at 14:11
2  
If your screenshot is correct, the step you've done is just for "Matroska video". – jcisio Jan 1 '12 at 4:51
up vote 10 down vote

Go to System Settings/ System info/ Default Applications and set it there. Works in Ubuntu 11.10 Enjoy ;)

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Even though the poster states clearly that this doesn't work? I suspect that this only affect a certain extension - perhaps mp4. (S)He's trying to open a matroska (mkv) file and default applications appears to be ignoring that. – Scaine Jan 24 '12 at 17:05
doesn't work for me – Sirber Mar 17 '12 at 19:28
up vote 0 down vote

I managed to fix this by right click on the video file > Open With Other Applications > Right click on Banshee and click Forget association

I say Banshee, because I already uninstalled Totem in order to fix the issue.

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up vote 0 down vote

For 12.04

In Ubuntu Tweak under File Type Manager you can change and set the default for all media types and their specific formats.

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up vote 0 down vote

In Ubuntu 12.10, go to

"System Settings" "Details" "Default Applications"

CLick on the "down arrow" for "Video"

Select "VLC Media Player"

Then close window.

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up vote 0 down vote

Remove the totem video player via ubuntu software center. It appears with name "Video". This will make every video format use VLC automatically.

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