Objective: Turn your Android/iOS phone into a remote control that can control all the multimedia actions of VLC Player on your computer.
One of the best multimedia players is the VLC multimedia player. The Windows operating system does not come with a built-in multimedia player (Windows Media Player should not be categorized as a media player at it does not function most of the time). Thus, all Windows users must search for a third-party player. One of the most widely used multimedia players is VLC player, who has countless options that remain unexplored. Only recently I discovered that you could rectify upside-down videos and make them correct with VLC player.
When I have my laptop connected to my TV via HDMI cable, the only problem, I face to get up and walk over to the laptop to change the movie or the clip on the VLC player. And the solution to this is to control the VLC player from a distance via my smartphone. This guide will explain how to turn your smartphone into a VLC remote control.
Also Read: How to Record Your Screen With VLC Media Player On Windows 10, 8 and 7
How To Configure Your Smart Phone Into Vlc Remote Control Via Vlc Mobile Remote App?
To make your smartphone act as a VLC Remote Control, we first need to download the VLC Mobile Remote app from the Google Play Store. Don’t worry; it is free and safe. Just click on the link below:
Download VLC Mobile Remote App Android || iOS (free).
Note: This is a third-party app not an official one from VLC, but it is well designed, compatible and works fine.
Once you download and install it, then you need to configure the VLC multimedia player installed in your computer first. Follow these quick and simple steps:
Step 1. Open the VLC multimedia player in your computer and update it if a prompt notifies you about a new update.
Step 2. Next click on the Tools tab and from the drop-down menu, select Preferences. You can alternatively press Control + P on the keyboard after opening the VLC player.
Step 3. A new window will open, move your mouse cursor to the bottom left corner of this window, and click on the circle next to ALL under Show Settings.
Step 4. You will observe a change in the Preferences window and from the list displayed, locate Interfaces section and Main Interfaces beneath it and click on it once.
Step 5. Now, look at the right side of the window, and you will find a few options. Locate Web and place a tick in the checkbox next to it.
Step 6. Return to the Main Interface and click on the triangle next to it to expand it. Click on the first option in the expanded list labelled as “LUA”.
Step 7. Now, observe the Right side of the Preferences window and enter a password in the text box under the LUA HTTP section.
Step 8. Click on Save button on the bottom right corner and close VLC.
Step 9. Double click on VLC icon again to launch it. You will get a Prompt box stating that Windows Security Alert has blocked some the features of VLC Player. Place a tick next to Private Networks and click on the Allow Access button.
Step 10. Keeping the VLC player launched on your system, press the Windows + R to open the RUN box. Type CMD and click on OK. This will launch the black and white command prompt window.
Step 11. Type IPCONFIG and press Enter. Make a note of your IPV4 address, under the Wireless section heading.
The steps required on the computer are all done, and now we need to configure the VLC Mobile Remote app on your smartphone.
Also Read: Explore All New Features of VLC Media Player Version 3.0 Vetinari
Step 12. Connect your Smartphone to the same WiFi network as your computer and launch the application on your mobile.
Step 13. Tap on Add Manually button on the bottom right of your mobile screen.
Step 14. Add your IPV4 address (the same you copied in Step 11) and enter the password you set up on your computer’s VLC player preferences (Step 7). Leave the computer’s name and port as it is and tap on the Save button.
Step 15. This will take to the VLC Mobile Remote app main screen. Select your computer name from the list and click on Auto Connect at the bottom of the mobile screen. This will establish a connection between the computer and your mobile.
Note: You can connect more than one computers from the home screen of the app by tapping on the + icon.
Also Read: 7 Hidden VLC Media Player Features We Bet You Didn’t Know!
How To Use Vlc Mobile Remote App And Convert Your Smartphone Into A Vlc Remote Control?
Once the VLC Mobile Remote app connects to your computer, it will display the drives on your computer. You can tap on any drive and then dive into the corresponding folder to locate you’re your media files and play them from your smartphone.
You can:
- Play any multimedia file on your computer if you know where it is stored.
- Play Pause and Stop any file and even decrease and increase the volume.
- Jump to a portion of the clip you want and rewind it as well.
- Control some advance options like changing the audio file, alter the playback speed and modify the aspect ratio as well.
- Turn off the VLC program from your smartphone.
Also Read: How To Convert Audio Or Video Files To Any Format Using VLC
The Final Word On How To Configure Your Android/iOS Smartphone Into Vlc Remote Control
That is how you can control the VLC player on your computer while sitting on the couch or laying on your bed without having to get up to change the movie, clip or song in your VLC player. You might get a few ads though which can be removed if your purchase the premium version. Frankly, I never bothered to do that and am using the free version for quite some time with no issues. However, the Premium version does have a couple of extra features like gesture control and controlling the VLC volume by your Phone volume buttons.
Follow us on social media – Facebook and YouTube. For any queries or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below. We would love to get back to you with a solution. We post regularly on the tips and tricks along with solutions to common issues related to technology. Subscribe to our newsletter to get regular updates on the tech world.
