The VideoLAN Forums

My Apple Remote recently stopped working with VLC (2.2.1). It just launches iTunes, but VLC completely ignores it. I've tried to delete all the configuration directories, update the VLC player, but nothing helped. The configuration options for Apple Remote is enabled, of course.

I even tried to downgrade all the way to 2.1.5, but it did not help either.

Can I provide more details for debugging?

Which OS version are you using and which generation Apple remote?

Hello there,

I'm a big VLC-fan, but I'm experiencing similar issues:

With the boxes 'Control playback with Apple Remote' , 'Control system volume with Apple Remote' and 'Control playlist items with Apple Remote' all checked in 'Advanced Settings', VLC keeps 'Fast Forwarding' when I press 'next' (short right click) on the Apple remote. While I used to be able to do both; short right click for 'Next' and when continuously pressed it would 'Fast Forward'. I really used these functions a lot and thoroughly enjoyed them. Also VLC keeps adjusting it's own volume instead of the system's.

Could these issues have to do with something I'm overlooking in the settings? Or is there a fix available for the combination of OS X 10.9, 2013 Apple remote and VLC 2.2.6?

Thx in advance,

Grtz h3x6g0n

Try to turn off the setting "Control playlist items with Apple Remote", if you want to to skip to next or prev playlist item. The text and description of that option might be confusing.

Also, did you restart VLC after changing the settings?

I'm having an issue too, my Apple remote will no longer control volume in VLC after upgrading to High Sierra. I'm currently running VLC 2.2.7 and everything else on the remote works but the volume. Scratching head....

Greetings from Berlin,

it seems that Catalina with its new implementation of 'Apple Music' replacing iTunes has borked the functionality of the Apple Remote with VLC (3.0.. After a bit of troubleshooting I have been able to reproduce the following behaviour (on a 2012 Mac Mini):

If I reset all VLC preferences to default the Apple Remote partially functions: Play/Pause and Volume Up/Down function properly. No other buttons function except the FF button, which causes Apple Music to come to the foreground and go fullscreen. However, after that the remote stops functioning for VLC altogether. To get it to function once more, I must again reset all VLC preferences to default.

Hoping a fix is released sometime soon.

love VLC and it has been my go to media app for decades - thanks for all your work.

cheers,
Wm

Hello,

In Catalina, Apple Remote with original Apple IR receiver or compatible like SmartGUS, works with Apple applications:
- Music
- TV
- Keynote
- Quick Time Player

It does not worlk with numerous non-Apple applications:
- VLC
- Kodi
- Libre Office & Open Office Impress
…

However it works with Audirvana player.

Should be possible to update the Apple Remote support in VLC, with a Framework supported on Catalina.

Going further, it appears that the HID identifier of each remote key has changed in Catalina.
It had already changed in Leopard, so the application should care about the version of the AppKit to parse remote keys.

Yep, this will be fixed in version 3.0.9! Thanks for the sample device allowing us to do it!

Yep, this will be fixed in version 3.0.9! Thanks for the sample device allowing us to do it!

Could you please let us know if there are any updates on this?
3.0.9 is not available yet except nightly builds. Are there any plans for 3.0.9 go public?

Thank you in advance.

A new release for VLC will be published very soon from now, which should include the fixes for Apple Remote.

Still not working for me.

I was using Airplay and it wouldn't work.

Now I am using the VLC app and Remote Playback.

Apple changed the Remote bits again for their latest macOS release. This will be fixed once more in this week's update.

Friend just gave me a 3rd gen Apple Remote. I don't use Apple TV. 2018
Mac mini OSX.12 5TB for video.
1) What VLC prefs should be ticked or unticked?
2) Fast forward & rewind, either in steps or continuous?
3) Any hints on functions of other buttons with VLC?
3) Activate screensaver option would be great, but not essential.
TIA! Love VLC!