VideoLan Control Panel not displaying, sort of

[ivorydrops]

I've been using version 2.2.6 for a very long time and still am. I have an issue with the latest version and still do. However, I really would like to use the 3.0.16 version.

The problem is the control panel overlay when in fullscreen mode. When I move my mouse the control panel interface does not show up.

At first, I thought it was the "post=@Point" value in the FullScreen section of vlc-qt-interface.ini but that wasn't it. The values were within the resolution of my monitor. And resetting my preferences didn't accomplish anything.

After playing with the interface and options some, I found there were two ways to make the control panel show.

1. In the Interface Settings, if I have "Integrate video in interface" not checked, double click on the window, move my mouse, the control panel does not show. However, if I do an ALT-TAB to bring the player to the foreground and then move my mouse on the video, the control panel appears. I never had to bring my application to the foreground in 2.2.6 to make the control panel appear with mouse movements before.

2. Another approach to get the control panel to appear without having to do an ALT-TAB from #1 above consisted of some painful steps. I turn off the "Integrate video in interface", press F11, play the video, and then right-click Video->FullScreen. Now when I move my mouse, the control panel appears like it should without the main app showing up in the foreground. However, going back and forth on these options is painful for me, so I don't like doing this approach.

So, why is it not possible to show the control panel in #1 with the application in the background like version 2.2.6 was able to? Is there an option I'm missing or is there a new feature/bug?

[Hitchhiker]

In Preferences (Ctrl + P to open) checkmark "Show controls in full screen mode" in the Interface menu. Save, exit and restart vlc.

If you can't see that setting reset preferences and then check again: https://wiki.videolan.org/VSG:ResetPrefs

[ivorydrops]

That's already checked, forgot to mention that.

If the option is unchecked and the application is in the foreground the control panel does not show. If checked, the control panel shows. So the option "basically" works but ONLY if the application is in the foreground on top of the non-integrated video playing in full screen. Version 2.2.6 that I have doesn't require the application to be in the foreground.

[Hitchhiker]

Which version of Windows do you have installed?

EDIT: something else you can check.

1. In prefs click the "All" button at the bottom to go to the Advanced menu.
2. In the Search field top left type Qt and then click Qt below when it appears.
3. In the right hand panel scroll down to the very bottom where you'll find a setting called "When to raise the interface".
4. Set it to Audio/Video.
5. Save, exit and restart vlc.

Might help.

[ivorydrops]

That didn't work either.

I'm using this on an old computer with Windows 7 Pro.

Let me try on my Windows 10 Pro and see if it exhibits the problem.

...

Nope. Exact same problem on WIndows 10 Pro.

[Hitchhiker]

Are you using the same mouse on both computers? Do you have an alternative mouse you can try?

[ivorydrops]

I don't understand. What does the mouse have to do with anything?!?

For the record, the computer I'm using 2.2.6 versus 3.0.16 uses the same mouse. The mouse works with 2.2.6 with no problem and does not work with 3.0.16.

Just to be clear, when the video is playing and you move the mouse on 2.2.6 you can see the mouse and the control panel with mouse movements. After a a second, the control panel disappears if your mouse is not on the control panel. Then after another second, the mouse disappears.

On 3.0.16, there is no mouse movement visible and no control panel. But if you bring the app to the foreground with ALT-TAB you will see the mouse move with the control panel shown. I just wish I didn't have to bring the app to the foreground. After bringing it to the foreground, I have to bring it back to the background all the time. Very annoying and not user friendly.

Are you saying that 2.2.6 and 3.0.16 work in this manner for you with no problem? That very confusing and frustrating since I have multiple computers that do now work correctly for 3.0.16.

[Hitchhiker]

I don't understand. What does the mouse have to do with anything?!?

For the record, the computer I'm using 2.2.6 versus 3.0.16 uses the same mouse. The mouse works with 2.2.6 with no problem and does not work with 3.0.16.

Just to be clear, when the video is playing and you move the mouse on 2.2.6 you can see the mouse and the control panel with mouse movements. After a a second, the control panel disappears if your mouse is not on the control panel. Then after another second, the mouse disappears.

On 3.0.16, there is no mouse movement visible and no control panel. But if you bring the app to the foreground with ALT-TAB you will see the mouse move with the control panel shown. I just wish I didn't have to bring the app to the foreground. After bringing it to the foreground, I have to bring it back to the background all the time. Very annoying and not user friendly.

Are you saying that 2.2.6 and 3.0.16 work in this manner for you with no problem? That very confusing and frustrating since I have multiple computers that do now work correctly for 3.0.16.

You mentioned before that you checked your Windows 10 machine and experienced the same problem. So my thinking was that if you unplugged the mouse from the Win 7 machine and then used it on Windows 10 the issue could be mouse related.

As regards the two vlc versions I only have 3.0.16 installed on my Win 8.1 laptop and don't have a problem with the UI appearing if the external USB mouse is moved.

[ivorydrops]

No. The mouse doesn't resolve the issue. The issue isn't OS specific. There's a bug in the software or a change such that this feature is no longer working correctly or something.

[Hitchhiker]

There's a bug in the software or a change such that this feature is no longer working correctly or something.

The problem with that argument is that if there was a bug then every user would be experiencing the same issue.

I'm not sure if it will ultimately make any difference, but try removing the checkmark from "Resize interface to video size" in the opening Interface menu. Save, exit and restart vlc.

I have my own UI setup this way to prevent vlc constantly resizing itself according to the video being played in window mode.

There's also the option to dock the controller bar in fullscreen mode. It's located to the left of the volume controller slider. Here's a pix of it.


(click to enlarge)

Also, you can add additional control buttons to the fullscreen controller bar by clicking Tools ---> Customize Interface and click the Fullscreen Controller tab. For example, if you wanted to add the option to slow down playback click "Slower" in the bottom panel and drag it to the top panel. Here's a screenshot.


(click to enlarge).

In the same menu there's also the option to change the UI to a previous version via the dropdown menu at the top. You might want to create a new Profile if you're going to experiment otherwise any changes you make will be added to the default menu.

In all cases it's necessary to save, exit and restart vlc to make changes permanent.

[ivorydrops]

There's a bug in the software or a change such that this feature is no longer working correctly or something.

The problem with that argument is that if there was a bug then every user would be experiencing the same issue.

Yeah, I know. The statement was more frustration than knowledge that there's a bug.

...

I did try changing options, saving, and restarting. None of that worked.

I'll look at the docking later. I work remote and have to get back to work right now but thought I would reply real quick here.

[ivorydrops]

Well, those options didn't produce the result I wanted. The main app still has to be in the foreground for the control to appear with mouse movement.

Anyway, I did put an issue in regarding this. Appears what I wanted was never supposed to work that way. I guess the 2.x version was the last for making it work that way. Though I'm still confused how yours works the way I want, at least that's what I'm understanding.

Anyway, here's the issue I entered in. I guess we'll see what the development team decides to do.

https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc/-/issues/26005

[Hitchhiker]

There's another keyboard shortcut which might work for you which is to hit the letter i

You can toggle it on and off with the same letter.