The VideoLAN Forums

Winxp pro. Firefox browser. VLC 2.0.5.


I've navigated to ..
tools...
preferences..
interface settings....
...and the box "allow only one instance" was already unchecked by default.

I went to my downloads folder and opened a movie file. VLC opened the movie in a minimal window and started playing.
I paused that movie, went back to the downloads folder and opened another movie.

After making sure the "allow only one instance" box was unchecked I expected to have two minimal view VLC windows on my desktop running two separate movies. But opening the second movie file simply overrode the first and the only VLC window running on the screen was the new "instance". I clicked on and dragged this new window to see if perhaps the second "instance" was running in a window beneath it but there was none.

Have I misapprehended the meaning of "instance"? Does a VLC "instance" merely mean that I can open two, or more, separate windows playing the same file/movie"? Is it possible to open two separate windows on the same screen running two different files/movies? What I'm trying to do is open two separate windows, side by side, of the same movie in two different formats, to make a visual quality comparison.

What am I doing wrong?

There are two separate settings for single instance. You used the wrong one.

Thank you.

Would you please explain how to set the proper one for my needs?

I can only find the one setting of which I spoke.

Hi frascati,

Open the menu Tools --> Preferences (or hotkey Ctrl+P).
In show settings (down left) , select All.
Then, in Performance options, let unchecked One instance when started from file.

Also, here a reference I found searching on google: http://wiki.videolan.org/How_to_play_mu ... ces_of_VLC

Hope this help.

SAlut, Michel.


Hi Rémi,

There are two separate settings for single instance. You used the wrong one.

Just a constructive consideration (really), nothing personal... Do you think an answer like this could help in a way?
In fact, frascati does not used the wrong one.... He forgot (because he was not aware about it) to also use the 2 setting needed to reach the goal...
You wasted your time with an answer that is more confusing than helpful... It is not a pity?..
Just my humble opinion...

Regards,
Friendly, Michel.

Hi Michel,

Thank you very much for the instruction, I've been looking for it so long.

Open the menu Tools and select Preferences (or hotkey Ctrl+P).
In Show settings (bottom & left side), select All.
Then, in Performance or Advanced (depends on VLC media player versions) options, and uncheck One instance when started from file.

Regards,
Jared