VLC stops playing MP3 few seconds after screen locks

[Chris_147]

Hi,

like the title says, VLC 3.0.5 stops playing an MP3 a few seconds after the screen locks.
When I press the lock button, screen lights up, stays locked and VLC starts playing again (for a few seconds)
This way, VLC is useless as a music player for me.
My phone is an Honor 9 with Android 8.0.

I've set VLC preference Background/PiP mode to Play videos in background and Play videos in Picture-in-picture mode.

[Chris_147]

Anyone have a clue what's going wrong?

It would really be a shame, because VLC is the only program that is parsing my m3u playlists correct.
EMUI music player puts them in the wrong order
Google Music ignores m3u playlists
Tried several other programs, but no succes

[Dekans]

Check if your phone doesn't kill VLC once in background.

[Chris_147]

I don't think so: if I turn on the phone, VLC is there immediately and can resume playback.
And it is no happening with any other music program like Google Music, Spotify, ...
So I really think it is within VLC.

Where can I see this otherwise?

[Dekans]

No idea, it's really strange.
I use VLC every day to listen to music on an Android Oreo device and it's OK.

I see no reason why VLC would stop, except if Andorid prevents it to be on foreground or if another app requests the audio focus.

[Chris_147]

Strange, now it works.
I have re-installed VLC again (tried that before without succes), played with the settings a bit and now it locks and keeps playing.

EDIT: it must be power consumption related.
It was working earlier today because my phone was plugged in to laptop to charge and exchange data.
When unplugged, it stops playing again when the screen goes black (or shortly thereafter).
When I wake the screen (no need to unlock), it starts playing again (briefly)
I have no idea which power setting influences this behaviour though

EDIT2: Found it!
Settings - search for "Launch" - click Launch halfway the screen - set VLC to manage manually.
Seems to be a new feature in EMUI 8.0: https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/hua ... zw8YK.html

[Naomi]

Hi
I do have the same problem. Vlc player stops on my huawei p20lite when the screen is in lock after a few seconds. I also tried everything I know as well as other players. They work fine only the catalog is a mess and that's why I prefer vlc. Could anyone help me to fix it?
I read one of the posts but I don't know how to change it as I don't have a launch button???

[Dekans]

Could you try the workaround found by Chris_147?

[Chris_147]

Hi Naomi,
it can be frustrating indeed.

The steps I took:
1) Open Settings (Apps - Settings)
2) In the search field on top, type "Launch", should give only one icon, click that
3) In the middle of the page, you should see "Launch" again mentioned, click that
4) Then you'll get a list of all your apps, scroll down until you see VLC. Mind you, first it displays the alphabetical list of apps that are managed manually, then an alphabetical list of apps that are managed automatically.
In my case, VLC was managed automatically so it was near the bottom of the page. Set the slider to off, so that it is managed manually. That did the trick for me!
5) Enjoy the great mediaplayer that is VLC

[Naomi]

Thanks for the reply and help. I tried it but if I type launch in the screen, I get two options instead of one.
Install unknown apps and install from SD card. I tried and searched both but could not find the list with vlc player on it. Not on the bottom of the list either. Is there another way. I desperately need my music ...

[Chris_147]

Hi Naomi, are you on EMUI 8.0.0? (Settings - About phone)
The Launch thing was added to EMUI 8.0.0 I think.

Otherwise try some things mentioned in these links, they are for older versions of EMUI:
https://phandroid.com/2017/02/02/huawei ... rst-thing/
https://phandroid.com/2017/01/12/honor-6x-first-things/ (look for "Protect all (or some) apps to keep them open in the background")

I think it most certainly is related to the power settings where EMUI turns off VLC to save battery or RAM.
Only it seems there are quite a few settings related to those things...
Good luck!

[Naomi]

Thanks so much for your help. I works . I must admit a guy from 17 years old fixed it for me with the links you send. It was an option on the battery use. I would never have been able to find that out myself. Thanks again and now I am going to enjoy.

[Chris_147]

Glad to have helped you.
It can indeed be frustrating when the best player stops playing