VLC Mobile for iOS seems to have broken adding files to playlists

[norman.cates]

It may have been connected to a VLC update but I don't know.

But at this moment in time, I can select a Song, and add it to a playlist. If I create a Playlist it adds the file to the playlist.

BUT, if I choose add to existing playlist, it comes up with the menu of Playlists. But clicking on it has no result. It does not register the click.

This is SERIOUSLY broken...

I also tried removing the app and adding it back. Nope. Still wont add files to an existing playlist...

[Bee88]

I have the same problems with movies and episodes, so I’m following

[kecastle]

I see the same problem when attempting to add a video to an existing playlist. I can add a video to a new playlist at the time the playlist is created, but adding a video to an existing playlist fails. I believe the feature worked on the 3.2.7 release, but it appears to have been broken with the 3.2.8 release. I am running VLC on an iPad with iPadOS 13.4.1.

[cliffthepod]

Same problem here. Can create new playlists, but adding files to an existing playlist just can't be done since the update. A serious limitation. Hope it gets fixed soon. I guess I'll stalk the nightly builds.

[PrototypeTimeMachine]

Same problem here. I have developed a temporary workaround for this problem. (Temporary as in, until they fix this!) It's not complicated but it's a multi-step process. Still, it's better than nothing.

Need to add an item to an existing playlist?

1. Start by adding your item(s) to a new playlist
2. Go to Playlist view
3.Tap the Edit button in the top right corner of the screen
4. Tap on both the old playlist you want to add something to and the new playlist containing your new item(s)
5. Tap 'Add to Playlist'
6. Give this new playlist a name similar to the existing playlist you wanted to add to (you can change it later)
7. Delete both your original playlist that you wanted to add to and the playlist with the new item(s), leaving only your new, combined playlist

It's kind of a tough workaround, but it's the only way I've found to add new things to an existing playlist until they fix this problem. This bug was introduced in version 3.2.8. This is what I get for updating for the first time in 8 months

[rtcarrjr]

I don't use playlists but I have the same problem when adding video files now since the last upgrade. Has anyone developed a workaround for video files until this problem is fixed?

[PrototypeTimeMachine]

There are a few different ways to add files to VLC: 'cloud services', 'downloads', 'Sharing via WiFi'... which method are you using that isn't working? Maybe using a different method will work.

I use 'Sharing via WiFi' to add files from my Mac to VLC and I've had no trouble with that even with this broken update.

Could you describe the method you use and what about it isn't working?

[rtcarrjr]

I have a PC, not a Mac. I open iTunes, click on the iPad icon, select File Sharing from the Settings Menu, then I select VLC from the File Sharing apps. Once the VLC documents show up that are currently on the iPad, I click on the Add Files button and select whatever new mp4 files I want to copy on my iPad. They have always copied over just fine on previous versions of VLC. But ever since I upgraded to the Version: 3.2.8 (349), not all the files show up in the video list to play in the VLC for iOS app.

[fkuehne]

Hello,

Just a quick note that we recognized this problem and fixed it for the next update, that will appear shortly: https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc-ios/-/issues/850

Thanks for your reports!

[PrototypeTimeMachine]

Thank you to the VideoLAN team for fixing this!

For rtcarrjr: In the meantime, while we await the release of this update, please try one of the other methods of adding files to VLC. (I've recently tried iTunes file sharing with VLC 3.2.8 and ran into the same issue you did so we'll leave that method alone for the time being.)

I've found that 'Sharing via wifi' is easy (as long as your wifi connection is solid) and it works with the current version, 3.2.8. First make sure the VLC app is open on your phone/tablet. Then type your computer's IP address into a web browser on your computer (the VLC app will tell you what to type when you turn on 'sharing via wifi'). Then you can drag and drop any file into the web browser on your computer and that file will upload to your VLC app on the phone/tablet. The VLC app should give you exact instructions on what to do, and if you don't see directions there, you can find it here on the VideoLAN site. VLC's file transfer methods are the same across the board; it doesn't matter if you use PC, Mac or any other operating system.

[rtcarrjr]

PrototypeTimeMachine - thank you so much for the workaround. It works like a champ!!!!!

[PrototypeTimeMachine]

You're welcome, rtcarrjr!

[NoMetaData]

has this problem been fixed yet for the 3.2.8 beta version on testflight? I'm looking to install it, but this would be the only reason

[Defrag]

Hello,

Just a quick note that we recognized this problem and fixed it for the next update, that will appear shortly: https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc-ios/-/issues/850

Thanks for your reports!

Thanks! I registered here only because of this bug. Keep up the great work!

Any ETA when the bugfixed version will be available via the Apple App Store?

[IrwinMFletcher]

Looking forward to this fix. It 'sounds' like it might fix my problem. Not added files in a long time, but just got a new iPad and filling it up. Adding files works as usual but a seemingly random sampling of them are not displayed in VLC. Using File Manager I can see that are on the device. I'm not using playlist so my issue doesn't seem to be related to the fix above. I tried out a few releases and 3.2.2 works OK. Maybe/hopefully the fix above that will presumably be in 3.2.10 is closely related enough that whatever is preventing items from appearing in a playlist is also the same issue preventing "some" of the videos I add from being displayed under Movies OR Video Groups.

[IrwinMFletcher]

Sadly, I can confirm 3.2.10 does not fix my problem. I also removed and re-installed VLC. I added 5 MP4's, only 3 appear in VLC. If I go to the Files app, I see all five. Tapping either of the 2 missing from VLC from within the Files app opens the video and plays it in VLC. As I mentioned above 3.2.2 works ok with these any any of the other files I added.

Also, did Grouping get removed? In 3.2.2 I can swipe left/right between Movies/Video Groups. In 3.2.10 that's not available?

[fkuehne]

@IrwinMFletcher: we improved on grouping since .2 quite a bit and it should still be there. You can also do custom groups now. Regarding the two files that don't show, that is really interesting and we'd love to get access to those files. Please email me at fkuehne at videolan dot org so we can do an exchange. Thanks!

[IrwinMFletcher]

Here's an update. I've been experimenting with different recent versions of VLC. While trying to identify potential MP4's that VLC does not show after they are added I found that if I just remove that file and add it ALONE, it works. I also re-uploaded using the replace method and that worked too.

So it's when adding several at once via iTunes that the problem occurs. They ARE successfully added to the device, because they show up in the VLC File Sharing list and in the Files app. It's just that during the add, VLC misses the adding the file to its inventory. I DID try Force Rescan on 3.2.10 but that did not help it find the missing files. Maybe that only rescans the ones it it's inventory and doesn't rescan the device for new files?

[IrwinMFletcher]

Further, it seems to not be a 'new' problem. That is - missing files when adding multiple at once. I'd been upgrading regularly and the app has been working fine so had no reason to expect anything was wrong. Having recently setup a new iPad, that's when all this came to light.

In summary, VLC is somehow missing files when multiple are added at once via iTunes. I tried with each release from 3.2.2 - 3.2.10. Interestingly the later releases missed more files, nearly 50% of 22 files added. Versions earlier would almost always get 21 of 22 - with the missing file being RANDOM. In addition, the thumbnails were hit and miss with the files that did get recognized.

Testing with 3.1.9, everything worked perfectly. All 22 files imported and EVERY file had a thumbnail immediately generated.

So, to test/witness this behavior, you should be able to use any MP4 files. Just add them all at once via iTunes.

[IrwinMFletcher]

FWIW, 3.2.11 made no difference. Maybe it's a different problem, adding to playlist vs. just adding to the app video list. Added the same 22, and although this time ALL thumbnails were instantly created, only 13 of the 22 files added appear in VLC. For this test I removed 3.1.9 then installed 3.2.11. I guess force rescan is just for thumbnails and there's no ability to have VLC rescan the device for files it has not yet recognized?

[Defrag]

Is there any way to revert back to a previous version of VLC for iOS?

The broken playlist feature is a pretty major bug, more or less preventing proper usage of the app for me.

EDIT: Whaddaya know, the iOS app had auto-updated and now it works. Woho! Good bugfix, guys!

[goga1]

Folks, hello to all of you!

VLC 3.2.11, iOS 9.3.3 on IPad mini retina 2.
F*cking update!
Doesn't play playlists with streaming video!

On 3.2.8 playlists played well! "perfect is the enemy of good", "Works ? Do not touch!"
But Im updated

If I add a link to the "open network stream" for example this:

https://dv-h.phprcdn.com/hls/videos/201810/13/187236842/,181024_2108_2160P_8000K,181024_2108_1440P_6000K,181024_2108_1080P_4000K,181024_2108_720P_4000K,181024_2108_480P_2000K,181024_2108_240P_1000K,_187236842.mp4.urlset/index-f3-v1-a1.m3u8?ttl=1581729011&l=0&hash=65a1e6d5d3d2c83ba3f026762bd9e2ec

or this one:

https://pvv4.vkuservideo.net/c500100/9/ebbNjI8Njw2NjUz/videos/0d004e6df0.1080.mp4?extra=yWZInotvR5AsmK6HMIhhD4xTAh5MOWIYFGvC7DZ_N3JAmuKzbfO_3xugKh3tBDkP3qfjBrxkWOI6Va4oUVjUjORSeansKFs3aVhOw7bhLKN_F4OpmSJjZLrhSbBMeLF23w8CxuIx1CdNOqpfUSXzHpuscqU&c_uniq_tag=rV9neH0opzAT2OdWQWaX5mR7UIXEnc_dTdtyuCReEbc

then they play perfectly(you can check the second link only within 24 hours).
ATTENTION! BOTH links - prOn(from prnhub and VK)! 21+

But if I add these links to the playlist, created on the computer(last ver. VLС 3.0.10 on win10) THIS playlist does not plays on iPad.
Although it plays perfectly on a computer in the same player where it is created.

I tried to save playlists in all available formats(.xspf, .m3u8, .m3u), the same situation!

On 3.2.8 all playlists played well in same situation! Please Fix it.

[goga1]

On 3̶.̶2̶.̶8̶ all playlists played well in same situation! Please Fix it.

it turned out that I had version 3.2.7

Since no one answered anything, didn’t react in any way, I had to install the app admin tweak and tried to downgrade version by version (3.2.10-3.2.9-3.2.8-3.2.7!!! )
Playlists with online videos work on this version .
Please fix it in the latest version of the application

[goga1]

Version - 3.2.13

playlists with online video links of files still cannot be played!!! ((

[fkuehne]

Please email such a playlist file to videolan@videolan.org so we can test it. The URLs themselves don't need to be playable. The problem is the encoding of the playlist file which we can inspect only by checking it personally.