Interface very large - how to return to normal?

[kenbeek]

Hi,

I'm using VLC on Ubuntu Gnome 18.04. Lately, the interface of VLC is abnormally large. Like it's zoomed 300% or something. It looks kind of similar to how I imagine VLC would look on something like a 640x480 screen (mine is 1980x1200), although not exactly because text size doesn't seem to be effected, and video playback works fine. Below is a screenshot of the non-fullscreen interface, and one with the fullscreen controller (showing that video quality is not affected).




The fullscreen controller is so large that it doesn't even fit on the screen entirely. I don't recall having done anything to cause this. I have tried 'reset preferences' but that did nothing. I have also looked through the 'customize interface' and 'preference'-menus, but I can't find anything relevant there.

I have also tried removing and reinstalling VLC and its dependencies through the following commands:

sudo apt remove vlc
sudo apt purge vlc
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install vlc


That didn't help either.

I'm at my wits end here. Any help? Greatly appreciated.

[bob3000]

I answer to up the post, I have the exact same issue on Debian 9, minus the full screen controller that doesn't fit. I just upgraded vlc and now I have an interface with too large buttons. I have a 1980*1080 laptop screen. Checkboxes on the View menu are also too large compare to the text.

[InTheWings]

Qt HiDPI mess hits again...

[dupond]

I have the same problem.

[kenbeek]

Qt HiDPI mess hits again...

Could you elaborate? Now that you mention it it does look like HiDPI is somehow enabled. How to turn it off?

[InTheWings]

Lots of bugs in Qt with HDPI... or not.

Confirm by trying
QT_SCALE_FACTOR=1 vlc
in console

[kenbeek]

Confirm by trying
QT_SCALE_FACTOR=1 vlc
in console

This shows me exactly the same screen as in the OP. What does this mean?

If I run QT_SCALE_FACTOR=0.5 vlc in the console, a VLC pops up that looks somewhat normal (scaling might still be a bit off, I'm not sure), but with super small text. See below (compare the text in the menus to the text in the console or in my browser):

[chubinou]

Hi,
other environment variable can have effect on your scaling,
try to set:

QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0
QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=1

And I advise against setting scaling factor below 1, it often mess up your scaling (esp. fonts)

[bob3000]

Launching vlc with
QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 vlc &
I get a normal size vlc player

QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=1 vlc &
doesn't change a thing

[kenbeek]

QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0
QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=1

Same results as bob3000 here. Running
QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 vlc
shows a normal looking VLC media player, while
QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=1 vlc
shows one with a large interface.

How can I make this the default setting?

[user1230948457]

One solution to make the QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 by default is to add it to your /etc/environment file, and reboot.

[felipec]

Why the --please stay polite-- do we need to use workarounds? VLC should have a sane interface by default.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Because you try to use HiDPI monitors with software (Qt) that does not support it well yet.

[kenbeek]

One solution to make the QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 by default is to add it to your /etc/environment file, and reboot.

Thanks. This worked and as far as I can tell it doesn't affect other applications.

Because you try to use HiDPI monitors with software (Qt) that does not support it well yet.

My screen is nowhere near HiDPI. It's a 26" 1980x1200.

[svejorange]

Hi,
other environment variable can have effect on your scaling,
try to set:

QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0
QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=1

And I advise against setting scaling factor below 1, it often mess up your scaling (esp. fonts)

I had the same problem as the OP. That does the trick for me. Thank you

[jelabarre59]

Because you try to use HiDPI monitors with software (Qt) that does not support it well yet.

Considering it is an 11-year old TV with a VGA input, and Ubuntu running on a clunky SFF Lenovo that's probably just as old as the TV, I seriously doubt there's any HiDPI anywhere in the chain.

But the environment settings fix it. Not that it matters much, since the mainboard is dying anyway, but it works as a media center for the time being.

[unidan]

Because you try to use HiDPI monitors with software (Qt) that does not support it well yet.

Considering it is an 11-year old TV with a VGA input, and Ubuntu running on a clunky SFF Lenovo that's probably just as old as the TV, I seriously doubt there's any HiDPI anywhere in the chain.

But the environment settings fix it. Not that it matters much, since the mainboard is dying anyway, but it works as a media center for the time being.

Some TV seem to induce a x2 scale in the display server whatever the resolution is. I have the same case at work but it's more a Qt issue than a VLC issue so it's difficult to fix correctly. Even more, it's difficult to know whether you want a scaled display or not on a TV, as you want it more often than not but it's annoying in the cases you don't. The saner way to handle this would be a TV or display server setting but I'm not sure it's very accessible for a lot of people.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

You can check the reported output size in 'xrandr' command. With that and the resolution, you can deduce the pixel density.

AFAIK, the data comes from the EDID.

[Buddy-Matt]

Hi all,

same problem here.

QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 worked for me for general UI - but the font stayed huge,

Using QT_SCALE_FACTOR=0.6 does the trick though, including font size.

OS: Fedora 29

[Zasinas]

Hello guys, maybe some1 knows how to reverse it. ? My controls are very small, but upper menu is normal size (i'm running 4k TV, scaled x4) Maybe some1 knows a solution ?
UBUNTU 18

[unidan]

Hi, try this

Code: Select all

QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 vlc

[diskdusk]

I have the same problem, but it just suddenly switched to the giant interface after running fine on my 55' 4k TV for a few months. The interface is so giant now that I can't even see all options in the preferences menu. What did I do to change it? And how can I change it back without working with some kind of code or whatever you are using here? I mean, it worked at some point...

edit: oh, sorry, I came here via google and saw that this is linux specific too late. I'm running Windows 10. Will ask in that subforum again.

[unidan]

@diskdusk, It also applies to windows, you can put the environment variable globally.

[ineuw]

A very late comment. Having had the same issue, I tested

Code: Select all

export QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=0 vlc OR export QT_SCALE_FACTOR=1 vlc

in the ~/.profile file. Either one works for me in LM19.1 Cinnamon

[Pekolow]

Thanks Ineuw it is never to late because i can try your solution and maybe i am lucky bad news is that my cli linux skills are too poor, so i have to beg my buddy to take over.

But the good news is i do run Cinnamon 19.1 and i have the exact same issue.