Apple Remote does not control VLC.

macOS specific usage questions
knyttl
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Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby knyttl » 30 Jan 2016 21:28

My Apple Remote recently stopped working with VLC (2.2.1). It just launches iTunes, but VLC completely ignores it. I've tried to delete all the configuration directories, update the VLC player, but nothing helped. The configuration options for Apple Remote is enabled, of course.

I even tried to downgrade all the way to 2.1.5, but it did not help either.

Can I provide more details for debugging?

ajmas
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby ajmas » 18 Feb 2016 22:25

Which OS version are you using and which generation Apple remote?
Providing logs, messages, configuration info (VLC, OS, Hardware) and a clear explanation of the issue always helps the problem solvers help you, even if they don't end up solving the issue. Just think what you would need if you were solving someone else's problem. Additional: Always looking for eager and capable MacOS X developers to join the VLC team - for more information see here.

h3x6g0n
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby h3x6g0n » 23 Jul 2017 17:17

Hello there,

I'm a big VLC-fan, but I'm experiencing similar issues:

With the boxes 'Control playback with Apple Remote' , 'Control system volume with Apple Remote' and 'Control playlist items with Apple Remote' all checked in 'Advanced Settings', VLC keeps 'Fast Forwarding' when I press 'next' (short right click) on the Apple remote. While I used to be able to do both; short right click for 'Next' and when continuously pressed it would 'Fast Forward'. I really used these functions a lot and thoroughly enjoyed them. Also VLC keeps adjusting it's own volume instead of the system's.

Could these issues have to do with something I'm overlooking in the settings? Or is there a fix available for the combination of OS X 10.9, 2013 Apple remote and VLC 2.2.6?

Thx in advance,

Grtz h3x6g0n

dfuhrmann
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby dfuhrmann » 05 Aug 2017 08:41

Try to turn off the setting "Control playlist items with Apple Remote", if you want to to skip to next or prev playlist item. The text and description of that option might be confusing.

Also, did you restart VLC after changing the settings?

Lilly Begonia
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby Lilly Begonia » 15 Nov 2017 18:07

I'm having an issue too, my Apple remote will no longer control volume in VLC after upgrading to High Sierra. I'm currently running VLC 2.2.7 and everything else on the remote works but the volume. Scratching head....

Berliner
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby Berliner » 11 Oct 2019 12:57

Greetings from Berlin,

it seems that Catalina with its new implementation of 'Apple Music' replacing iTunes has borked the functionality of the Apple Remote with VLC (3.0.8). After a bit of troubleshooting I have been able to reproduce the following behaviour (on a 2012 Mac Mini):

If I reset all VLC preferences to default the Apple Remote partially functions: Play/Pause and Volume Up/Down function properly. No other buttons function except the FF button, which causes Apple Music to come to the foreground and go fullscreen. However, after that the remote stops functioning for VLC altogether. To get it to function once more, I must again reset all VLC preferences to default.

Hoping a fix is released sometime soon.

love VLC and it has been my go to media app for decades - thanks for all your work.

cheers,
Wm

gusdevices
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby gusdevices » 15 Oct 2019 13:50

Hello,

In Catalina, Apple Remote with original Apple IR receiver or compatible like SmartGUS, works with Apple applications:
- Music
- TV
- Keynote
- Quick Time Player

It does not worlk with numerous non-Apple applications:
- VLC
- Kodi
- Libre Office & Open Office Impress


However it works with Audirvana player.

Should be possible to update the Apple Remote support in VLC, with a Framework supported on Catalina.

gusdevices
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby gusdevices » 22 Oct 2019 10:54

Going further, it appears that the HID identifier of each remote key has changed in Catalina.
It had already changed in Leopard, so the application should care about the version of the AppKit to parse remote keys.

fkuehne
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby fkuehne » 25 Oct 2019 08:32

Yep, this will be fixed in version 3.0.9! Thanks for the sample device allowing us to do it!
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Blog: https://www.feepk.net

magnusega
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby magnusega » 21 Apr 2020 15:26

Yep, this will be fixed in version 3.0.9! Thanks for the sample device allowing us to do it!
Could you please let us know if there are any updates on this?
3.0.9 is not available yet except nightly builds. Are there any plans for 3.0.9 go public?

Thank you in advance.

dfuhrmann
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby dfuhrmann » 24 Apr 2020 22:42

A new release for VLC will be published very soon from now, which should include the fixes for Apple Remote.

asebsadowski
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby asebsadowski » 11 Dec 2020 00:34

Still not working for me.

asebsadowski
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby asebsadowski » 11 Dec 2020 03:24

I was using Airplay and it wouldn't work.

Now I am using the VLC app and Remote Playback.

fkuehne
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby fkuehne » 14 Dec 2020 07:11

Apple changed the Remote bits again for their latest macOS release. This will be fixed once more in this week's update.
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Felix Paul Kühne
Medic. VLC developer for appleOS since before you were born.
Blog: https://www.feepk.net

unblocktheplanet
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Re: Apple Remote does not control VLC.

Postby unblocktheplanet » 17 Jun 2022 04:41

Friend just gave me a 3rd gen Apple Remote. I don't use Apple TV. 2018
Mac mini OSX.12 5TB for video.
1) What VLC prefs should be ticked or unticked?
2) Fast forward & rewind, either in steps or continuous?
3) Any hints on functions of other buttons with VLC?
3) Activate screensaver option would be great, but not essential.
TIA! Love VLC!


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