Why can't "Default" be the default aspect ratio anymore?

[Demogorgon]

Every time I open a new video in VLC, I have to either scroll through aspect ratios by hitting A about nine times, or select Video > Aspect ratio > Default after I change the video to Full Screen. It will stretch it to fit my HDTV.

This permanent problem started about 3 months ago. It used to never happen. Trashed the preferences file. No change.

Any idea what's going on?

Mac Mini 2018 • OS 12.0.1 • VLC 3.0.4

[MickM]

I also came here to register an issue with aspect ratios in movies. I converted several VOB movies (which play just fine in VLC) to MKV and I'm seeing bizarre aspect ratios for several of the mkv files when played in VLC. I tried playing the offending mkv files in a few other video players and they all displayed the video with the normal aspect ratio, so this is definitely a VLC thing. I'm running VLC 3.0.16. I did also download and try VLC4 to see if that was any different. It just filled and matched the aspect ratio of the screen, which is different but also not right. Has this issue already been confirmed and logged as an official bug? If somebody would like it, I can post a link to a video exhibiting the issue.

(Captain's personal log: OMG what a completely horrible GUI VLC4 has! I realize it's still in beta, but still...)