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VLC Shortcut Keys

AppsPlayback and volumeSubtitles and speedChecked 2 Nov 2026

Play or pause

Space

Full screen

F

Volume up

CtrlUp

Jump 10 seconds

AltRight

VLC shortcut keys put the whole player on the keyboard. Space plays and pauses, F switches full screen on and off, and Ctrl + Up or Ctrl + Down raises and lowers the volume. M mutes.

For skipping, VLC has four jump sizes: Shift + Right jumps 3 seconds, Alt + Right 10 seconds, Ctrl + Right one minute and Ctrl + Alt + Right five minutes; use the left arrow to go back. On a Mac, Command replaces Ctrl.

Quick facts

  • Play or pause

    Space

  • Full screen

    F

  • Volume

    Ctrl + Up / Ctrl + Down

  • Mute

    M

  • Jump 10 seconds

    Alt + Right / Alt + Left

  • Next subtitle track

    V

  • Snapshot

    Shift + S

VLC shortcut keys for playback

Playback
KeysAction
SpacePlay or pause
FFull screen on or off
EscLeave full screen
SStop
NNext item in the playlist
PPrevious item
ENext frame
TShow elapsed and remaining time
Ctrl + TGo to a specific time

Skip, volume and speed

Jumping and speed
KeysAction
Shift + RightForward 3 seconds
Alt + RightForward 10 seconds
Ctrl + RightForward 1 minute
Ctrl + Alt + RightForward 5 minutes
Ctrl + UpVolume up
Ctrl + DownVolume down
MMute
]Faster
[Slower
=Normal speed

The left arrow versions of each jump go backwards by the same amount. The mouse wheel over the video also changes volume, and VLC can go up to 200 percent, which helps with quiet recordings but can distort sound on small speakers.

Subtitles and audio tracks

V cycles through subtitle tracks, including off, and B cycles audio tracks, which is how you switch a film from Hindi to English when both are included. If subtitles appear early or late, G and H shift them by small steps until they match the speech; J and K do the same for audio that is out of sync with the picture. To load a separate subtitle file, drag it onto the playing video.

Keep the subtitle file in the same folder as the video with the same name, and VLC loads it automatically.

Picture and window keys

Display options
KeysAction
AChange aspect ratio
CChange crop
ZChange zoom mode
Shift + SSave a snapshot of the frame
Ctrl + HMinimal interface
Ctrl + LShow playlist
Ctrl + EEffects and filters
Ctrl + PPreferences

Snapshots are saved to the Pictures folder by default, named with the video title and time, so you can find the exact moment again later. Teachers use this to pull diagrams out of lecture videos for notes. To change any key, open Preferences with Ctrl + P, choose Hotkeys, double click an action and press the new key. For recording what is on screen rather than saving a frame, see screen recording shortcut.

When VLC keys do not respond

Problems and fixes
ProblemFix
Keys ignoredClick the video once so VLC has focus
Volume keys change system volumeThose are the keyboard's media keys; use Ctrl + Up and Down
Full screen will not exitPress Esc or F
Subtitles out of syncUse G and H to adjust the delay
A student revising from recorded lectures plays them at a faster speed with ], uses Alt + Left to replay a missed point, and presses Shift + S to save the slide shown on screen.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic VLC shortcut keys?

Space to play or pause, F for full screen, Ctrl + Up and Down for volume.

How do I skip forward in VLC?
Alt + Right for 10 seconds, Ctrl + Right for a minute.
How do I speed up a video in VLC?

Press ]; = returns to normal.

How do I change subtitles in VLC?

Press V to cycle tracks.

How do I fix subtitle timing?

Use G and H.

How do I take a screenshot in VLC?
Shift + S.