VLC Media Player has received its first update of the year, marking over a year since its last refresh. The new version, VLC 3.0.22, is part of the ongoing 3.0 series that started in 2018. The development team, Vidéolan, continues to maintain this series while also working towards the anticipated VLC 4.0.
On September 19, the VLC 3.0.22 was tagged as a release candidate, with a stable version expected to be released soon pending final testing. The update brings several improvements, including a record number of security fixes, supported by a Sovereign Tech Fund grant.
What’s New in VLC 3.0.22?
Some of the notable changes include:
- Security Enhancements: This release boasts the most security fixes of any prior version.
- Windows ARM64 Builds: VLC now officially supports Windows ARM64 architectures and adds support for AMD’s Frame Rate Doubler feature.
- Legacy OS Support: The update restores compatibility with Windows XP SP3, catering to users who enjoy using older systems.
- Renaming Files: Users can now rename, move, or delete files that are actively being played on Windows.
- Qt Support: VLC 3.0.22 includes support for both Qt 5 and the newer Qt 6 frameworks.
Additionally, a ‘dark mode’ option has been included, allowing users on Windows and Linux to enable this feature in their preferences—bringing it in line with existing macOS support.
Media Playback Improvements
Updates to decoders and demuxers feature prominently in the new release, with various fixes and enhancements, such as:
- Addressing issues with Opus audio channel mapping.
- Improving hardware-accelerated playback for specific formats.
- Enhanced support for codecs, including A_ATRAC and better JPEG display management.
For users wanting to try VLC 3.0.22, it is currently in release candidate status and can be downloaded from the official project code page. However, once the stable build is released, it will not be included in the regular Ubuntu repositories but can be easily installed through alternative sources like Flathub or Snap Store.
For those not particularly in need of the new features, the existing version in the Ubuntu repositories remains functional and receives critical updates.