VLC Media Player is popular because it plays almost any video or audio format. But it has one annoying habit – resizing the window every time a new track starts. You might open a playlist with different video resolutions, and the window jumps from small to large or shrinks during an audio file. This guide explains how to keep VLC’s window size fixed across all tracks.
Why VLC Changes Size
Each video file carries its own resolution information. VLC adjusts its window to match that size automatically. If your playlist includes a 480p clip, a 720p file, and a 1080p movie, the player window keeps resizing.
It also happens with music tracks. When VLC plays an audio file, it shows album art or a visualization. These are smaller than a video frame, so the window shrinks.
How to Set a Fixed VLC Window Size
To lock your preferred window size:
- Manually resize the VLC window by dragging the corner to your preferred shape.
- Open Preferences > Interface and make sure “Resize interface to video size” is off.
- In the Video tab, set Zoom to 1:1 and keep Aspect ratio at Default.
- Some VLC versions have a “Remember window size” setting. Turn it on if you see it.
After this, play a few tracks in your playlist to test if the window stays the same.
On Windows
- Go to Tools > Preferences.
- Under Simple settings, click Interface.
- Uncheck Resize interface to video size.
- Switch to Video. Set Zoom to 1:1 and Aspect ratio to Default.
- Click Save and restart VLC.
If VLC still behaves oddly, DPI scaling might interfere. Right-click vlc.exe, go to Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings, and test different combinations.
Windows users often face resizing issues on multi-monitor setups or when mixing SDR and HDR videos. Keep VLC on one screen for stable playback.
On macOS
On a Mac, open VLC > Preferences. In Interface, uncheck “Resize interface to video size.” Then, under Video, set Zoom to 1x.
Use the Window menu to adjust and test sizes with different clips. macOS sometimes stores window positions but not sizes. To make it stick, set your preferred size, then quit VLC. That saves the configuration file before closing.
These steps keep VLC steady whether you play a small clip or a full movie.
On Linux
Linux users can fix this easily too:
- Open Preferences > Interface and uncheck autosize.
- Under Video, set Zoom to 1:1 and Aspect ratio to Default.
- On Wayland, test windowed and fullscreen to check behavior.
- On X11, your window manager can also lock window geometry.
This prevents resizing even across mixed video resolutions.
Stop Shrinking on Audio Tracks
When you switch from a video to an audio file, VLC often resizes the window. This happens because the player displays album art or animated visualizations when there’s no video stream. The result is a smaller window that can look distracting or unprofessional during playback.
To fix this, open Preferences > Interface and uncheck Display album art during playback. This prevents VLC from loading album images as video frames, which is what causes the window to shrink.
Next, go to Audio > Visualizations and select None from the list. Disabling visualizations stops the program from switching to a smaller canvas size when playing songs or podcasts.
Once both settings are off, VLC keeps the same window dimensions used for the last video. Now, when you move between videos and music, the window remains stable and doesn’t collapse or resize unexpectedly.
Advanced: Control Through vlcrc
For deeper control, edit the VLC configuration file called vlcrc.
- Find the vlcrc file in your user configuration folder.
- Open it in a text editor.
- Search for lines mentioning interface resize or video geometry.
- Change their values to keep window size fixed.
- Save and restart VLC.
Always back up this file first in case something breaks.
Keep Playlists Stable
If you often play mixed-resolution files:
- Keep Zoom at 1:1.
- Disable “Fit to screen.”
- Group similar video resolutions in one playlist.
- Create a separate profile for music-only playback.
This keeps the experience smoother, especially when streaming or projecting videos.
Reset Preferences if Nothing Works
If VLC still ignores your settings, reset everything.
Go to Preferences > Reset Preferences, close VLC, and reopen it. Set only the sizing options first. Once stable, reapply your other custom tweaks.
Wrap-Up
Keeping VLC from resizing is simple once you know the settings. Disable “Resize interface to video size,” lock Zoom to 1:1, and turn off album art for audio. These small changes make playback steady across videos and songs.
Try it and see the difference. If a step looks different in your version, mention your OS and VLC version in the comments so others can share tips.