VLC finally gets dark mode—and it’s more than just a cosmetic upgrade 🌓

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You may have been using VLC for years, but let’s be honest: its interface often felt like it was stuck in another era. With version 3.0.23, the world’s most popular media player finally addresses a long-standing and hard-to-justify gap—native dark mode on Windows and Linux.

On paper, it’s a modest change. In practice, it significantly improves day-to-day comfort, especially if you watch videos at night or already live in a dark-themed operating system.

A truly native dark mode 💻

Until now, enabling a “dark mode” in VLC meant resorting to workarounds: custom skins, unofficial themes, or experimental builds that weren’t always stable. VLC 3.0.23 changes that. Dark mode is now built directly into the app’s settings. Head to Tools > Preferences and simply enable “Use a dark palette” to switch the interface to night mode.

No plugins. No hacks. Just a first-class option, officially supported and maintained by the VideoLAN team, designed to work consistently across both Windows and Linux.

The biggest maintenance update in the VLC 3.x line ⚙️

Dark mode may be the most visible upgrade, but VLC 3.0.23 is also described as the largest bug-fix release in the entire 3.0 branch. Under the hood, the update delivers a long list of stability, compatibility, and security improvements.

Most third-party libraries have been refreshed, demultiplexers (the components that handle VLC’s famously broad format support) have been hardened, and several security vulnerabilities have been patched. The result is a player that doesn’t just look more modern, but is also more reliable—whether you’re playing local files, streaming over a network, or opening obscure legacy formats.

Windows, ARM64, old PCs: everyone benefits 🧩

Version 3.0.23 also continues the groundwork laid in 3.0.22, aligning VLC with today’s diverse hardware landscape. Windows on ARM64 is now properly supported, complete with a dedicated MSI installer, while compatibility with older machines has also been improved—extending as far back as Windows XP SP3 for certain use cases.

For many users, these changes will go unnoticed—and that’s exactly the point. Fewer crashes, fewer error messages, and a smoother experience when hitting play on a video or live stream.

So, will you switch VLC to dark mode, or stick with the classic interface? Have you noticed better stability—or run into new issues—with version 3.0.23? Let us know what you think in the comments. The discussion is open.