How to Hide VLC Controls in Fullscreen?

This article provides a quick, step-by-step guide on how to automatically hide or permanently disable the playback controls (the floating control bar) when watching videos in fullscreen mode using VLC Media Player. By adjusting a few simple preferences in the media player’s settings, you can enjoy a completely uninterrupted, distraction-free viewing experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Hiding VLC Fullscreen Controls

VLC Media Player includes a feature called the Interface Interaction Cone or Floating Control Bar that appears whenever you move your mouse in fullscreen mode. If this bar is staying on the screen or you want to disable it entirely, follow these steps:

Method 1: Adjusting the Hide Timeout

If you want the controls to disappear faster when you stop moving the mouse, you can change the timeout duration.

  1. Open VLC Media Player.
  2. Click on Tools in the top menu bar and select Preferences (or press Ctrl + P on Windows / Cmd + , on Mac).
  3. At the bottom left of the Preferences window, under Show settings, select the All radio button to switch to advanced settings.
  4. In the left sidebar, click on Interface, then expand it and click on Main interfaces.
  5. Select MacOS or Qt (depending on your operating system; Windows users should look for Qt).
  6. Look for the option labeled Show playing controls in full screen or Hide torrent/playing controls timeout.
  7. Change the timeout value (in milliseconds) to a lower number, or uncheck the box entirely to prevent it from popping up automatically.
  8. Click Save and restart VLC for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Disabling the Floating Control Bar Completely

If you prefer to never see the controller while in fullscreen, you can turn it off entirely.

  1. Go to Tools > Preferences.
  2. Keep the settings on Simple (the default view).
  3. Click on the Interface tab at the top.
  4. Look for the section labeled Look and feel.
  5. Uncheck the box that says Show controls in fullscreen mode (or Show video poster/controls depending on your VLC version).
  6. Click Save and restart the application.

Quick Keyboard Shortcuts for Fullscreen Navigation

Once your controls are hidden, you can still easily manage your playback using standard keyboard shortcuts so you don’t have to exit fullscreen mode: