If you’re looking to delete your VLC library and start fresh, you’ve come to the right place. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of deleting your VLC library, ensuring that all the media files, playlists, and settings are completely removed from the application. Whether you’re experiencing performance issues, want to organize your library differently, or simply want to clear up space on your device, this guide will help you easily delete your VLC library and begin anew.
Understanding The Importance Of Deleting VLC Library
Deleting the VLC library is a task that many users overlook, but it can be essential for various reasons. Firstly, deleting the VLC library helps to free up storage space on your device. Over time, the library can accumulate a significant amount of data, including videos, playlists, and metadata. By deleting the library, you can regain precious storage space for other purposes.
Secondly, deleting the VLC library allows you to start fresh with a clean slate. If you’ve experienced issues with playback, crashes, or any other problems related to VLC, deleting the library can help resolve those issues. It removes any corrupted or outdated files that might be causing problems and ensures a clean installation when you set up VLC again.
Lastly, deleting the VLC library can help improve the performance of the media player. With a smaller library size, VLC can load and browse files more quickly, enhancing the overall user experience.
By understanding the importance of deleting the VLC library, you can proceed with confidence and optimize your VLC usage.
Step 1: Backing Up Your VLC Library
Before you proceed with deleting your VLC library, it is essential to back up your library files. This step ensures that you have a copy of your media files in case of any unforeseen issues or accidental deletions.
To back up your VLC library, you can follow these simple steps:
1. Launch VLC Media Player.
2. Click on the “Media” tab located in the top left corner of the VLC interface.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Open Media Library.”
4. In the Media Library window, click on the three horizontal lines icon in the bottom left corner of the window.
5. Select “Export Media Library.”
6. Choose your preferred location to save the exported library file.
7. Specify a name for the exported library file and click “Save.”
Once you have completed these steps, your VLC library will be successfully backed up, ensuring that your media files are protected. Now you can proceed with deleting the VLC library without the risk of losing your valuable media content.
#
Step 2: Accessing the VLC Library Location
In this step, you will learn how to access the location where VLC stores its library files. It is important to locate this folder in order to delete the VLC library successfully.
To access the VLC library location, follow these steps:
1. Launch VLC Media Player on your computer.
2. Click on the “Tools” menu located at the top of the VLC window.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Preferences” (or press Ctrl + P on your keyboard).
4. In the Preferences window, make sure the “Show Settings” option is set to “All.”
5. In the left-hand menu, expand the “Playlist” category.
6. Click on the “Services Discovery” subcategory.
7. On the right-hand side, you will see the path under the “Path to the VLC library” section. This is the location where VLC stores its library files.
Once you have accessed the VLC library location, you can proceed to the next step of deleting VLC library files. Remember to be cautious when deleting files, as it may affect your VLC playback history and settings.
Step 3: Deleting VLC Library Files
In this step, we will guide you through the process of deleting the VLC Library files. Deleting these files is important as it allows you to start with a fresh library or remove any unwanted or corrupted files.
To delete the VLC Library files, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer on your computer.
2. Navigate to the location where the VLC Library files are stored. Typically, this will be in the “My Music” or “My Videos” folder.
3. Once you have located the VLC Library folder, right-click on it and select “Delete” from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can also press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
4. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to delete the folder and its contents. Click “Yes” to proceed with the deletion.
5. Wait for the files to be deleted. This may take a few moments depending on the size of your library.
6. Once the deletion process is complete, you have successfully deleted the VLC Library files.
By following these steps, you can easily delete the VLC Library files and ensure a clean start or get rid of any unwanted files.
Step 4: Clearing VLC Library Cache
When it comes to deleting your VLC library, clearing the cache is an important step. The cache is a temporary storage location where VLC stores data to improve playback performance. However, over time, this cache can become bloated and take up valuable space on your device.
To clear the VLC library cache, follow these simple steps:
1. Launch VLC media player on your computer.
2. Click on the “Tools” tab located in the top menu bar and select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Preferences window, select the “Input / Codecs” tab on the left-hand side.
4. Scroll down to find the “Files” section and look for the “Cache” option.
5. Next to the “Cache” option, you will see a text field where you can specify the cache size. Enter a value (in megabytes) that suits your needs or choose the default value.
6. Click on the “Save” button at the bottom to apply the changes.
By clearing the VLC library cache, you will free up space on your device and ensure smoother performance. Remember to regularly clear the cache to maintain optimal playback experience with VLC media player.
Step 5: Removing VLC Library Entries
When it comes to deleting your VLC library, it’s not just about removing the files and clearing the cache. You also need to take care of the library entries stored within VLC. These entries are essentially the database records that keep track of your media files.
To remove VLC library entries, follow these steps:
1. Open VLC Media Player on your computer.
2. Click on the “View” menu at the top of the VLC window and select “Playlist” from the dropdown menu.
3. The playlist sidebar will appear on the left side of the VLC window. Locate the media files that you want to remove. You can browse through different playlists or use the search bar to find specific entries.
4. Right-click on the media file you want to delete and select “Delete” from the context menu.
5. A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you want to delete the selected file from the playlist only or from both the playlist and computer. Choose your preferred option and click “Delete.”
By following these steps, you can remove individual entries from your VLC library, helping you keep your library organized and up to date.
Step 6: Updating VLC Library Database
After deleting the VLC library files and clearing the cache, it is essential to update the VLC library database to ensure all changes are reflected accurately. Updating the database will refresh the library and remove any leftover entries or references to the deleted files.
To update the VLC library database, follow these steps:
1. Launch VLC Media Player on your computer.
2. Click on the “View” menu at the top of the VLC interface.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Media Library.”
4. In the Media Library window, click on the “Library” button located at the top-left corner.
5. From the Library menu, select “Search” or press “Ctrl + F” on your keyboard.
6. In the search box, type a random term and press enter to initiate the search process.
7. Once the search process is completed, exit the search window.
8. Your VLC library database is now updated and should accurately reflect the changes you made by deleting files and clearing the cache.
By following this step, you can be certain that your VLC library is up to date and does not contain any outdated or incorrect information.
Step 7: Verifying Successful Deletion Of VLC Library
After completing all the previous steps to delete your VLC library, it is important to verify if the deletion was successful. This step ensures that any remnants of the library are completely removed from your system.
To verify the successful deletion of the VLC library, follow these steps:
1. Open VLC media player on your computer.
2. Click on the “Media” tab in the menu bar and select “Open Recent Media” from the dropdown menu.
3. If you see any previously deleted media files or folders in the list, it indicates that the deletion process was not successful.
4. In this case, repeat the previous steps carefully to ensure all files, cache, and entries associated with the VLC library are removed.
5. If the list is empty or only includes recent media that you have not deleted, it confirms that the VLC library has been successfully deleted.
By verifying the deletion, you can ensure that VLC is no longer referencing any files or folders from the library, providing a clean start for managing your media files in the future.
FAQs
FAQ 1: Can I delete specific files from my VLC Library?
Yes, you can delete specific files from your VLC Library. To do this, open VLC Media Player and go to the “Media Library” section. Find the file you want to delete, right-click on it, and select “Delete” from the drop-down menu. Confirm the deletion, and the file will be removed from your VLC Library.
FAQ 2: Will deleting my VLC Library affect the files on my computer?
No, deleting your VLC Library will not affect the files on your computer. The VLC Library is only a database that contains references to the media files stored on your computer. Deleting the library will only remove these references, not the actual media files. Your files will still be available on your computer, and you can always add them back to your VLC Library if needed.
FAQ 3: How do I completely delete my VLC Library and start fresh?
To completely delete your VLC Library and start fresh, close VLC Media Player first. Then, navigate to the location where VLC stores its library files. Delete the “vlcrc” file and the “vlcrc backups” folder. These files contain the library information. Once deleted, open VLC again, and it will create a new library with default settings. Note that this method will remove all your library settings, including playlists, bookmarks, and any customizations you made.
Final Words
In conclusion, deleting a VLC library is a fairly straightforward process that can be completed in just a few simple steps. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, users can effectively remove unwanted files and clear up space on their VLC media player. It is important to exercise caution and double-check the files before deletion, as once deleted, the files cannot be recovered. Nonetheless, deleting a VLC library can help improve the organization and performance of the media player, ensuring a smoother user experience.