VLC Media Player has so many features that most of us don’t even know about and mouse gestures is one of them. What it means is that it is possible to control the player and the aspects of it with the help of your mouse movements. Now usually, you do a mouse click on the VLC controls and menu items if you want to do something. But there are specific programmed VLC mouse gestures that you can use like moving your mouse up and then down will do something like mute the audio.

To use mouse gestures in VLC, you will have to activate it first. You also need to choose between left, middle or right mouse buttons to let the player know that you are performing a gesture. Then move your mouse and see the magic at work. Some users will find this method of input to control the player simple. Once you get the hang of it, using VLC mouse gestures you will be able to perform simple tasks like skipping the media forward or backward, changing video speeds or volume, navigating the playlist etc.

Here are the detailed steps to activate and use mouse gestures in VLC media player:

Step1: Activate

• Go to Tools > Preferences [CTRL + P].
• Click on All under show settings to go to Advanced settings.
  
• Navigate to Interface > Control interfaces.
  
  • Check the option that says Mouse gestures control interface.
• Navigate further down to Interface > Control interfaces > Gestures.
  
  • Change the Trigger button if you need to.
• Hit Save.

Restart your player by quitting it [Media > Quit or Ctrl + Q]. After you open it again, you will be able to use mouse gestures.

Step 2: Using Mouse Gestures

There are several mouse gestures that you can trigger by first clicking on the trigger button that you set and then moving the mouse in certain directions. You will have to remember these directions but they are set in a logical way like clicking and dragging the mouse towards the left will take you a bit back in the video or audio that is playing.

Here are all the possible mouse gestures (Remember to press the trigger button first):

• Move left: Navigate 10 seconds backward
• Move right: Navigate 10 seconds forward
• Move up: Increase volume
• Move down: Decrease volume
• Move left and then right: Toggle play or pause (Also works if you move right and then left)
• Move up and then down: Mute volume (Also works if you move down and then up)
• Move left and then up: Slow down playing speed
• Move right and then up: Increase playing speed
• Move left and then down: Play previous track of playlist
• Move right and then down: Play next track in playlist
• Move up and then right: Switch the audio track
• Move down and then right: Switch the subtitle track
• Move up and then left: Enables full screen
• Move down and then left: Exit VLC media player

It can get a bit confusing between similar gestures like moving up and left or moving left and up, but you will get used to it. Just remember, the most annoying one can turn out to be down and then left which quits the player. Enjoy memorizing and using these gestures. Sometimes, they can be advantageous or convenient over using keyboard shortcuts or on-screen menu items—especially if you’re already holding the mouse.