How to Uninstall VLC Media Player on a Chromebook

VLC Media Player is one of the most popular media players across platforms, and many Chromebook users install it either through Android, Linux, or occasionally as a PWA-style shortcut. However, if VLC is no longer needed, taking up storage, or not working properly, uninstalling it from a Chromebook depends entirely on how it was installed.

ChromeOS handles Android apps and Linux apps very differently, so the removal steps are not the same in every case.

Now, if you are here reading about how to uninstall VLC Media Player on a Chromebook, we assume you want to remove it cleanly without leaving behind unnecessary files. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through all possible methods, step by step.

Check How VLC Is Installed on Your Chromebook

Before uninstalling VLC, it’s important to identify the installation type:

• Android app → Installed from Google Play Store
• Linux app → Installed via Linux (Terminal or .deb file)
• Web shortcut / PWA → Created from the browser

Each method requires a different uninstall process.

1. Uninstall VLC Android App from Chromebook (Most Common)

If you installed VLC from the Google Play Store, this is the easiest method.

Steps to Uninstall VLC Android App

1. Open the Launcher on your Chromebook.
2. Find VLC in the app list.
3. Right-click on the VLC icon.
   (On a touchscreen, tap and hold.)
4. Click Uninstall.
5. Click Uninstall again to confirm.

VLC will be removed immediately from your Chromebook.

Alternative Android Method (Via Settings)

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps → Manage your apps.
3. Find and select VLC.
4. Click Uninstall.

This removes the Android version of VLC and its app data.

2. Uninstall VLC Linux App on Chromebook

If you installed VLC using Linux, the app must be removed through the Linux environment.

Open Linux Terminal

1. Open the Launcher.
2. Search for Terminal.
3. Open the Terminal app.

Uninstall VLC via Terminal

If VLC was installed using the package manager:

1. In the Terminal, remove VLC using the Linux uninstall command.
2. Confirm the removal when prompted.
3. Wait for the process to finish.

Once completed, VLC will disappear from the Linux apps section.

Clean Up Leftover Linux Files

After uninstalling VLC, you can remove unused packages.

1. Run the Linux cleanup command in Terminal.
2. This frees up storage space used by unused dependencies.

3. Remove VLC Installed Using a .deb File

If you installed VLC by double-clicking a .deb file:

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Remove the VLC package manually.
3. Confirm the removal.

This method fully removes VLC from the Linux container.

4. Delete VLC AppImage (If Used)

If you used a VLC AppImage file:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to Linux files.
3. Locate the VLC AppImage file.
4. Right-click the file and click Delete.

AppImage apps don’t install system-wide, so deleting the file is enough.

5. Remove VLC Web Shortcut or PWA

If VLC appears as a shortcut created from the browser:

1. Open the Launcher.
2. Right-click on the VLC shortcut.
3. Click Remove or Uninstall.

This only removes the shortcut, not any system files.

What If VLC Won’t Uninstall?

If VLC refuses to uninstall:

• Restart your Chromebook
• Try uninstalling from Settings → Apps
• Use the Terminal method for Linux installs
• Make sure VLC is not currently running

For Linux apps, restarting Linux often fixes uninstall issues.

How to Confirm VLC Is Fully Removed

To confirm VLC is gone:

• Search for VLC in the Launcher
• Check Settings → Apps
• Look under Linux apps (if Linux was used)

If VLC does not appear anywhere, it has been successfully removed.

Should You Reinstall VLC or Use Alternatives?

If VLC wasn’t working properly, you can:

• Reinstall the Android version
• Reinstall the Linux version
• Use ChromeOS-native media players
• Use web-based video players

Sometimes reinstalling VLC fixes codec or playback issues.

Does Uninstalling VLC Free Storage?

Yes. Removing VLC:

• Frees app storage
• Removes cached media files
• Cleans Linux dependencies (if applicable)

On low-storage Chromebooks, this can make a noticeable difference.

Wrapping Up

With that, we wrap up our detailed guide on how to uninstall VLC Media Player on a Chromebook. Since VLC can be installed through Android, Linux, or shortcuts, the correct uninstall method depends on how it was originally set up.

Once you follow the right steps, VLC can be removed cleanly without affecting ChromeOS or your other apps. We hope this guide helped you uninstall VLC confidently and keep your Chromebook clean and clutter-free.