I have somehow got two installations of VLC media player on my Zorin 17.2 Pro.
I have a working version of VLC which does exactly as expected.
I also have a context menu and application link across the OS for an uninstalled duplication of VLC.
Which means whenever I right click on a media file to open and run it, I am given two identical choices in the File Manager, with the default choice being a reference to an installation that no longer exists.
How do I clear up these context links that don't go anywhere?
Hopefully these screenshots can highlight the issue.
^^ The "Software" installer system only recognises a single instance of VLC , as shown. I am unfamiliar how else I can remove software otherwise, if needed (which to be honest doesn't look needed, see next screenshot: )
^^ Program list for the OS; showing two VLCs and one of which seems tiny filesize and redundant.
I have tried changing settings on here such as turning notifications on/off and trying to unset being a default handler for various file types but this doesn't appear to change anything (button remains saying "unset").
So, to reiterate - how can I get the OS context menu to only show one, installed, instance of VLC rather than two?
Thank you.
Edit: Yes I have seen the similar post about removing OpenOffice (or was it LibreOffice) from the home/Template; I have looked in Home/Template and no VLC instance appears there at all (and It doesn't need to tbh) . ref: [SOLVED] Remove LibreOffice from Context Menu (desktop and folders)
Do you had maybe installed the Flatpak Version from VLC? To check that open the Terminal and type flatpak list and check if it is listed in the Output.
Only flatpak list would be enough, but okay. Let's try something. Type in the Terminal sudo apt purge vlc to uninstall it. After that type sudo apt autoremove to delete Rests of Files. But please look before deleting the Stuff if there are any Zorin related Filesnames. When you have done this, check if there is still an VLC Entry.
Another Thing, you could check if it is a Snap Package with the Command snap list
To clarify; just in case - it appears that the original installation is not here, the issue is that there is "residue" that it's still in the context menu's
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
...
vlc-bin vlc-data vlc-l10n vlc-plugin-access-extra vlc-plugin-base vlc-plugin-notify vlc-plugin-qt vlc-plugin-samba vlc-plugin-skins2
vlc-plugin-video-output vlc-plugin-video-splitter vlc-plugin-visualization
Which looks promising. And then I've run your follow up terminal suggestions.
Ok this has caused problems. There are now only 1 option for VLC in the context menu and it doesn't open anything. Opening "Software" and viewing the VLC in the software hub it doesn't allow me to open it with the only option being "uninstall..."
I will restart just to clean up and see what's what.
UPDATE:
Ok after a restart I find that there is indeed only one VLC choice in context menus but the program itself won't run. Going into the Software Hub app, it states that VLC is not installed and I can install it.
After doing so (Zorin OS pack variant) , VLC runs, but the context menu's are back to square one with two choices only one of which works. So I've gone round in a loop!
Okay, I have VLC installed, too. So, I take a Look and I have a vlc.desktop File. but You have - shown on Your Picture above - a org.videolan.vlc.desktop File (sound like a Flatpak File) Could You double check if You have both Files on Your Machine?
This is as the status at the start of the question here; I've gone round a loop so I have a working version of VLC via the Software hub thing and a redundant context menu link .
Sorry, that you have a bad Experience at the Moment.
The Thing now for me is: the org File looks like a Flatpak File for me. But on Your Pictures above is to see that you have installed the Zoris OS APT Package. And I find that a bit irritating.
So, I would now make a Suggestion but you could be a bit annoyed about this. Sorry for that. But I will make it. Delete again Your VLC Installation with the purge and autoremove Commands from above what I wrote. After that look again if the VLC Entry is still there. Then search again for the vlc.desktop File and the org.videolan.vlc.desktop File and look if You find one of them.
Ok so I removed this line from the org.videolan.vlc.desktop file and renamed the file as vlc.desktop then restarted the OS.
This now works correctly, the context menu holds 1 copy of VLC and that copy opens correctly.
Thanks for your help here!
Edit: For future readers of similar issues; the vlc.desktop file is located in home/.local/share/applications there are many .desktop files here which are for other similar relationships on the OS.