Howto: Running VLC Player as root Linux | Ubuntu | RHEL | CentOS | Fedora
Hello,
This article will help those people who wants to Run VLC Player as root on Linux.
There are not so many ways to make VLC Player work as root, and I have found this way is very easy and fast to make VLC Player Work as root.
Let me make one thing more clear that VLC is not only media player it can do so many things and Running VLC as root is very very risky. So think many times before you run VLC as root.
I have only tested that VLC can open using root user, have not tested other features. So take a note of this.
DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Before starting it let me tell you that please take a backup of original VLC file so you can recover if anything worst.
Perform following steps to Run VLC Player as root :-
1) Install Hexedit Package for your System
=> Package For Red Hat Entrprise Linux 5.x :-
For 32-Bit Architecture Users :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# wget -c http://www.tejasbarot.com/RPMs/hexedit-1.2.12-10.el5.i386.rpm
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# rpm -Uvh hexedit-1.2.12-10.el5.i386.rpm
For 64-Bit (X86_64) Architecture Users :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# wget -c http://www.tejasbarot.com/RPMs/hexedit-1.2.12-10.el5.x86_64.rpm
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# rpm -Uvh hexedit-1.2.12-10.el5.x86_64.rpm
=> Package For Red Hat Entrprise Linux 6.x :-
For 32-Bit Architecture Users :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# wget -c http://www.tejasbarot.com/RPMs/hexedit-1.2.10-1.el6.rf.i686.rpm
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# rpm -Uvh hexedit-1.2.10-1.el6.rf.i686.rpm
For 64-Bit (X86_64) Architecture Users :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# wget -c http://www.tejasbarot.com/RPMs/hexedit-1.2.10-1.el6.rf.x86_64.rpm
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# rpm -Uvh hexedit-1.2.10-1.el6.rf.x86_64.rpm
=> Ubuntu User can Execute Following command :-
root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot:~# apt-get install hexedit
2) Now Execute Following command take backup of Original VLC Command :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# cp -p /usr/bin/vlc /usr/bin/vlc_original_bin
3) Now Open /usr/bin/vlc into hexeditor, Execute Following command :-
[root@linux-support-ahmedabad-tejas-barot ~]# hexedit /usr/bin/vlc
4) Now Press “TAB” Key.
5) Now Press “CTRL + s” to search ASCII String.
6) In Search Box, Now Type “geteuid” and Replace it with “getppid”
7) Now Press “CTRL + x” to Save the file.
8) That’s it. Now You can Open VLC using Command and From Menu too.
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Enjoy VLC Player 
Enjoy VLC Player as root Enjoy Linux Enjoy Open Source
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Because when the screw up their system, they run to the support forums to help them dig themselves out of the hole they dug themselves into. Is that fair? No it’s not. It’s not needed and achieves nothing. It only serves to waste peoples time fixing an issue which could have easily been avoided by running your OS correctly.
Hello,
I am clearly mentioning the risk and if anyways somebody wants to perform then what is your problem ? If they know the risks and still they want to do the same then i don’t think so there should be any problem to any one.
Don’t you think so ?
Your user will have read access to the data, so it’s not needed. Running stuff as root when not needed is bad for security, like the Morons logging in as administrator to play games and check email, then wondering why the get viruses etc because the browser is running with admin privileges.
Hi Tejas,
Please help me to install VLC ..
Thanks
Action Parsnip
yeah ur right buddy
vlc is not made to be run as root user , but its just for knowledge purpose , know the tricks how u can do it but dont do it really 
..
Hello,
Yes, This script will only work if you have direct internet connection. I would suggest you to configure proxy on terminal, After that it will work.
You are getting permission denied because You are trying to Install RPM with Non-Privileged User.
Hope this helps.
I am using internet using “use system proxy setting” option.
is the issue why ?
I want run VLC root or normal user any one.
when we install the RPM it gives this error with normal user.
[normal-user ~]$ rpm -ivh avrc6-tejas-barot-linux-0.1.0-1.el6.i386.rpm
error: can’t create transaction lock on /var/lib/rpm/.rpm.lock (Permission denied)
Hello,
Your Internet is Running Directly or using proxy ?
Hello,
Simple, Because I want to run VLC as root.
Sorry , Its centos 6.0. I have written wrong version.
for this what should do us ???
Plz reply ASAP.
Thanks
Yes VLC is coded to not to be ran as root, it’s not needed and not secure. why are you even running VLC as root?
Hello,
This is because you are executing wrong script on your Distribution.
If you want to install on CentOS/RHEL 5.x then go through below link :-
http://www.tejasbarot.com/2011/02/15/howto-installing-vlc-player-on-linux-using-script-rhel-5-x-centos-5-x/
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I like ur VLC player and trying to install on centos 5 linux version.
when i tried as root user it says
[OUTPUT EDITTED]
Thanks
Reply to – Action Parsnip
buddy u need to be geek user if u run vlc as root user
if u are linux master then u can run , coz anything awful happens u can rectify it , if u aren’t a pro user then its better to run vlc as standard user
.. Vlc is a third party package not suggested by redhat , if u install it using centos repos or fedora then run it as standard user else every time that selinux AVC DENAIL POPs up
and tejas has also mentioned it in post that its depends upon u if u wana run vlc as root … its clear and simple
Hello,
If you don’t like to run VLC as root or any other Applications then it doesn’t mean everybody thinks the same.
What’s the point? Don’t you think the guys that make VLC know a little bit about why it’s bad and so have put this check in place. What sort of moron uses this let alone spends time working out how to get around it. It gains you nothing and running apps as root when it isn’t needed is retarded.
No problem. I know how easy it is to start a flame war with all the “sudo ftw!” vs “just work as root” supporters.
I have tried before same way which you have mentioned, but it wasn’t worked for me. I will try on some other distribution and if that worked then i will update the same.
Oh Okay, Sorry for the same.
Sorry as there are so many peoples are waiting for some post to start shouting that is why my answer was like that, I am sorry again.
In Most cases, There are so many users who works as root and i have seen so many peoples who only likes to work with root and as you know VLC is best open source media player so those users do not want to login as another user and all that so they want to run VLC root, So that is why i have posted the solution.
You don’t understand. I’m genuinely interested in knowing in which case(s) it is useful to ron VLC Player as root !
See Please Don’t start on this. There are so many users who have requested the same post and this post is for them only who wants to run vlc as root. So its not compulsory for everybody. If you like then follow it if you don’t then ignore it.
Could you please add an example of a case where someone could need to run VLC Player as root ?
Seriously.
Thanks for your comment.
a wow post by a wow guy .. doing awesome stuffz from long time
ty ty 