How To Fix VLC Chromecast Black Screen Issue?

Are you experiencing a black screen issue when casting VLC to Chromecast? This is a common problem that many users face, but don’t worry, we have got you covered. In this article, we will guide you through several methods to resolve this issue.

Understanding the Issue

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s important to understand the problem. When you cast VLC to Chromecast, you may encounter a black screen with only the title of the file displayed on your TV. This is usually due to the port VLC uses being blocked or a known issue with certain versions of VLC and Chromecast.

Solution 1: Opening the VLC Port

The first solution we suggest is to open the port that VLC uses. By default, VLC uses port 8010. Here’s how you can open this port:

1. Open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences.
2. Click on Show all settings at the bottom left of the window.
3. Navigate to Stream output > Sout stream > Chromecast.
4. Here, you will see the HTTP port. Make sure it’s set to 8010.

Next, you need to allow this port through your firewall. You can do this using either ufw or iptables. Here are the commands you need to run:

For ufw:

sudo ufw allow 8010

For iptables:

sudo iptables -I INPUT 1 -i eth0 -p tcp --dport 8010 -j ACCEPT

In these commands, sudo allows you to run commands with administrative privileges, ufw and iptables are used to manage firewall rules, and allow 8010 and -I INPUT 1 -i eth0 -p tcp --dport 8010 -j ACCEPT are used to open port 8010.

Solution 2: Disabling and Re-enabling the Audio Track

If the above solution doesn’t work, you can try this workaround:

1. Start streaming to your TV.
2. Disable the audio track in VLC.
3. The video should start playing.
4. Re-enable the audio track. It should play fine now.

Solution 3: Installing the VLC Nightly Build

This black screen issue is a known problem with VLC 3.0.6 and Chromecast version 1.36.140076. However, it is confirmed to be working with the nightly build of VLC 4.0.0-dev Otto Chriek (revision 4.0.0-dev-6281-gaf93e96577). You can install the nightly build by following the instructions in this How to install VLC’s nightly builds guide.

Solution 4: Configuring Your Firewall

If you have installed the VLC nightly build and still face the issue, it could be due to a firewall blocking the playback. Instead of disabling the firewall, you can allow the VLC port in your firewall configuration. Refer to this post for more information on how to configure your firewall to allow the VLC port.

Conclusion

We hope that one of these solutions has resolved your VLC Chromecast black screen issue. Remember, if you’re still having trouble, it’s always a good idea to reach out to the VLC support community for further assistance. Happy streaming!