---
id: aiovlc
version: "0.7.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# aiovlc — Control VLC over telnet connection using asyncio

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 73.9K/mo

## What it is and what it does

aiovlc is a Python library that lets you control a running VLC media player instance over a telnet connection using asyncio. It wraps VLC's telnet remote control protocol in an async-friendly interface, enabling non-blocking, concurrent control of playback, volume, playlists, and other VLC functions from your Python code.

The package is lightweight with no external runtime dependencies, making it straightforward to integrate into async applications. It targets Python 3.13 and later and is actively maintained, though it remains in Alpha status with a small adoption base. It's useful for automation, testing, or building custom media control interfaces that need to communicate with VLC asynchronously.

Use it for:

- Automate VLC playback in test suites or CI/CD pipelines that need non-blocking media control.
- Build async media control dashboards or remote interfaces that send commands to VLC over the network.
- Orchestrate multiple VLC instances concurrently from a single Python application.
- Integrate VLC control into event-driven or reactive applications using asyncio.
- Monitor and control VLC playback state from a separate service or monitoring tool.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Control VLC media player over a telnet connection using Python's asyncio for non-blocking, concurrent operation.

Yes, if you need to control VLC from Python code using asyncio and can accept Alpha-stage software. The low install friction, permissive license, active maintenance, and zero runtime dependencies make it a reasonable choice for automation or integration tasks. The small user base and early maturity mean you should verify telnet setup requirements and test error handling for your use case before relying on it in production.

## Install

pip install aiovlc
uv add aiovlc
poetry add aiovlc

## Installing aiovlc

Before you install: Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained as of August 2026 with recent commits, though early-stage (Alpha) and a small user base.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install aiovlc

import asyncio
from aiovlc import VLC

async def main():
    vlc = VLC(host='localhost')
    await vlc.connect()
    await vlc.disconnect()

asyncio.run(main())

Requires Python 3.13 or later; VLC must be running with telnet interface enabled on the target host.

Verify before relying:

- Default telnet port and whether VLC telnet interface setup is documented or automated by the package.
- Supported VLC versions and any compatibility constraints beyond Python version.
- Error handling and reconnection behavior for network interruptions.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 73.9K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

vlc remote control asyncio, telnet vlc automation, async vlc client, vlc media player control, python vlc telnet, vlc-control, asyncio, telnet

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