A new version of the versatile VLC media player has been released — and would you believe it: the update is already available on Ubuntu!

VLC 3.0.5 isn’t dramatic; a minor update in the 3.x series, this is the first release of the player since the summer.

But the version uplift brings a bunch of bug fixes and security updates to the fore, particularly for third-party libraries. There are also performance tweaks and (though not relevant here) improved compatibility with macOS 10.14 and its newfangled “dark mode”.

A quick glimpse at the key changes in VLC 3.0.5:

New AV1 decoder based on dav1d library

Improved Blu-ray playback, menu access and seeking

Uses libaom decoder by default

Improvements for MP4, MKV, CAF and AV1 media

Better HDR support & tone-mapping

Improved Chromecast support

Updated Youtube support

Fix for subtile rendering issue

The VLC website offers a full change-log between VLC 3.0.4 and 3.0.5 if you fancy digging a bit deeper into the latest offering.

Install VLC 3.0.5 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and above

It’s easy to install VLC 3.0.5 on Ubuntu provided you’re running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS or later — and it’s all thanks to the Snap store.

You can install the latest version of VLC, which is packaged and maintained by VLC developers, from the Snap store via the Ubuntu Software:

Install VLC (Snap App)

Or via the command line:

sudo snap install vlc

If you don’t use the VLC Snap but regular repo version, don’t panic: you will get the VLC 3.0.5 update at some point in the next few weeks as a regular software update through the Software Updater app (unless you have disabled the ‘updates’ repo).

Don’t have VLC installed from the repo, but want it? Just hit this button to install from the Ubuntu Software app:

Install VLC (Archive)

Or run this command:

sudo apt install vlc