VLC Remote won't connect after updating VLC to 2.2.0

[Gazy Mahomar]

Problem summary:

I recently updated VLC to version 2.2.0 (Window, x64). Since then, I can't get VLC Remote to connect, but the web interface works fine from both my computer and my phone. VLC Remote finds my computer, but says it's unable to connect when I attempt to set it up.

What are the steps to produce the issue?

Try to manually add a computer on VLC Remote (either using the helper or inputting IP and password manually).

OR

Try to set up the computer from the Found Computers list.

What did you expect to happen?

VLC Remote should have successfully connected and set up the computer.

What actually happens?

I get a message saying that it can't connect to VLC

Which version of the app are you using?

(iPhone, iPad, Android - which version)

Android paid. App says v4.08 (001), Play Store says v4.12

Which helper version are you using?

(Mac, Windows - which version)

Windows, 5.48

You can see screenshots of the error message, as well as app version, VLC version, helper version and OS version here http://imgur.com/a/m54No

I've also included a screenshot showing that the helper responded to my phone when I entered the correct passcode and a screenshot showing a successful load of VLC's web interface from my phone's Chrome browser.

[Confused Vorlon]

Hi,

can you try adding the remote manually, rather than using the pairing helper.

you'll need to enter 192.168.1.210 into the address (assuming your computer keeps a fixed IP address).

[Gazy Mahomar]

Hi,

Sorry I wasn't clear before. I've already tried that, with the same result.

[Gazy Mahomar]

In fact, I'd only ever done manual setups before. I tried the helper for the first time today, in case I was doing something wrong. I've been using VLC Remote for a few weeks short of a year now.

[Gaz]

I've tested this on two different networks with two different computers, and I'm getting the same result.

[Steve Densmore]

I'm experiencing this same issue.  I've tried all the steps mentioned above with no luck. 

[Confused Vorlon]

sorry this has gone so long without a response.

I can confirm that VLC 2.2 on Windows 7 connecting with android does definitely work!

things to check

1) make sure you have re-run the setup helper after updating VLC.

2) you'll find the 'connection help' button on the helper.

Please click on that and it should help you to run through the tests and troubleshooting to figure out what is blocking the connection.

If it doesn't, then please let me know what you get for each of the tests.

finally - upgrading VLC does occasionally seem to cause problems with the install. It's worth trying a complete uninstall and reinstall (and then run the setup helper)

[Gaz]

I figured out the issue. I restarted from scratch, going as far as deleting my personalized VLC configuration (not without backing up first :-P). The issue happens when setting a custom password. Once I reinstalled VLC and reran the helper, it started working. As soon as I changed the password to the one I had been using forever, even before I updated to 2.2, it stopped working. I remember the Android app used to have a custom password option, and the helper has one as well. When did the custom password option change on the Android app? I'm really not comfortable using default passwords, even for something as simple as the VLC web interface, and I'd really appreciate fixing the custom password option.

I did notice some strange behavior, though. Despite not being able to control VLC from VLCRemote, playback would still pause on incoming calls (which I've always kept on).

[Confused Vorlon]

great sleuthing - thank you.

that's a bug; vlc remote should recognise that the password failed and ask you for your password.

I'll log this bug and we should get fixed in the next batch of work on vlc remote.

thanks.

[Gaz]

Awesome! Thanks for the quick response.

[Alex Becker]

Thanks for posting this, this was my problem too with VLC 2.2.1. Interestingly, I have no problems on Windows 10 with setting a new password manually (In Main Interfaces > Lua > Lua http), but when I change the password from vlcremote on a Windows 7 device on the same network, it can't connect. It's especially frustrating because everything seems to work fine. I can see the http interface in a web browser at port 8080, I can run the setup helper successfully, and I can see the device from an android remote - I can even run the web pairing helper and it will tell me that the device has contacted the server! (And yes, I turned my firewall off to check that as well!) In the end, I had changed the password weeks ago, just changing it back to vlcremote fixed it.