This article originally appeared on ABACUS VLC -- a popular free and open-source media player -- will no longer be available for download on new Huawei devices, after the company behind the popular software blacklisted their phones. VLC’s parent company VideoLAN said the decision came after a number of VLC users started leaving negative reviews on the Play Store complaining of “ audio playback issues ”. And while those consumers seemed to blame VLC -- VideoLAN said it was actually the Chinese smartphone maker’s “ridiculous policy of killing all background apps” that was at fault. PSA: @HuaweiMobile phones are now blacklisted and cannot get VLC on the Play Store. Their ridiculous policy of killing all background apps (except their own) breaks VLC audio background playback (of course). See https://t.co/QzDW7KbV4I and many other reports... @HuaweiFr — VideoLAN (@videolan) July 25, 2018 So far it appears the ban affects the P10, P8 and P20 . All smartphone phone manufacturers try to extend battery life on their devices by limiting how much background apps are able to use battery power . But Huawei’s latest devices have an extra aggressive design that kills all background apps whenever they can -- meaning those trying to listen to music in the background are finding the app close in an attempt to save battery. Those looking for a workaround are in luck: VLC can still be downloaded directly from the VideoLAN site. And given the reaction on social media, it’s also possible Huawei might release an update to solve the issue. For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters , subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast , and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report . Also roam China Tech City , an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus .
