Home/ Questions/Q 13034
Next
In Process

askthedev.com Latest Questions

Asked: 2024-09-26T20:51:12+05:30 In:

After installing Ubuntu 22.04, I encountered an issue where the pre-installed video player does not play any video files. What could be the reason for this problem, and how can I resolve it?

I just installed Ubuntu 22.04 recently, and I’ve run into a really frustrating problem. It’s supposed to be a great OS, but for some reason, the pre-installed video player won’t play any of my video files. It’s so irritating—I’ve got a few movies and some videos from friends that I was really looking forward to watching, but every time I try to play something, it just doesn’t work.

I’ve tried opening various file formats too, like MP4 and MKV, but no luck with any of them. It’s like the player has just decided to go on strike or something! I figured maybe it was a codec issue since I’ve heard that can be a problem sometimes with media players on Linux. I mean, do I need to install some extra codecs or something?

I’m also wondering if it’s because of the way I installed Ubuntu. I chose not to include third-party software during installation. Maybe that was a mistake? From what I’ve read, some codecs or support for certain media formats might not be included by default unless you opt for that during installation.

Also, I’m not super tech-savvy when it comes to Linux, so I’d love some easy-to-follow steps if you have any suggestions. Should I download another media player entirely? I’ve heard good things about VLC—would that be a better option?

If anyone else has gone through this or has any tips, I’m all ears! I’d really appreciate any help you can offer. Just feeling a bit stuck here and would love to get back to watching my videos without any hassle. Thanks in advance!

Share

    Leave an answer

    You must login to add an answer.

    Need An Account,

    2 Answers






    1. Ubuntu Video Player Issues


      Video Player Woes on Ubuntu 22.04

      Sounds like you’re having a tough time with video playback on your fresh Ubuntu setup. It can be a bit of a hassle at first, but don’t worry; you’re not alone!

      First off, you’re likely right about the codecs being the issue. A lot of popular formats like MP4 and MKV can cause problems if you didn’t install those third-party extras during setup. Here’s what you can do to fix it:

      Install Missing Codecs

      • Open a Terminal (you can usually find it in your applications or just search for “Terminal”).
      • Type this command to install the necessary codecs:
        • sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
      • This will install a collection of codecs that should help your video files play.

      Try Another Media Player

      If you’re still having issues, or if you just want a player that generally works well with pretty much everything, I’d totally recommend VLC. It’s really user-friendly and handles almost any format you throw at it!

      How to Install VLC

      • Still in the Terminal, you can install VLC by typing:
        • sudo apt install vlc
      • After it’s done, you should find VLC in your applications, and it should play your videos without a hitch.

      Hopefully, this helps get you back to watching your videos without any more fuss! If you’re still stuck after this, just let us know, and we can dig a bit deeper.



    2. Your issue with the pre-installed video player not playing MP4 and MKV files is likely related to codec support. By default, Ubuntu does not include certain proprietary codecs due to licensing restrictions, especially if you chose not to install third-party software during the installation process. To resolve this, you can easily install the necessary codecs by opening a terminal and running the following command: sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras. This package will provide support for a variety of multimedia formats, enabling you to play the videos you’re trying to watch. Additionally, make sure you have the “universe” repository enabled, as this can help in accessing more multimedia-related packages.

      While the pre-installed player might work after installing the codecs, I’d recommend trying VLC as it’s widely regarded for its broad format support and user-friendly interface. To install VLC, simply run sudo apt install vlc in your terminal. Once installed, VLC should be able to handle almost any video format without the need for additional codecs. If you’re still experiencing issues, consider checking permissions on your video files or trying different players to see if the problem persists. Overall, following these steps should significantly enhance your video playback experience on Ubuntu.


    Related Questions