Tech Notes: Ubuntu 20.04 cannot play video
8 min readDec 3, 2020
I made a movie using ffmpeg but I could not play it on Ubuntu 20.04! It turns out that there are some copyright and legal things associated with it. In order to enjoy videos on Ubuntu, you will need the package called ‘Ubuntu Restricted Extras’.
Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a software package for the computer operating system Ubuntu that allows the user to install essential software which is not already included due to legal or copyright reasons.
It is a meta-package that installs:
Support for MP3 and unencrypted DVD playback
Microsoft TrueType core fonts
Adobe Flash plugin
codecs for common audio and video files
(From Wikipedia)
The following steps are from Tiwo Satriatama on YouTube, who posted the whole process in the text content below the video (credit to Tiwo!). I am posting this note based on Tiwo’s note and my installation.
First, check the ‘Community-maintained free and open-source software (universe)’ and ‘Software restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse)’ in ‘Software & Updates’ window. As URE will be downloaded from the multiverse.
Second, type the following command in terminal: sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras . Then you will enter a user agreement interface. Thanks to Tiwo’s note. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to click <ok> button in the terminal. This is what you should do: hit the Tab key to select OK, mouse click does not work, hit Enter key, and choose Yes when asked about End User License Agreement.
The process will output the following content on the screen:
(terminal):sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extrasReading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libfprint-2-tod1 libnvidia-cfg1–440 libnvidia-extra-440 linux-headers-5.4.0–52
linux-headers-5.4.0–52-generic linux-image-5.4.0–52-generic
linux-modules-5.4.0–52-generic linux-modules-extra-5.4.0–52-generic
python3-click python3-colorama
Use ‘sudo apt autoremove’ to remove them.
The following additional packages will be installed:
cabextract chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra gstreamer1.0-libav
gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-vaapi liba52–0.7.4 libaribb24–0
libavcodec-extra libavcodec-extra58 libdvdnav4 libdvdread7
libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0–0 libmpeg2–4 libmspack0 libopencore-amrnb0
libopencore-amrwb0 libsidplay1v5 libva-wayland2 libvo-amrwbenc0
ttf-mscorefonts-installer ubuntu-restricted-addons unrar
Suggested packages:
gstreamer1.0-vaapi-doc libdvdcss2 sidplay-base
Recommended packages:
gstreamer1.0-fluendo-mp3
The following packages will be REMOVED:
libavcodec58
The following NEW packages will be installed:
cabextract chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra gstreamer1.0-libav
gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-vaapi liba52–0.7.4 libaribb24–0
libavcodec-extra libavcodec-extra58 libdvdnav4 libdvdread7
libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0–0 libmpeg2–4 libmspack0 libopencore-amrnb0
libopencore-amrwb0 libsidplay1v5 libva-wayland2 libvo-amrwbenc0
ttf-mscorefonts-installer ubuntu-restricted-addons ubuntu-restricted-extras
unrar
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Fetched 185 kB in 1s (229 kB/s)These fonts were provided by Microsoft “in the interest of cross-
platform compatibility”. This is no longer the case, but they are
still available from third parties.You are free to download these fonts and use them for your own use,
but you may not redistribute them in modified form, including changes
to the file name or packaging format.Extracting cabinet: /var/lib/update-notifier/package-data-downloads/partial/andale32
.exe
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All fonts downloaded and installed.```
Looks like it also downloaded quite some fonts. Now we are all set to play the video!
Bingo!
