Table of Contents
Ubuntu - Video - Install h.264 decoder
H.264 (High Profile) decoder is required to play the file, but is not installed.
Install all multimedia codecs
Ubuntu provides a meta-package named ubuntu-restricted-extras that consists of most of the common audio and video codecs along with some other packages like the Microsoft fonts.
- Install this package and this should resolve most media codecs issues.
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
NOTE: Since this meta-package contains software from Microsoft, you will have to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
- With the multimedia codecs installed, most media files should be able to be played (almost).
- This includes, mp4 and mkv video files; as well as mp3 music files.
Install the Bad gstreamer plugin
sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad
NOTE: Once this package is installed, open the video file again and see if it works now.
There is the option to click on the Find in Ubuntu Software button, but suggested not to.
- Clicking on that option opens the Software Center and it may (or may not) show some packages that will install the h264 decoder on your system.
- But it is not easy knowing which package to select in this case.
Install more decoders
There may be other video files that also require some other decoder.
sudo apt install libavcodec-extra gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-libav
Optionally, install a better video player (recommended)
Install vlc or mpv.
sudo apt install vlc or sudo apt install mpv