Movies don't play in Linux lite

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66Drew66

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Hi, i'm running linuxlite on a Lenovo Thinkpad X240.

It will play youtube videos or videos in firefox but when I try to play a movie VLC opens and then does nothing.

Ive run sudo apt update

I'm running the latest version of VLC.

This produces the same result.

I installed Mplayer and this doesn't play either.

I have the same linuxlite download installed on my desktop and VLC plays with no problems.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
 


You may need some codecs installed. Go to a terminal and try this
Code: 
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

I'm not using linux lite at the moment so the package name may be a bit different than Ubuntus.
 
Thanks, that's updated the codec's.

The progress bar has an orange bar that moves along the length once but it's still the same.
 
Have you enabled DRM in your browser?
 
What types of files are you trying to play in VLC?
It might be a missing codec.
 
Do you get any error message ?....eg, unable to play the file...

It is unlikely to be a codec issue, because the version of VLC which is supplied with Linux lite has all codecs inbuilt.

Which leaves either the file you are playing....or the Lenovo Thinkpad

Have you made any changes?
Is the Install of Linux Lite recent?
Did you change the kernel?
Do you have Timeshift set up.......so that you could go back to a recent snapshot to see if there is any improvement...

Are you using the vlc which comes preinstalled?.....or have you installed the latest and greatest over that ?
 
Last edited:
Also, if you’re having problems with DVD playback, you’ll need to install libdvdcss.
It’s been years since I last did a Linux install, but instructions for installing libdvdcss for Linux are on the web. I’m pretty certain the at the process is documented on the VLC website/wiki.
 
It's a new install last week.
It's an mp4 file that I'm trying to play.
I have the same installation on my desktop and that plays the file with no problem.
There are no changes other than updates to the systems.
I've used handbrake to convert the file and vlc then plays the file so the file isn't the issue.
I don't understand why the same file won't play from the same memory stick on the different systems.
I'm a newbie to linux so please keep answered simple.
Thanks
 
Open VLC, go to Tools and click on Preferences. Go to the Video section and enable video, in case it is un-clicked. Then check the box for Window decorations, if it is un-clicked. Then set the Output drop-down menu to X11 video output (XCB) and save the changes and restart your VLC Player for the changes to come useful.

The snapshot mentioned above explains you perfectly on how to do it and get the file run smoothly on VLC.

Reason 3: The MP4 video codec problem maybe the third reason for which VLC Media Player does not play MP4

Solution: In fact, MP4 is a container video format which generally contains several audios, video, and subtitle streams. In the condition, If an MP4 file contains a VLC incompatible video codec, it will fail to play in VLC.

I have copied and pasted this from the net.
Try it while I search further
 
Will handbrake convert the mp4 file to an .avi or mkv ?

if it will do that easily...try it
 
Failing any joy there...try the below.

The suggestions made there make sense

I. VLC MP4 Hardware Decoding Limitation:​

If the MP4 video still cannot play back in VLC, chances are that it might contain too many subtitle tracks or rendering effects, which is difficult for hardware decoding and your video card doesn't like to accelerate.


Solution: Try disabling hardware video decoding in VLC​

1. Find it in Tools --> Preferences. Then in the lower left of the window, click to show all settings.

vlc-mp4-01.jpg


2. Now navigate to "Input / Codecs" --> "Video Codecs" --> "FFmpeg", in there you'll want to uncheck the box that relates to "Hardware decoding".

vlc-mp4-02.jpg


3. Close VLC and open it up again, load up your video and see if that works.


II. VLC MP4 Codec Problem:​

VLC Plays most codecs with no codec packs needed: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 ASP, H.264, DivX 4/5/6, XviD, SV1, 3ivX D4 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVCMKV, AMR, WebM, WMV, MP3... HOWEVER, MP4 files containing codecs like H.265 and other VLC unsupported A/V codecs cannot be read by VLC.


Solution 1: Download VLC Codec Pack​

Try update your VLC to the latest version, and download VLC codec packs from CNET for this matter. There is not much to illustrate about this solution, since it is like "key-to-door" problem. Once you get the keys and you can open the certain door.


Solution 2: Convert MP4 codec to VLC supported codec​

Directly converting the MP4 videos into MOV or other files formats that VLC can handle is one of the most convenient way to avoid VLC not playing MP4 issue. If you are not sure about the target converting format, you can test a certain video format that can be played by your VLC to decide. Here, we recommend you some professional converters you might be fond of: EaseFab video converter; Any video converter; Handbrake, Freemake Video Converter. Whichever you choose, be sure that it supports the needed output formats.


Solution on MP4 Video Not Playing on VLC Player

The article introduces 3 common solutions to VLC player not playing MP4 issue and recommends Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) software as the ultimate solution.
videoconverter.wondershare.com videoconverter.wondershare.com
 
I've downloaded the codec pack, disabled hardware acceleration. The orange bar moves from side to side for longer but no movie.
I'm not sure of the format handbrake converts the file to.
I managed to convert one file last night but today handbrake won't recognise any source file. Probable a topic for another post.
 
If you are unsure of the format it is converted to, then that needs to be pinned down.

What format is the original ?.....why does it need to be converted ?
 
66Drew66 said:
I'm not sure of the format handbrake converts the file to.
Click to expand...
By default Handbrake converts to .m4v which is basically an iTunes mp4 file without the DRM protection - completely compatible with VLC
 
Is there drm on all video files in linux.
Is it specific to individual systems, I have other video files on a ssd and the files show on the drive but the files appear empty on the laptop.
Is that why vlc wont play the videos and why im having trouble with handbrake.
If so is there anyway around it.

All the files play on my desktop but don't play or show empty on the laptop.

Thanks
 
I don't know Linux lite but maybe vlc is installed as a flatpak/snap and needs permissions for reading the storage where the music is stored? Normally you get an error but maybe its worth a try.
 
Since mp4 is a container format (container means it's a wrapper around one of several codec types, avi is if I remember right also a container, as is I think .mov, but I don't remember all of them. Most video files that have video and sound are containers which use a video and an audio codec), run this, to avoid guessing and random tries:

ffprobe -hide_banner -show_format [fiilename].mp4

You want the line in the output that is: format_name=....

For a flac file:
Code: 
ffprobe -hide_banner  -show_format 05.Land.flac
Input #0, flac, from '05.Land.flac':
  Metadata:
    TITLE           : Land
....
  Duration: 00:06:54.63, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1601 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: flac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s32 (24 bit)
  Stream #0:1: Video: mjpeg (Baseline), yuvj444p(pc, bt470bg/unknown/unknown), 700x700 [SAR 72:72 DAR 1:1], 90k tbr, 90k tbn, 90k tbc (attached pic)
    Metadata:
      comment         : Cover (front)
[FORMAT]
filename=05.Land.flac
nb_streams=2
nb_programs=0
format_name=flac
format_long_name=raw FLAC
start_time=0.000000

Note the stream 0 and 1, those show the audio and video codecs being used (video appears here because of embedded cover art).

That's what you need the codec for. Basically rather than guessing randomly at the cause, find out what it is, then you can find out what you need to install to play it. Much easier that way. It might be a totally non free format in the container, with mp4 that's not very likely however.

Note that ffprobe is part of the ffmpeg package, it's the tool to, well, probe a media file to see what it is, it's structure, etc. Most tools in linux I think end up using stuff from ffmpeg behind the scenes, so there's no reason to add layers, just use the ffmpeg tools directly and you'll be much happier.

Note that there is no such thing as a 'movie' that "doesn't play in iinux", there's players, with varying capabilities, there's codecs, which the players use to playback the media files in for instance your case an mp4 container, so it's a question of player x doesn't play file type y which is made out of codec types a and b.

You'll hit the same exact issue on osx if you try to play a flac file, for example, or on most operating systems if you try to play a shn/shorten file, in those cases you have get the codecs installed to play them, or you need to get a player that comes with those preinstalled.

mkv is I believe another container format, but I don't deal much with video stuff in general, mostly audio, but the issue is the same there with containers and codecs. AAC is a raw data type, for example, but if you stick it in m4a or mp4 container, you gain some features and capabilities which the raw type did not have.
 
Last edited:
66Drew66 said:
Is there drm on all video files in linux.
Click to expand...
No - only what you downloaded and paid for whether from iTunes, Netflix, etc.

VLC won't play M4V videos that are DRM protected. VLC shows a black screen when playing DRM M4V videos purchased from iTunes. You have to remove the DRM from encrypted M4V videos you'd like to play in VLC - If you are using Handbrake the default convert is M4V but this format does Not have DRM protection
 
Condobloke said:
Failing any joy there...try the below.

The suggestions made there make sense

I. VLC MP4 Hardware Decoding Limitation:​

If the MP4 video still cannot play back in VLC, chances are that it might contain too many subtitle tracks or rendering effects, which is difficult for hardware decoding and your video card doesn't like to accelerate.


Solution: Try disabling hardware video decoding in VLC​

1. Find it in Tools --> Preferences. Then in the lower left of the window, click to show all settings.

vlc-mp4-01.jpg


2. Now navigate to "Input / Codecs" --> "Video Codecs" --> "FFmpeg", in there you'll want to uncheck the box that relates to "Hardware decoding".

vlc-mp4-02.jpg


3. Close VLC and open it up again, load up your video and see if that works.


II. VLC MP4 Codec Problem:​

VLC Plays most codecs with no codec packs needed: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 ASP, H.264, DivX 4/5/6, XviD, SV1, 3ivX D4 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVCMKV, AMR, WebM, WMV, MP3... HOWEVER, MP4 files containing codecs like H.265 and other VLC unsupported A/V codecs cannot be read by VLC.


Solution 1: Download VLC Codec Pack​

Try update your VLC to the latest version, and download VLC codec packs from CNET for this matter. There is not much to illustrate about this solution, since it is like "key-to-door" problem. Once you get the keys and you can open the certain door.


Solution 2: Convert MP4 codec to VLC supported codec​

Directly converting the MP4 videos into MOV or other files formats that VLC can handle is one of the most convenient way to avoid VLC not playing MP4 issue. If you are not sure about the target converting format, you can test a certain video format that can be played by your VLC to decide. Here, we recommend you some professional converters you might be fond of: EaseFab video converter; Any video converter; Handbrake, Freemake Video Converter. Whichever you choose, and I'm trying to run my bazoocam videos stream, but it's no use, and be sure that it supports the needed output formats.
Click to expand...

I'm a little perplexed. Can you please elaborate?
 
Last edited:
@tiyaalford
VLC, is a multimedia player similar to Windows Media Player, It works well with most media formats but not all, the H.265 codecs are needed in some countries especially for TV streaming,
Like WMP it is bulky and resource hungry, there are many players available in Linux,
If you are streaming through your browser, you will need to also enable DRM in the browser settings
 
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