Things to do after installing Ubuntu 19.10. How to install all media codecs in Ubuntu – install audio and video codecs in Ubuntu. Learn how to install a full set of multimedia codecs in Ubuntu.
The first thing you should do after a fresh install is to update Ubuntu. It may sound strange because you just installed a fresh OS but still, you must check for the updates.
sudo apt-get update
Next, enable additional repositories for more software. Enabling all these repositories will give you access to more software and proprietary drivers.
Enabling Canonical Partner Repositories
Open Software & Updates from Ubuntu Dash. The “Other Software” tab is where you can enable Canonical Partner Repositories. The partner repositories offer access to proprietary and closed-source software and are disabled by default. If you wish to enable a partner repository, tick it, enter your password, click “Close”, and then click “Reload”.
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:
1. Support for MP3 and unencrypted DVD playback
2. Microsoft TrueType core fonts
3. Adobe Flash plugin
4. Codecs for common audio and video files
The Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a metapackage and below are some of the dependencies it contains:
- flashplugin-installer
- gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
- gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3
- gstreamer0.10-pitfdll
- gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad
- gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly
- gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse
- gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse
- icedtea6-plugin
- libavcodec-extra-52
- libmp4v2-0
- ttf-mscorefonts-installer
- unrar
The software in this package is not included in Ubuntu by default because Ubuntu maintainers want to include only completely free software in out-of-the-box installations. The software in this package may be closed-source, encumbered by software patents, or otherwise restricted.
According to Ubuntu
Ubuntu strives to make all of the most important software available to its users automatically. However patent and copyright restrictions (see Ubuntu License Policy) complicate distribution of software to support non-free formats.
However, you can install the ability to play popular non-free media formats, including DVD, MP3, Quicktime, and Windows Media formats, by following the instructions below. Ubuntu’s commitment to only include completely free software by default means that proprietary media formats are not configured “out of the box”. See Ubuntu’s Free Software Philosophy and the Free Formats page for a more comprehensive discussion of these issues.
Legal Notice Patent and copyright laws operate differently depending on which country you are in. Please obtain legal advice if you are unsure whether a particular patent or restriction applies to a media format you wish to use in your country.
For example, the Adobe Flash plugin is a closed-source piece of software. Additionally, many multimedia formats such as MP3 and H.264 are patented. In countries where these patents apply, legally distributing software that use these formats may require paying licensing fees to the patent owners.
Install multimedia codecs in Ubuntu
Run the following commands in terminal to install multimedia codecs in Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo apt-get update
Add libdvdccs
In addition, in order to play DVDs, you need to install libdvdcss by entering the following in a terminal:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
If you are using regular, stock Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
If you are using Kubuntu:
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-restricted-extras
If you are using Xubuntu:
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-restricted-extras
If you are using Lubuntu:
sudo apt-get install lubuntu-restricted-extras
Add libdvdccs
In addition, in order to play DVDs, you need to install libdvdcss by entering the following in a terminal:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
For more help, visit:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats