5

I had several tutorial videos stored on my computer, I could run them all, while Ubuntu 16.04.was installed.
Since I have installed Ubuntu 18.10, it is not possible to play any video. I always get the message: File cannot be played, H264-Decoder is necessary.
In the Ubuntu Wiki can't find a solution.
Can someone help? Please!

singrium
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Georgios
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4 Answers4

5

Have you tried installing the restricted extras package? That normally covers most non-free media formats.

The command to use is:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Full instructions here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Mikebuntu
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1

Install VLC it comes with all the codecs you need.

Kristopher Ives
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  • Nope. VLS is unable to open the MRL 'file:///media/.../myfile.mp4. Check the log for details. – Al Lelopath Sep 10 '19 at 01:01
  • install vlc via snap snap install vlc. The vlc that comes from the apt repo was not playing mpeg4 on my ubuntu (18.04). PS: I have not installed the ubuntu-restricted-extras, just vlc. – nicolimo86 Feb 21 '21 at 10:37
1

The media player that comes with Ubuntu is unable to read *.mp4 files, so you have to install a media player that can read these special codecs, I suggest VLC.
To install it,
method 1:
run the following command from the terminal: sudo apt install vlc
method 2:
open ubuntu software (press the Windows button then type 'ubuntu software' in the search bar) then search for VLC and install it.

singrium
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  • VLC works. But I think it's a shme, that the mp4 Codec had been working in earlier editions (e.g. 16.04) of Ubuntu Video. – Georgios Dec 26 '18 at 11:39
  • Well, may be in 16.04, you already installed the mp4 codec that's why you didn't face the problem. – singrium Dec 26 '18 at 13:17
1

Support to decode MPEG-4 AAC is provided by gstreamer1.0-libav and to decode H.264 there is ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get install gstreamer1.0-libav ffmpeg

Aravind
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