VLC won't play DVD movies

Question

I installed VLC player on my Ubuntu 14.04 system. DVD movies won't play (no sound or picture) even though the computer tries to start the movie. What's wrong? Is the version wrong for Ubuntu 14.04?

When using install ubuntu-restricted-extras as described in the answer below, to accept the EULA agreement, hit Tab, then Enter, as in http://askubuntu.com/questions/16225/how-can-i-accept-the-microsoft-eula-agreement-for-ttf-mscorefonts-installer — Berry, Sep 13 '15 at 13:07

score 51 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 02 '14 at 02:13

51

Install package ubuntu-restricted-extras:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

then run:

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

to install libdvdcss2 library, that is not included in offical repos due to legal reasons. Now all DVD movies should play like a charm.

edited Aug 02 '14 at 02:13

CijcoSistems

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4
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answered Aug 02 '14 at 01:57

1

This also solved my problem with handbrake! – frepie Jan 23 '16 at 22:07
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There's no install-css.sh file in that directory. – Dean Schulze Jun 28 '16 at 02:27
12

I don't have the rep to post an answer: for Ubuntu 15.10 and newer, the libdvdread4 no longer contains the install-css.sh. Instead, run: 'sudo apt-get install libdvd-pkg'. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs for more details. – marts Sep 14 '16 at 13:37
This did not work for me running Ubuntu 16.04 and VLC 2.2.2 – The Duke Of Marshall שלום Jan 30 '18 at 00:39
This did not work for me running 18.10. – Lexible Apr 19 '19 at 23:05
1

This did not work in 20.04. /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4 no longer exists, and the corresponding libdvdread7 doesn't contain the install-css.sh script. – Calimo Dec 11 '20 at 09:39

khaverim · Answer 2 · 2023-09-21T01:26:50.527

28

Confirmed working from 16.04 - 22.04

sudo apt-get install libdvd-pkg followed by sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg

Then just drag-and-drop the IFO (usually VIDEO_TS.IFO) into VLC window.

This also is the official VLC solution.

edited Sep 21 '23 at 01:26

answered Feb 25 '17 at 19:15

khaverim

478

worked for me :D – btc4cash Jun 10 '19 at 17:12
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Also worked for me in 20.04.01 - would be nice if VLC had a dialog that said what the issue was, instead of just doing nothing trying to play DVDs! – Ruth Jul 10 '21 at 22:37
1

This works still in 22.04. Thanks a lot! – Ricky Robinson Sep 19 '23 at 10:16

score 13 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 15 '16 at 16:55

13

15.10 and upper

Copy to terminal:

sudo apt-get install libdvd-pkg

Then install something such as:

sudo apt-get install pyrenamer;
sudo apt-get remove pyrenamer;

to run building script of libdvdcss2.

15.04 and lower

Copy to terminal:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras;
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh;

answered Oct 15 '16 at 16:55

Bonn

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This worked for me running Ubuntu 16.04 and VLC 2.2.2 – The Duke Of Marshall שלום Jan 30 '18 at 00:39
This did not work for me running 18.10. – Lexible Apr 19 '19 at 23:04
why would you install pyrenamer and then remove it right away? – Ricky Robinson Sep 19 '23 at 10:17

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 16 '14 at 18:23

0

If you have the same problem with me because we open disk in wrong way, please try the following way:

http://howtoubuntu.org/how-to-play-a-dvd-in-ubuntu

First,      insert DVD and do nothing with it (no run, no open). 
Second,     launch VLC Media Player. You can find it by searching for VLC.
Lastly,     brown to DVD files by click File and select Open Disc.

answered Dec 16 '14 at 18:23

Van Nguyen

17

This did not work for me running 18.10. – Lexible Apr 19 '19 at 23:05

VLC won't play DVD movies

4 Answers4

15.10 and upper

15.04 and lower

Linked