Play DVDs on Linux Easily: Use MPV or VLC for Seamless Playback

Well, well, well, so you want to watch a DVD on your Linux, huh? It ain’t that complicated, even though it might sound a bit fancy. You just need a couple of tools and a little bit of patience. Now, don’t go worrying about it, ’cause I’m here to guide ya through it step by step. Just follow along, and you’ll be watchin’ your DVD in no time.

First Thing’s First: Do You Have the Right Tools?

Now, before we start, we gotta make sure you got the right stuff on your computer. Most folks these days use a thing called VLC, and I’m gonna tell you it’s probably the easiest way to get your DVD playin’ on Linux. VLC is a free tool, and it don’t cost ya a penny. You can get it from your software center or use the terminal to install it.

Here’s how you can do it:

• If you’re using Ubuntu or something like it, just open up that terminal thingy and type: sudo apt-get install vlc.
• On Fedora, type: sudo dnf install vlc.
• For other Linux flavors, just go to their software center and search for VLC.

Now, once that’s installed, we can move on to the next step!

Pop in That DVD!

Alright, after you got VLC installed, it’s time to stick your DVD into the drive. I know, I know, a lot of folks are usin’ those fancy hard drives and stuff now, but let’s not forget about the old DVD! Once you put it in, VLC should pop up automatically and start playin’. If it don’t, don’t panic. We can fix that!

Manually Open the DVD in VLC

Sometimes, the thing don’t work automatic-like. But no worries, it’s simple to open it manually. You just need to open VLC yourself and go to the “Media” tab. You should see an option called “Open Disc”—click that. Then, choose the DVD option, and VLC will take care of the rest. Just sit back and relax while it starts playin’.

Dealing With DVD Playback Issues

Now, sometimes DVDs don’t want to play on Linux right away. This can happen ‘cause of certain restrictions on DVDs, like the copy protection they use. But don’t fret, there’s a way around that too. You’ll need a little tool called libdvdcss, and it’ll help you play those protected DVDs.

Here’s how you can get it:

• On Ubuntu, just open the terminal again and type: sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2.
• For Fedora or CentOS, you might have to get it from a third-party repository, so search around for the proper way to do that on your distro.

Once you get libdvdcss installed, try playin’ your DVD again, and it should work like a charm!

Other Ways to Play DVDs on Linux

If VLC ain’t your thing, there’s other options out there. One is MPV, a real lightweight player. It’s not as fancy as VLC, but it gets the job done, and it runs real smooth. You can install MPV the same way you did VLC. Just use the terminal and type:

• For Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install mpv.
• For Fedora: sudo dnf install mpv.

Once that’s installed, you can use MPV from the terminal too. Just type: mpv /dev/dvd to start playin’ your DVD.

Bonus: Play Blu-ray on Linux

Now, if you’re fancy and want to play Blu-ray discs, that’s a whole different ball game. Blu-rays have their own set of protections, and it’s a bit trickier. But it can still be done with VLC if you get the right libraries installed. Again, you’ll need libbluray and a few other tools. It ain’t the easiest setup, but it’s possible.

But I’ll tell ya, if you’re just after a DVD, don’t worry about all that Blu-ray stuff. Stick to regular DVDs, and everything should be good!

What If VLC and MPV Ain’t Workin’?

If you’re still having trouble with those DVD players, maybe you need a different approach. There’s a program called Totem (it’s also called “Movie Player” on some Linux versions). It’s simple and can handle DVDs too. But sometimes it’s a bit picky about what it can play, so you might need to install extra plugins for it to work right.

To get Totem, just search for it in your software center or install it via terminal:

• For Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install totem.

Once it’s installed, give it a try. Hopefully, your DVD will start playin’ without a hitch!

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! Whether it’s VLC, MPV, or Totem, there’s plenty of ways to get your DVD playin’ on Linux. It ain’t too hard once you know the ropes, and now you’re all set to watch those DVDs on your computer. Remember, if you run into any issues with copy protection or anything else, you just gotta get the right tools installed. It might take a minute, but with a little patience, you’ll be watchin’ your favorite movies in no time.

Tags：[Linux DVD player, how to play DVD on Linux, VLC Linux, MPV Linux, Totem Linux, play DVD on Ubuntu, Linux multimedia player, DVD playback on Linux]