How can I enable video and audio codecs?

Install this package via the command line:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Installing this package will allow you to play MP3 files, and to decode various audio formats such as LAME. It will also allow you to use Microsoft fonts, install the Java Runtime Environment, Adobe Flash, and play DVDs.

Additional reading: Restricted Formats, and Medibuntu.


Run the following in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras


To play encrypted DVDs, you must install libdvdread4, which is a codec allowing you to play them.

  • Run this command in a terminal:

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