Encrypted DVDs – How to Play Encrypted DVD Movies

codecsdvdvideo player

My machine can't play encrypted DVDs on a fresh install. How do I add this capability? Another useful bit of information would be what programs are best for playing DVDs, once I'm able to do so. See the similar question here. Will I be able to play DVD movies from any region?

Best Answer

To Enable Playback:

  1. Install libdvdread4:

    sudo apt install libdvd-pkg

    Note: You may have to enable multiverse to install this package.

  2. Then install libdvdcss:

    1. Ubuntu 20.04 onward See this answer instead.

    2. Ubuntu 15.10 to 19.10

       sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg

      Then follow the instructions to let it download and compile.

    3. Ubuntu 12.04 to 15.04

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

    (More about libdvdcss here.)

Best Players:

According to the Ubuntu Wiki, Kaffeine, MPlayer, xine, Totem-xine, VLC, and Ogle will play DVDs with libdvdread and libdvdcss installed.

I use both Totem and VLC to play DVDs. It's useful to have both installed, because sometimes one will have a playback quirk that the other will not.

Regions:

I believe playback will work in any region.

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