Ubuntu – VLC Plays Local Files, Does not Play Files on SMB Share

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VLC Media player is not playing files on my SMB Network Share, although it plays local media fine. I get this error when I try to play from the share:

Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'smb://pi@192.168.1.2/Files/Caden/Music/FINALE.mp3'. Check the log for details.

But, when I download the file, it plays it fine. Help?

EDIT: This is VLC's output when opened in the terminal:

VLC media player 2.2.2 Weatherwax (revision 2.2.2-0-g6259d80)
[0000000001c21148] core libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
KSambaShare: Could not find smb.conf!
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 5.0.3
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdread:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdread:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
[0000000001cefd68] core playlist: stopping playba

Best Answer

That's a known VLC issue. It never did. When you mount your network share, its files are also shown in the /run/user/your_user_id/gvfs folder. Locate the file you want to play in that folder and play it from there.

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – VLC does not plays video files

I had a similar issue with VLC media player on my 32bit laptop with Xubuntu 14.04 LTS. So I have tried different approaches, here's what solved it:

First put in terminal:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 libdvdnav4 libdvdread4
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
sudo apt-get install libav-tools
sudo apt-get autoremove

Then restart your pc. Afterwards, install the player "gxine". Don't know if both are necessary but I did it.

Try out a video file in VLC. If still not working, open VLC and go to

Tools > Preferences > Video

Make sure "Accelerated video output (Overlay)" and "Windows decorations" are checked. Look at "Output" and test all available options with a video that isn't working. See if you find an option that plays the video accurately. For me, it was "XVideoOutput (XCB)" but it could be a different one for your needs. You can leave the "Preferences" window open while testing. Videos should then also be working in gxine (don't ask me why, could be packages?).

To play encrypted DVDs look at this official site. Necessary packages are already included in code above.

Hope this works for you, too!

Ubuntu – VLC Pixelated Video When Skipping

Update 19th October 2016

I noticed that my Nvidia module was recompiled during an update today, so I rebooted and tested this again. It looks like the issue has now been fixed. For reference, I am running the driver version 367.57 on an Nvidia GTX 970.

Original Answer

TL;DR

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-* -y
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y

The critical point here is that installing the drivers PPA results in the libcuda1-361 libxnvctrl0 packages being upgraded which resolves the issue. I also found that I had issues with lots of the nvidia drivers so the safest thing to do is go back to the opensource driver. I have had some success with the nvidia-340 driver though.

Full Description

Ok somehow I managed to resolve the situation by accident

Firstly I installed the drivers ppa:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

Then I purged the existing nvida drivers

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-*

Then I installed the 364 drivers.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-364 -y

After rebooting, I was unable to log into Ubuntu desktop but could log into Xubuntu desktop from previous testing. This would work long enough for me to see that the video playback worked perfectly, but within a few minutes my computer would lock up and would require hard rebooting. After doing this a few times I purged the nvidia drivers again:

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-*

I no longer have the nvidia binary drivers installed and am on the Nouveau driver but the video playback is working and my computer doesn't lock up!