An Up-to-Date Solution & Full Setup to Play DVDs on MX Linux

Playing DVDs on MX Linux isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Many users encounter frustrating issues like a complete failure to launch the disc. Such problems are common when dealing with commercial DVDs, which come with encryption and region locks. Well, the only factor in these challenges is the missing codecs. The goal of this post is to provide a simple and up-to-date solution to play DVDs on MX Linux . Here, we will cover everything, from codec installation to setting up the media player and even troubleshooting issues.

• Part 1. Essential Codec Installation (The Key to Playback)
• Part 2. Setting Up VLC Media Player (Your DVD Powerhouse)
• Part 3. Troubleshooting Common DVD Playback Issues
• Part 4. DVD Ripping (Digitizing Your Collection)
• Part 5. Alternative Media Players (Expanding Your Options)

Part 1. Essential Codec Installation (The Key to Playback)

CSS prevents unauthorized copying and makes the playback more complicated on open-source platforms like Linux. Libdvdcss2 is a library that allows media players to decode and play encrypted discs. Without it, your playback attempts will result in errors.

Here’s how to play DVD on MX Linux:

Step 1.On the Whisker Menu, type MX Package Installer and open it. Proceed to the MX Test Repo to browse updated and less common packages, including libdvdcss2. It enables access to these packages during installation without modifying your system’s software sources.

Step 2.In the MX Test Repo tab. Use the search bar and type libdvdcss2. Once it appears, check the box next to it and click the Install button below. Enter your administrator password and allow the installation to complete. After installation, your system is ready to decode and play commercial DVDs using compatible media players.

The MX Test Repo is essential for accessing recently updated software. This tab contains packages not found in the Stable Repo, such as libdvdcss2. Installing libdvdcss2 ensures you can watch almost all DVDs, regardless of encryption.

Part 2. Setting Up VLC Media Player (Your DVD Powerhouse)

After successfully installing libdvdcss2, the next step is setting up your media player. VLC Media Player is among the best media players on MX Linux for playing DVDs. It supports almost every multimedia format and handles encrypted DVDs when properly configured.

Step 1.Put the disc on your optical DVD drive and run VLC Media Player. Next, click the Media tab and select the Open Disc option from the pulldown menu. Switch to the Disc tab and select DVD as your disc selection. Click Browse to load the disc from your DVD drive.

Important Note: Beforehand, ensure VLC is up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues. If an update is available, open the MX Package Installer and move to the Stable Reo tab. Search for VLC, check the box next to it, and click Install.

Step 2.Once the disc is added, click Play to begin the playback of the DVD. If adjustments and configurations are needed during playback, follow these:

• Adjust VLC Setting: Press Ctrl + P and select the Input/Codecs tab. Under the Codecs section, change the Hardware-accelerated decoding to Automatic.

• DVD Menu and Chapter Navigation: Browse through menus using your mouse or keys. Click Playback and select Title or Chapter to jump directly to a title or chapter.

• Audio and Subtitle Adjustments: Move to the Audio tab and select Audio Track from the pulldown menu. It lets you change audio and pick a different language or track. To enable the subtitles, click Subtitles and select Subtitle Track. If you want to switch subtitles, select Add Subtitle File instead to load an external subtitle file.

Unique Insight:

VLC Media Player offers several hidden features you can use for enhanced viewing. Here are some of the advanced features you can access:

• In the Playback tab, select Custom Bookmarks and click Manage. You can bookmark a scene or chapter for quick return; click Create to save your spot.

• If your DVD looks stretched or has black bars, you can change its aspect ratio. Go to the Video tab, select Aspect Ratio, and choose 16:9 or 4:3.

• To improve DVD sound, navigate to the Tools tab, select Effects and Filters, and click Audio Effect. Use the equalizer, compressor, or spatializer to enhance clarity.

Part 3. Troubleshooting Common DVD Playback Issues

Even after setting up VLC and installing libdvdcss2, you may still encounter issues. Below, we’ll address some of the common DVD playback issues:

DVD Not Recognized: Hardware Checks and Troubleshooting

If your DVD is not being detected, check the DVD drive to see if it’s properly connected. Use the lsblk or dmesg | grep sr command to see if the system recognizes the drive. To ensure UDF file system support is installed, check udftools or libudf0 packages are present.

Playback Stuttering or Freezing: Codec and Hardware Acceleration Issues

Ensure you install the libdvdcss2 and VLC from the MX Package Installer (MX Test Repo). Next, open VLC and set Hardware-accelerated decoding to Automatic. If enabling this causes instability, switch it to Disable to let VLC use software decoding.

Region Code Errors: Understanding and Addressing Them

Most commercial DVDs are locked to specific region codes. Unfortunately, Linux does not handle region unlocking. Also, your DVD drive may refuse to read a disc with a different region code. Use the command regionset /dev/sr0 to attempt to change your DVD drive’s region.

Important Note: Changing regions too often can render your drive unusable for commercial DVDs. If you need multi-region support, consider using a multi-region DVD player .

Audio or Subtitle Problems: VLC and Player-Specific Solutions

VLC offers easy-to-follow solutions to fix audio and subtitle problems. Under Audio Track and Subtitle Track, select the correct audio and subtitle track. If subtitles appear late or audio lags behind the video, go to Tools and select Track Synchronization to adjust delay values.

DVD Drive Errors: When to Consider Replacement

Optical drives have moving parts and lasers that wear out over time. If you’re frequently seeing errors, try cleaning the drive with a DVD lens cleaning disc. If problems persist, test the drive on another OS to rule out issues. Drives with an aging laser may still read CDs but fail on DVDs.

Part 4. DVD Ripping (Digitizing Your Collection)

Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper is free software built for Windows and Mac. It lets you rip DVDs for playback on any media player without installing additional codecs. It can handle DVDs with encryption and region locks for conversion to over 200+ digital profiles. In addition, it has a built-in preview window, which lets you check the content before ripping.

Step 1.Download the Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper on your computer for free. Install the DVD-to-digital conversion software and let the installation process complete. Once finished, place the disc on your external DVD drive and run the software.

Step 2.Click Load Disc to add the DVD to the software. Alternatively, click the pulldown menu to access other loading options to import your source. Use the Load DVD Folder to import the VIDEO_TS folder or Load IFO Files for IFO files. Next, select a DVD loading mode: DVD Navigator Mode or DVD Parser Mode.

Step 3.After loading the DVD content, click the Profile field and select the General Video category. Select MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4), which is compatible with most platforms and playback devices. For optimal quality, click Settings to configure video and audio parameters.

Step 4.In the Destination field, click Browse to specify your output directory. After finalizing the settings, click Convert to start the DVD-to-digital conversion. The software will then extract and export the content based on your selected settings.

Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper offers an effective and hassle-free solution to digitize your DVDs. Regardless if your DVD is copy-protected, encrypted, or even locked within a certain region, this software can easily bypass these restrictions.

Does your laptop have a built-in drive? Learn here how to play DVDs on a laptop without ripping.

Part 5. Alternative Media Players (Expanding Your Options)

Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player is a multimedia player that goes beyond Blu-ray playback. It can play back digital profiles and even DVDs with copy protection, encryption, and region locks. In addition, it can deliver high-quality DVD, video, and audio playback. Aside from playback functionality, it includes additional useful features, such as playlist creation, external subtitle insertion, screen capturing, continuous playback, etc.

Step 1.Beforehand, download the Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player for free. Install the multimedia player software and allow the installation process to finish. Once completed, insert the DVD on the computer’s disc drive and open the software afterward.

Step 2.Click Load Disc to import the source from the external disc drive. Use the Open File loading option if you have an ISO file or VIDEO_TS folder saved on your local files. As soon as the DVD is added, the media player will start the playback automatically.

Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player operates as a Blu-ray and DVD player for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac OS X 10.9 or above. The software has a smart navigation menu that allows you to start over, pause, stop, forward, or backward the video.

Wrapping up

Now you have the knowledge to play DVDs on MX Linux correctly. By installing libdvdcss2 and using VLC with the right settings, you can enjoy a smooth DVD playback. For flexibility, we recommend Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper to digitize your DVDs into high-quality MP4 files. Also, consider Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player as a powerful alternative media player that handles commercial DVDs with ease. Have questions, run into issues, or want to share your setup? Please drop a comment below; we’re here to help!