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Ubuntu is unable to play DVDs. I used regionset to change the region. libdvdcss (the newest version) is installed. I enabled the option "No DVD menus" in VLC, and it doesn't work.

What should I do?

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2 Answers 2

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On Ubuntu 16.04 type in the terminal 

sudo apt-get install libdvd-pkg

After installing libdvd-pkg you must run this command

sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg

This should allow DVD Playback

If you're still having trouble, most likely the region of your device is not set properly (or at all). Install regionset by typing 

sudo apt-get install regionset

and then run 

regionset
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  • I typed and got this: libdvd-pkg is already the newest version (1.4.0-1-1).
    – N Even
    Nov 3, 2016 at 18:52
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    After installing libdvd-pkg you must run this command - sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg
    – doug
    Nov 3, 2016 at 18:55
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    This answer is correct according to the official documentation: help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs . You may want to check the region set part of the document and/or install ubuntu-restricted-extras.
    – user589808
    Nov 3, 2016 at 18:56
  • Unfortunately the ubuntu help page is a bit sparse about what to do - "Follow libdvd-pkg's instructions to let it download, compile, and install libdvdcss. " So many users miss the instruct to run that command as the instructs are 'twofold'. Someone should just edit the help page to be more explicit..
    – doug
    Nov 3, 2016 at 22:41
  • This is the recommended way of installing also for Ubuntu 18.04.
    – Carolus
    Nov 23, 2019 at 11:46
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You have to install few codecs required specifically to play DVDs comfortably. These are:

  • libdvdcss2: to recognize DVD
  • libdvdread4: to read DVD
  • libdvdnav4: to navigate DVD

Step #1 Install libdvdcss2

Since medibuntu is no longer available, you have to install libdvdcss2 manually from VLC repositories :

wget http://download.videolan.org/pub/debian/stable/libdvdcss2_1.2.13-0_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i libdvdcss2_1.2.13-0_i386.deb

Step #2 Install libdvdread4 and libdvdnav4

Open terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and run following command:

sudo apt-get install libdvdread4 libdvdnav4
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  • I followed the instructions, but got this: libdvdnav4 is already the newest version (5.0.3-1). libdvdnav4 set to manually installed. libdvdread4 is already the newest version (5.0.3-1).
    – N Even
    Nov 3, 2016 at 18:55
  • @Liso Isnt' that for Ubuntu 12.04 - Ubuntu 15.04?
    – Tony Lancer
    Nov 3, 2016 at 19:00
  • Somehow its working on my 16.04 machine
    – Liso
    Nov 3, 2016 at 19:01
  • This is more correct of the answer. libdvd-pkg only installs libdvdcss-dev and libdvdcss which are only used for decrypting discs. There is a chance, and I know that VLC does not have the ability built in to read the discs until you install libdvdread4 and libdvdnav4. There might be distros that have these already installed, but I believe that it is against the license agreement to have libdvdcss installed by default.
    – Terrance
    Jun 30, 2018 at 21:56
  • OK, upon further reading, they don't include libdvdcss due to fears from some DMCA style laws. There are other Linux distros that have it installed, but not Ubuntu by default.
    – Terrance
    Jun 30, 2018 at 22:05

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