If you still face issues, install ffmpeg :
| Use Case | Recommended Method | |----------|-------------------| | Just want to watch a movie | Method 1 (VLC) | | System-wide codec support | Method 2 (FFmpeg + GStreamer) | | Lightweight terminal player | Method 3 (MPV) | | 4K/8K HEVC videos | Method 5 (Hardware acceleration) | | Old computer | Method 6 (Convert to H.264) | install hevc codec for mkv video on linux mint link
Linux distributions, including Mint, pride themselves on being open-source and free. HEVC (H.265) is a patented technology; distributing the decoder requires paying licensing fees. Therefore, Mint leaves it out of the default installation to remain free, allowing the user to opt-in and download the codec themselves. If you still face issues, install ffmpeg :
: Widely considered the most powerful option, VLC supports HEVC (H.265) out of the box in modern versions (3.0+). Install : sudo apt install vlc : Widely considered the most powerful option, VLC
Run these commands to confirm HEVC support:
While modern versions of VLC often include support, older systems might require the libde265 plugin. sudo apt install vlc-plugin-libde265