How to install MP3 playback in Ubuntu

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Note: I'm retiring this tutorial, since this hasn't worked in either Ubuntu 11.04 or Ubuntu 10.10 (it searches for a suitable plugin and can't find it).

If you want to install Flash, Java, MP3 playback, and a lot of other popular proprietary codecs all at once, install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package instead.

First, find or download an MP3 file.

Then the easiest way to install MP3 playback in Ubuntu is to just try to play an MP3 file. So just double-click the file.


Once you do that, Totem will try to play the MP3 file and then realize you do not have the necessary codecs to play MP3 files. It'll ask if you want to search for the appropriate codec. Click Search to continue.


Click Install.


Then click Confirm


Authenticate with your user password.


Wait for the codecs to install. Then click OK.

Note: it will say you didn't get the requested plugins, but you did, so ignore that warning.


Now your MP3 should start playing in Totem.

Last updated 04/29/11 07:35

If you have suggestions or corrections for these tutorials, please post in this Ubuntu Forums thread or leave a comment on my blog.

I will not give help to people posting in the above places. If you require technical support, start a support thread on the Ubuntu Forums. That is the appropriate place to ask for help.