MPV is a free, open-source, and cross-platform media player which can play any type of media. It has a modern, clean and minimal user interface. It supports a wide variety of media file formats, audio and video codecs, and subtitle types.
MPV comes with powerful scripting capabilities that can make the player do almost anything. You can find user scripts on its GitHub page.
In this article, I will discuss how to install the MPV media player in a Ubuntu system.
Features of MPV media player
The key features of MPV media player are –
- Minimal user interface
- Comes with powerful scripting capabilities
- Video codecs built-in
- High-quality video output
- Cross-platform
- Uses GPU video decoding
- YouTube Videos supported via CLI
How to install MPV in Ubuntu
There are several methods to install the MPV media player in Ubuntu. You can use any one of them to install it on your system.
Installing MPV from Ubuntu repository
MPV media player is available in the official repository of Ubuntu. So before you download the MPV player in a Ubuntu system first run the update command to refresh the local package repository.
sudo apt updateNow use the given command to install MPV –
sudo apt install mpvIf it asks for your confirmation press y and then enter to proceed.
You can verify the installation by checking its version on your system –
mpv --versionThis will display output as given in the image below.
Installing MPV in Ubuntu using PPA
Another way to install MPV in a Ubuntu system is by using its official PPA. If you want to install it from PPA then first add it to your system by using the given command.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mc3man/mpv-testsNext refresh the package repository –
sudo apt updateNow install MPV using –
sudo apt install mpv -yInstalling MPV using snap
Snaps are containerized packages that can be used across the different distributions of Linux. This is one of the easiest methods of installing packages on a Ubuntu system.
MPV is also available as a snap package, you can use the given command to install it –
sudo snap install mpv-nilsboyLaunch MPV player in Ubuntu
After the installation of the MPV media player on your system, you can launch it from the activity dashboard. Search MPV and when its icon appears like given in the image below then click on it to launch the media player.
When opens you will see its interface as given in the image below. Here you can drag and drop media files or URLs to play.
Shortcuts used in MPV media players
Some of the most used keyboard shortcuts in MPV players are given below.
Arrow key –
Left – 5 seconds backward
Right – 5 seconds forward
Down – 1 minute backward
Up – 1 minute forward
Space bar – Pause or unpause the file
q – Quit
m – Mute/unmute sound
9/0 – Used to decrease/increase the volume
L – To play a file in a loop infinite
S – Takes a screenshot
z – Adjust subtitle + 0.1 seconds
Z – Adjust subtitle – 0.1 seconds
Ctrl + – Adjust audio + 0.1 seconds.
Ctrl – – Adjust audio – 0.1 seconds.
F – fullscreen
Conclusion
This is how you can install and use MPV which is one of the best media players for Linux. Now if you have a query then write us in the comments below.