Watching videos, playing music, and streaming your favourite shows are everyday essentials, and it's a fair question whether Linux handles them as smoothly as Windows. The short answer is yes, for the most part, once you know which apps to reach for — and the single most important one is VLC.
Key takeaway: VLC media player handles almost any video or audio format on Linux without extra setup, and popular streaming services work fine through a standard web browser, making everyday media playback straightforward.
VLC: the one app that plays almost everything
VLC is free, open source, and available on every major Linux distro through the Software Manager, exactly as it is on Windows. Its biggest strength is that it includes its own built-in codecs, meaning it can play almost any video or audio file format you throw at it — MP4, MKV, AVI, FLAC, MP3, and dozens more — without needing to separately install anything else. If you're used to occasionally hunting for "codec packs" on Windows, VLC on Linux removes that hassle entirely.
Tip: VLC can also play DVDs directly (with an additional small library called libdvdcss for encrypted commercial discs, easily installed from the Software Manager), stream network video, and convert between formats, making it a genuinely versatile all-in-one media tool.
Music playback options
Beyond VLC, Linux distros typically include a dedicated music player — Linux Mint uses Rhythmbox by default on some editions, which organises a local music library much like the old Windows Media Player or iTunes did, complete with playlists and album art. If you prefer something lighter, Audacious offers a simple, classic-style interface reminiscent of Winamp. All handle standard formats like MP3 and FLAC without any extra setup.
Streaming services
Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Spotify's web player all work through Firefox or Chrome on Linux, exactly as they do on Windows, since they run through the browser rather than a separate installed app. Spotify also has an official, dedicated Linux desktop app, available directly through most Software Managers, which many users prefer over the browser version for a more native feel.
| Service | How it works on Linux |
|---|---|
| Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ | Via Firefox or Chrome browser |
| Spotify | Official native app, or browser |
| YouTube | Via any browser, works identically to Windows |
| Local video/music files | VLC, Rhythmbox, or Audacious |
A note on DRM and disc playback
Commercially protected DVDs need the small additional libdvdcss library mentioned above, which is a quick, free install but isn't included by default for licensing reasons. Blu-ray playback support on Linux is more limited than on Windows due to stronger copy protection, and while options exist, they're more fiddly to set up — worth knowing if you regularly watch Blu-ray discs rather than streaming or ripped files.
Managing a large local media library
If you keep a large personal collection of ripped films, downloaded music, or recorded TV, dedicated media centre software is worth a look. Kodi runs well on Linux and organises large video and music libraries with proper cover art, metadata, and a remote-control-friendly interface, much like it does on Windows. For simpler music library management, Clementine and Rhythmbox both handle tagging, playlists, and syncing to portable devices comfortably, without needing anything beyond what the Software Manager already offers.
Tip: If a video file won't play smoothly and looks choppy, check whether your graphics drivers are fully installed and up to date via the Driver Manager (on Mint) or Additional Drivers tool, as hardware video acceleration makes a noticeable difference on older, less powerful processors.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to install extra codecs for videos to play?
- Generally no — VLC includes the codecs needed for almost all common video and audio formats built in, so most files simply work the moment you open them.
- Can I still use Spotify on Linux?
- Yes, either through the official Spotify Linux app (available in most Software Managers) or through the Spotify web player in your browser.
- Will DVDs and Blu-rays play without any extra steps?
- Standard DVDs need one small additional free library (libdvdcss) for copy-protected discs, which is a simple install. Blu-ray playback is more limited on Linux than Windows and typically needs extra configuration.