sudo apt install nvidia-driver-545 nvidia-vaapi-driver Run:
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras ffmpeg Note: You must accept the Microsoft TrueType core fonts EULA when prompted (use the Tab key to select "OK"). Many media players (like Celluloid or Gnome Videos) rely on GStreamer backends. Install the specific HEVC plugin: install hevc codec for mkv video on linux mint link
Unlike its predecessor H.264, HEVC offers nearly double the data compression ratio, but it is not bundled with Linux Mint out of the box due to licensing and patent issues. This guide will walk you through every safe, legal method to install the HEVC codec for MKV video playback on Linux Mint, including the crucial "link" steps for hardware acceleration. Linux Mint prioritizes open-source software. HEVC (H.265) is heavily patent-encumbered. While the operating system includes robust open-source decoders (like libavcodec ), they often lack full support for the latest HEVC profiles (like 10-bit or Main12) or optimized hardware decoding. As a result, your CPU struggles to software-decode the video, leading to stuttering, high fan noise, or outright failure to play the file. This guide will walk you through every safe,
sudo apt install mesa-va-drivers vainfo For GPUs (proprietary driver required): leading to stuttering
vainfo You should see a line containing VAProfileHEVCMain or VAProfileHEVCMain10 . If present, your GPU can hardware-decode HEVC. The default Linux Mint media player (Celluloid) is a frontend for MPV. Create a configuration file for automatic hardware acceleration: