[Solved]Solving the problem of the Opera browser with video playback in Ubuntu and similar distributions (Linux Mint, KDE neon)

zarathustra-f90

zarathustra-f90

This is what worked for me in Debian 10:

[*]Install chromium-ffmpeg snap:
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install snapd
$ sudo snap install core
$ sudo snap install chromium-ffmpeg

[*]Keep the original libffmpeg.so file in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/ and create inside there a directory lib_extra:
$ sudo mkdir /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/lib_extra

[*]Create a symlink in the lib_extra directory of the snap latest version libffmpeg.so:

$ sudo ln -s /snap/chromium-ffmpeg/current/chromium-ffmpeg-98516/chromium-ffmpeg/libffmpeg.so /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/lib_extra

Note: the latest version in my case is 98516, make sure to check yours inside directory /snap/chromium-ffmpeg/current/

After these steps Opera browser plays all kinds of videos i've come across.

Thanks to @mr-matt-eastwood and this post that provided the solution steps!

annevance

annevance

@zarathustra-f90 said in Solving the problem of the Opera browser with video playback in Ubuntu and similar distributions (Linux Mint, KDE neon):

sudo ln -s /snap/chromium-ffmpeg/current/chromium-ffmpeg-98516/chromium-ffmpeg/libffmpeg.so /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/lib_extra

Thank you for your help.
I tried to follow your instructions, but I had to adjust the location of opera.
I installed thru snap and therefore /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera did not exist.
It was installed in /snap/opera/current/usr/lib...etc
Finally I removed opera and reinstalled. Now it was located in /usr/lib/....
Then I followed your instructions to make a new directory and linked the lbffmpeg file.
Result: It works !!
Now I can use the beautifully designed Opera browser.
Thank you foryour help.

zarathustra-f90

zarathustra-f90 @vladimir-bardakov

@vladimir-bardakov The second step of your solution (sudo rm /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/libffmpeg.so) produces an error about shared libraries, at least in recent Opera versions.

This file must remain and as an extra step create a lib_extra directory inside /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera/lib_extra where the symlink must be placed.

You can see my other detailed comment about the workaround in Debian 10. Many thanks for creating this post and part of the solution!

lu-menard

lu-menard

So Opera is not Linux compatible, that's my conclusion ...

A Former User

Use latest ffmpeg deb files and all your problems will become the things of the past. You may peep into deb file and copy your file manually. As GNU/Linux users you should know all the priv issues, I hope.

https://repo.herecura.eu/herecura/x86_64/

Do not delete lib_extra/*.so file. Name it *.so.old, then copy there *.so latest file, name it *.so.new. Then
ln -s *.so.new *.so

= libffmpeg

[Fig. 1] MC Root (hence red)

[Fig. 2] Oper view of Opera Developer nooks

lu-menard

lu-menard

If I have the same problem with Opera, Firefox and Brave, does this give a diagnosis ?
It seems that for videos and video streams, they want or not want to accept Flash, but are unable to use another possibility, is that correct ? the question is why ?

I am on Mint 19.3 64 and I allready have FFMPEG , so if I install FFMPEG by SNAP or by the deb, will this be fixed ? Do i have to uninstall the current FFMPEG before this ?

or is this a problem with graphics, it is an APU AMD with no real good driver for it, must I try the AMD Driver ? 3D and HD video seem good working though, but not Nemo ...

xZero

xZero @xZero

My previous solution still works, but you might lose the changes (symlink) when Opera gets updated. At least that happened in my case. Applying the solution manually every time is a pain.
You can use this handy script to fix ffmpeg support for you, whenever it gets broken.

Fetch the always up to date script from here, or simply use this command to directly download the script:

curl -fsSL https://gist.githubusercontent.com/xZero707/ff2d5a76544c84e33086ed94092c0263/raw -o opera-fix-ffmpeg.sh

Remember: When downloading the script from the internet, it is always a good idea to inspect the script first.

Run with:

sudo /bin/bash opera-fix-ffmpeg.sh

or

sudo /bin/bash opera-fix-ffmpeg.sh /path/to/your-opera-installation

The script will install or update snap chromium-ffmpeg and create symlink to latest bundled ffmpeg.so, in your opera directory.

Note that sudo is required.
Tested and working on Linux Manjaro. Should work for other Linux distros as well.
Disclaimer: This script is provided as-is. Use at your own responsibility.

lu-menard

lu-menard @xZero This post is deleted!

annevance

annevance @annevance

@annevance Indeed I have more video playbacks, but the live tv broadcasts which I watch with the VPN of that country still don't work on Opera, giving a DRM error.
When this is not solved the browser is useless, unfortunately.

xZero

xZero @annevance

@annevance Give a try to my script above (very last post).

annevance

annevance @xZero

@xZero Sorry, I did, but still no go.
I can find the original ffmpeg.so in the opera directory.
I also have your ffmpeg.so . Even when I login as admin, or sudo in terminal, the directory is "read only" and I cannot move the file.
I tried to use opera every few years, but always the same. Nice layout, clean but not suitable for drm broadcast.

A Former User @annevance

@annevance For DRM you need:
libwidevinecdm.so 8.9 MB in
/opt/google/chrome/WidevineCdm/_platform_specific/linux_x64/

lu-menard

lu-menard

Linux Mint 19.3 problem fixed
I installed the Chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra package v86.0.4240.198-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 DEB File using Gdebi from this link
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/bionic/amd64/chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra/86.0.4240.198-0ubuntu0.18.04.1

zarathustra-f90

zarathustra-f90 @lu-menard This post is deleted!

alex1real

alex1real @leocg

@leocg a browser that doesn't play videos is not only a issue, but a major issue. No matter if it's legal, commercial or technical.
It's sad, I liked using Opera in my windows machine and it's a pity that you don't have a useful version on Linux.
I'm not watching videos all the time, but it's very frustrating need to open chrome for playing a video when it's needed.
I'm migrating back to chrome, and I'm sure that many people is doing the same.

leocg

leocg Moderator Volunteer @alex1real

@alex1real Ok, goodbye.

marek-online

marek-online @alex1real

@alex1real I migrated to vivaldi on my linux mint workstation.

xZero

xZero @alex1real

@alex1real to you and all folks here that keep complaining: Opera is a free web browser generously offered to the world by it's authors. You can't really expect, nor you should complain for missing functionality due to legal issues. Be grateful for what you got here, as it's far more than you "pay" for.

A Former User @xZero

@xZero OK Mr Zero times by zero.

"@xZero to you and all folks here that keep complaining about us unthankfull deplorables: We, the common users, all know well that the deficient Who-Know-What-Its-Name (aka Crap) is a free web browser generously offered to the world by it's authors. We can really expect nothing, nor we complain for limited functionality due to unknown issues. We are more grateful for what we got here, thanks to your Sauron's vigilant Eye attitude and corrective policy attitude.

Firigion

Firigion @xZero

@xzero Thing is, my Opera (73.0.3856.344 in Ubuntu 20.04.1) seems to not be installed in /usr/lib/opera. Opening the about page in the browser informs me that it's actually installed in snap/opera/106/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opera, which as it turns out it's a read-only directory.
I later learned about the locate -b opera command, which tells me that that's the only directory that contains packages opera uses (I was expecting to find duplicates somewhere).
Any clue what can be done here, if anything? This is my first Linux distro, I used to use Opera in Windows and loved it, hence why I'd really want to keep it now in Ubuntu, don't wanna migrate to Firefox or Chrome.