Arch Linux

IAmREGE

Member

Registered: 2025-05-03

Posts: 11

[SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

Each time playing an MP4 file with H.264 codec using VLC, it outputs this and only audio are played:

[****] main decoder error: Codec `h264' (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) is not supported.

Playing an MP4 file with AV1 codec using VLC is normal.
Playing an MP4 file with H.264 codec using ffplay is normal. Part of its output:

Stream #0:0[0x1](und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 852x480, 442 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 16k tbn (default)

sudo pacman -Syu is executed at 2025-07-14T12:44:35Z.

Last edited by IAmREGE (2025-07-14 14:26:11)

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 69,067

Re: [SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=306853

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IAmREGE

Member

Registered: 2025-05-03

Posts: 11

Re: [SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=306853

Perfect. Thanks!
BTW: I even don't know which update caused this (or when will vlc-plugin-ffmpeg get dropped).

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 69,067

Re: [SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … 2a1cbf7359 but that's only been out of testing for like tow weeks or so.
I'm not aware that vlc-plugin-ffmpeg will get dropped at all. Why? Where do you get that idea?

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Rony

Member

Registered: 2025-10-09

Posts: 1

Re: [SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

Some recent update on arch linux will cause this VLC codec: h.264 issue. There is a simple solution for it. Follow the steps:

Step 1:
   Download x264 binary file from vlc's official wesite: https://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html
   or, you can directly run this command on arch terminal

   *** command: git clone https://code.videolan.org/videolan/x264.git

Step 2: # Install common build tools:

              sudo pacman -S base-devel
              sudo pacman -S nasm  (x264 requires NASM assembler)

Step 3:
   1. Go to the file location and search for the configure file:

        command: cd x264 && ls -l

       From the list you will find a file named "configure"  .  DON'T worry you do not need to do anything, just check the file is there.

   2. Now run :

      command: ./configure

      now you can see an option "You can run 'make' or 'make fprofiled' now."

   3. Now write on the terminal :

     command : make && sudo make install

Step 4: At last update the vlc:

             command: sudo pacman -S vlc

THIS WILL SOLVE THE VLC'S codec: h.264 issue. Enjoy with vlc.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,082

Re: [SOLVED] VLC doesn't play H.264 videos but ffplay does

No, you don't do any of that. This thread is marked as solved for a reason, read the links.

Last edited by Scimmia (2025-10-09 15:11:11)