Fedora-based templates out of the box cannot play some common video formats such as mp4. This tutorial installs the VLC Media Player in Fedora. Installing VLC in debian-based qubes is also an alternative (and may be easier).

note: this post has been edited by @deeplow for clarity


To install VLC in QubesOS v4.0.3

> note: If you're unfamiliar with how to install software on qubes, please first read "Installing software in TemplateVMs".

Installing VLC in Fedora

> ⚠️ This guide adds third party repositories (RPM Fusion) to your Fedora installation. Read more on some of the implications here.

Let's add extra software repositories (RPM Fusion) to your fedora. On a Fedora-based TemplateVM such as fedora-30 open the terminal and type:

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E%fedora).noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
dnf -y update
dnf install vlc

Troubleshooting

No package vlc available. Error: Unable to find a match.

If you get the error No package vlc available. Error: Unable to find a match. while running dnf install vlc, then you should do:

sudo gedit /etc/yum.repos.d/rpmfusion-free.repo # or any other text editor

The line which will need editing will be near the beginning probably 7 lines down:

enabled=0

Change the 0 to a 1 and then save and exit.

Now re-enter the following lines in the terminal.

sudo dnf -y update
sudo dnf install vlc

VLC should now be installed successfully in the TemplateVM. Then shut down the TemplateVM and any AppVMs based on that TemplateVM for changes to take effect.

The you start the Fedora AppVM and you should be able to play video files (they'll open in VLC). If it didn't work, comment down bellow.

Optionally you can also add VLC Media Player to your list of applications.