The article walks you through installing QMPlay2 on Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 by first checking your distro version, adding the official PPA, updating the package list and installing the package, then launching it to confirm playback works. It offers practical troubleshooting advice for common hiccups such as missing X11 libraries, audio glitches after kernel upgrades, or the executable not appearing in the path. For those who want the newest features beyond what the PPA delivers, the guide shows how to clone the GitHub repository, compile with Qt6 and FFmpeg, and install the result manually. The tone is straightforward and friendly, ending with an invitation to comment if any step behaves unexpectedly while highlighting that QMPlay2 remains a lightweight, feature‑rich audio player.

How to Install QMPlay2 on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

If you’ve ever wanted a lightweight, feature‑rich audio player that plays pretty much every format without bloatware, QMPlay2 is the answer. Below are the exact steps I use on my own machines, plus some real‑world quirks I’ve seen.

Step 1: Check Your Ubuntu Version

Open a terminal and run lsb_release -a. You’ll need 20.04 or 22.04; older releases aren’t supported by the current PPA. Knowing your distro version prevents you from pulling in wrong packages that could break your system.

Install QMPlay2 Using the Official PPA

The easiest way to get the latest build is to add the community‑maintained PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qmplay2/qmplay2

You’ll be prompted to confirm the addition. The PPA contains pre‑compiled binaries that link against the newest libavcodec, so you avoid the headaches of compiling from source.

Why a PPA? Because it keeps your system’s package manager happy and updates automatically when new releases appear. If you’re paranoid about PPAs, skip this step and grab the Debian package from the QMPlay2 website instead.

Step 2: Update and Install

Refresh the package list:

sudo apt update

Then install:

sudo apt install qmplay2

The installer pulls in Qt5 libraries and a small set of dependencies. If you’re on a minimal system, you might see a long list of packages that get pulled in; that’s normal.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Launch it from the terminal:

qmplay2 &

You should see a clean window with “QMPlay2” in the title bar. Try opening an MP3 or FLAC file to confirm playback works. If you hit a “missing codec” error, your system probably lacks some libavcodec packages; run sudo apt install libavcodec-extra-59 (or adjust the version number for your Ubuntu release).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• “Cannot load shared library libX11.so.6.”

This usually means you’re missing a core Xorg package. Run sudo apt install xorg. I once had this after upgrading from 20.04 to 22.04 and the GUI apps stopped launching.

• Audio glitches after a kernel update.

Some users report crackling when using older audio drivers. Update your sound firmware: sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r) often fixes it.

• “QMPlay2 not found” after installation.

The binary may be in /usr/bin/qmplay2. Add that to your PATH or create a desktop shortcut manually.

Optional: Build from Source for the Latest Features

If you’re comfortable with compiling, clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/QMPlay2/QMPlay2.git
cd QMPlay2
./configure && make
sudo make install

The build process pulls in the latest Qt6 and FFmpeg branches, giving you cutting‑edge codec support. I use this on a few bleeding‑edge laptops where the PPA lags behind.

That’s all there is to it. Install, launch, and enjoy a clean audio experience that won’t hog your RAM or clutter your menu bar.