How to Install MakeMKV on Ubuntu Linux

MakeMKV converts DVDs and Blu-ray discs into MKV files while preserving all video tracks, audio streams, subtitles, and chapter information. Whether you want to back up your personal disc collection, create portable copies for media servers like Plex on Ubuntu or Jellyfin on Ubuntu, or preserve aging discs before they degrade, MakeMKV handles the conversion quickly without re-encoding. By the end of this guide, you will have MakeMKV installed and ready to rip your first disc, with the beta registration key configured for full Blu-ray support.

Choose Your MakeMKV Installation Method

Before proceeding with installation, review the available methods. On Ubuntu, MakeMKV can be installed through three channels, and each method offers different trade-offs between update frequency, system integration, and sandboxing.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT PPA	MakeMKV PPA	Latest beta	Automatic via apt upgrade	Direct system integration
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest beta	Automatic via flatpak update	Sandboxed applications
Snap	Snapcraft	Latest beta	Automatic background updates	Snap ecosystem users

Most users should choose the APT PPA method because it provides direct system integration, automatic updates through regular system maintenance, and requires no additional package managers.

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The MakeMKV PPA provides packages for both supported LTS releases. Commands shown work identically on both versions.

Method 1: Install MakeMKV APT PPA

Update System Packages

To begin, ensure your system packages are current before installing MakeMKV:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Add MakeMKV PPA

Next, import the MakeMKV PPA to access the latest beta packages:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:heyarje/makemkv-beta -y

After adding the PPA, refresh the package cache to include the new repository:

sudo apt update

Install MakeMKV Packages

Now, install both the open-source and binary components:

sudo apt install makemkv-oss makemkv-bin

Once the installation completes, verify it by checking the installed version:

apt-cache policy makemkv-bin

Expected output showing the PPA version:

makemkv-bin:
  Installed: 1.18.2-1~noble
  Candidate: 1.18.2-1~noble
  Version table:
 *** 1.18.2-1~noble 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/heyarje/makemkv-beta/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Configure MakeMKV Beta Key

Once MakeMKV is installed, you need to configure the beta registration key. Specifically, MakeMKV requires a registration key for full Blu-ray functionality, and during the beta period, a free key is available that must be renewed periodically.

The beta key changes every one to two months. Always get the current key from the official MakeMKV beta key forum thread rather than copying outdated keys from tutorials. Launch MakeMKV, go to Help > Register, and paste the current key.

Method 2: Install MakeMKV via Flatpak

Flatpak must be installed before proceeding. If you do not have Flatpak, follow our guide to install Flatpak on Ubuntu first.

After Flatpak is ready, install MakeMKV from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub com.makemkv.MakeMKV -y

Following installation, verify it with:

flatpak list | grep -i makemkv

Expected output:

MakeMKV    com.makemkv.MakeMKV    1.17.x    stable    flathub    system

Method 3: Install MakeMKV via Snap

As an alternative, Snap provides automatic background updates and works across most Linux distributions. While Ubuntu includes Snap by default, if it was removed, reinstall it first:

sudo apt install snapd -y

Subsequently, with Snap enabled, install MakeMKV from the Snap Store:

sudo snap install makemkv

Afterward, verify it with:

snap list makemkv

Expected output:

Name      Version    Rev    Tracking       Publisher    Notes
makemkv   1.17.x     xx     latest/stable  snapcrafters -

Launch MakeMKV

Terminal or GUI Launch

Now that installation is complete, you can launch MakeMKV from the terminal:

makemkv

For Flatpak installations, use:

flatpak run com.makemkv.MakeMKV

Alternatively, open the Activities menu, search for “MakeMKV”, and click the application icon:

1. Click on the “Activities” menu.
2. Use the search bar to search for “MakeMKV.”
3. Click on the MakeMKV icon to launch the application.

Manage MakeMKV

Update MakeMKV

To keep MakeMKV current, you can update it through your regular system maintenance. Specifically, for APT installations, run your regular system upgrade command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

During the upgrade process, you will see MakeMKV packages being updated when a new version is available:

The following packages will be upgraded:
  makemkv-bin makemkv-oss
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Alternatively, for Flatpak users, update with:

flatpak update com.makemkv.MakeMKV

Similarly, Snap installations update automatically, or you can manually refresh with:

snap refresh

Remove MakeMKV

If you no longer need MakeMKV, you can remove it completely. To start, for APT installations, remove the packages and clean up dependencies:

sudo apt remove makemkv-oss makemkv-bin
sudo apt autoremove

Following that, remove the PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:heyarje/makemkv-beta -y
sudo apt update

Finally, verify the removal:

apt-cache policy makemkv-bin

makemkv-bin:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:

Alternatively, for Flatpak installations:

flatpak uninstall com.makemkv.MakeMKV

Similarly, for Snap installations:

sudo snap remove makemkv

Remove Configuration Files

After removing the application packages, you may also want to delete leftover configuration files. Notably, MakeMKV stores settings and registration data in your home directory. However, you should back up any important preferences before deletion:

The following command permanently deletes your MakeMKV settings, including your registration key and conversion preferences. If you plan to reinstall later, you may want to keep this directory.

rm -rf ~/.MakeMKV

Troubleshoot MakeMKV

Optical Drive Not Detected

If MakeMKV does not detect your DVD or Blu-ray drive, the issue typically involves device permissions. To diagnose this, first verify that your user account has permission to access the optical device:

ls -la /dev/sr0

brw-rw----+ 1 root cdrom 11, 0 Dec  7 10:00 /dev/sr0

As shown above, your user must be in the cdrom group to access the drive. Therefore, if you’re not already a member, add yourself to the group:

sudo usermod -aG cdrom $USER

Log out and log back in for the group change to take effect. Once you’ve logged back in, verify your group membership:

groups

The output should now include cdrom in your list of groups.

Beta Key Expired

If MakeMKV displays a registration error or limited functionality warning, your beta key has likely expired. To resolve this issue, simply visit the official beta key thread to get the current key, then enter it via Help > Register in the application menu.

Conclusion

MakeMKV is now installed and configured to convert your DVD and Blu-ray discs into MKV files. Importantly, the ripped files preserve all original tracks, chapters, and subtitles, making them ideal for media server libraries or archival storage. To play your converted MKV files, consider installing VLC media player on Ubuntu. Furthermore, if you need to re-encode files for smaller sizes or specific device compatibility, HandBrake on Ubuntu pairs well with MakeMKV in a rip-then-encode workflow.

Useful Links

Explore the following resources for more information about MakeMKV:

• MakeMKV Beta Key: Get the current beta registration key (updated every 1-2 months).
• MakeMKV Official Website: Download options, purchase information, and feature overview.
• MakeMKV FAQ: Answers to common questions about disc compatibility, output formats, and licensing.