Unlock Full Desktop Integration for MPV with the MPRIS Plugin
For Linux users who swear by the power and minimalism of the MPV media player, there’s often one small drawback: it can feel disconnected from the rest of the desktop environment. While MPV excels at playing media, it doesn’t natively talk to system-level controls like media keys, sound menus, or lock screen widgets. Fortunately, a simple plugin can change all of that.
By adding MPRIS support to MPV, you can transform it from a standalone application into a fully integrated part of your Linux desktop. This guide will show you how.
What is MPRIS and Why Does it Matter?
MPRIS (Media Player Remote Interfacing Specification) is a standard D-Bus interface that allows media players to be controlled by the desktop environment and other applications. Think of it as a universal remote control protocol for Linux. When a player like MPV supports MPRIS, it can:
- Respond to hardware media keys (play, pause, next, previous).
- Display track information and playback controls in the system’s sound menu or notification area.
- Allow control from the lock screen.
- Integrate with command-line tools like
playerctlfor scripting and custom controls.
Essentially, it bridges the gap between your powerful media player and your desktop, providing the seamless experience you expect from modern applications.
Key Benefits of Using the MPV MPRIS Plugin
Integrating this plugin elevates your media playback experience significantly. Here are the core advantages:
- Seamless Media Key Control: Finally, the play/pause, stop, next, and previous keys on your keyboard will work with MPV out of the box, just as they do with other media players.
- Full Desktop Environment Integration: Whether you use GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, or Cinnamon, the plugin allows MPV to appear in your system’s sound applet. You can see the currently playing media, scrub through the timeline, and control playback without focusing the MPV window.
- Rich Notifications and Lock Screen Controls: Get beautiful desktop notifications that include album art and track details. You can also pause or change tracks directly from your lock screen, which is perfect for when you’re listening to music or podcasts.
- Universal Command-Line Control: Power users can leverage tools like
playerctlto query playback status, retrieve metadata, or control MPV from custom scripts and keyboard shortcuts.
How to Install and Configure the MPRIS Plugin
Getting started is straightforward. You just need to install a couple of dependencies and place the plugin file in the correct directory.
Step 1: Install the Dependencies
The plugin requires specific Lua libraries to communicate with D-Bus. You can install them using your distribution’s package manager.
- For Debian/Ubuntu:
sudo apt install lua-dbus - For Fedora/CentOS:
sudo dnf install lua-dbus - For Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S lua-dbus
You will also need a GObject introspection library. For most modern systems, install lua-gobject. If you are on an older system, you may need lua-lgi instead.
Step 2: Download and Place the Plugin Script
Next, you need to obtain the mpris.lua script. You can typically find this by searching for “mpv-mpris” on code hosting platforms.
Once you have the file, you need to place it in MPV’s script directory. By default, this is:
~/.config/mpv/scripts/
If the scripts folder doesn’t exist inside your ~/.config/mpv/ directory, simply create it. After placing mpris.lua inside, restart MPV, and the plugin will be active automatically.
Advanced Customization and Tips
For those who want to fine-tune the plugin’s behavior, you can create a configuration file.
Create a new file named mpris.conf inside the ~/.config/mpv/script-opts/ directory (you may need to create this folder as well). Here are a few useful options you can add:
- Ignore Short Media Files: To prevent short sound effects or video clips from showing up as a “track” in your sound menu, add this line. The value is in seconds.
ignored_media_types=30 - Manage Album Art Priority: You can control where the plugin looks for album art first.
art_priority=external,embedded
By taking a few minutes to install this essential plugin, you can dramatically improve how MPV functions on your Linux system. It provides the deep integration necessary for a fluid, modern desktop experience without sacrificing any of the power and flexibility that makes MPV a favorite among enthusiasts.
Source: https://www.linuxlinks.com/mpv-mpris-plugin-mpv/
