How to Add the Deb-Multimedia Repository to Debian 12 (Bookworm)
If you’re running Debian 12 and want access to additional multimedia codecs and packages, adding the Deb-Multimedia repository is a quick and effective way to expand your system’s capabilities.
In this tutorial, we’ll walk through:
- What Deb-Multimedia is
- How to install its secure key
- How to configure the repository (including backports)
- How to upgrade packages and clean up old ones
Let’s dive in.
🎥 What Is Deb-Multimedia?
Deb-Multimedia.org is a trusted third-party repository offering a wide range of multimedia software not found in the official Debian repos. It’s been around for years and includes:
- Audio/video codecs
- Media players (with extra features)
- DVD tools, encoding libraries, and more
✅ Step 1: Install the GPG Key
Open a terminal and download the keyring file:
wget https://www.deb-multimedia.org/pool/main/d/deb-multimedia-keyring/deb-multimedia-keyring_2023.11.26_all.deb
Then install it:
sudo apt install ./deb-multimedia-keyring_2023.11.26_all.deb
(Update the file name if the version changes—always double-check the latest from their homepage.)
🔐 Step 2: Use HTTPS and Update Mirrors
Before adding the repository, let’s switch your sources to HTTPS if they aren’t already.
Install the transport package (if not already installed):
sudo apt install apt-transport-https
Edit your sources list:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Replace any http://deb.debian.org/ entries with https://deb.debian.org/
Then save and exit: Ctrl + X, press Y, then Enter.
Update your package list:
sudo apt update
📦 Step 3: Add the Deb-Multimedia Repositories
Create a new repo file:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deb-multimedia.list
Paste the following lines:
deb https://www.deb-multimedia.org bookworm main non-free
deb https://www.deb-multimedia.org bookworm-backports main
Save and exit the file.
Then update again:
sudo apt update
🔄 Step 4: Upgrade to the Multimedia Versions
You’ll now have access to updated versions of codecs, libraries, and tools. Run:
sudo apt full-upgrade
This may pull in new versions of packages like libavcodec, ffmpeg, and other multimedia-related tools.
🧹 Step 5: Clean Up Obsolete Packages
Remove older versions of packages that were replaced:
sudo apt autoremove
This keeps your system lean and avoids conflicts.
💡 Optional: Verify What’s Upgraded
If you’re curious which packages are going to be pulled from Deb-Multimedia, run:
apt list --upgradeable
Look for packages like libx264, libx265, or vlc being updated from the new repo.
🖥️ Example System Specs
This guide was tested on:
- Debian 12 “Bookworm” Stable
- OpenRC init system
- Backports kernel
- Intel Core i5 (14th Gen)
- 8GB RAM
- Customized KDE desktop
💬 Final Thoughts
That’s it! You’ve now got Deb-Multimedia set up and working with full codec support in tools like VLC, plus access to additional packages for media workflows.
If you’ve used this repo before, or are trying it for the first time—let me know your experience in the comments.