Chromium: How to fix Netflix issues
Learn how to fix Netflix problems in Chromium with this practice tip.
Netflix issues in Chromium: why doesn't Netflix work in Chromium?
Netflix requires the so-called "Widevine Content Decryption Module" to play videos. Chromium does not contain this. A workaround is only available for Linux, as a Windows user you have to use Chrome.
- The module is responsible for copy protection and is only included in Chrome. Firefox and Opera also do not have the component and are just as affected as Chromium.
- The WCDM in Chromium cannot be added under Windows. You need to install Google Chrome to watch videos on Netflix.
Netflix issues in Chromium: workaround for Linux
Since Linux is much more flexible and offers you more options, you can add the missing module manually in Debian. That's how it's done:
- Download the latest version of Chrome for Linux.
- Unzip the package into a new folder.
- Now search for the file "data.tar.xz". Unzip it.
- You now have quite a few folders. You now need to copy the DRM module from Chrome to Chromium.
- Open a terminal and go to the directory where you extracted Chrome. Then enter the following command: cp "folder in which you unzipped" /opt/google/chrome/libwidevinecdm.so ~ / libwidevinecdm.so
- Now you need to add the module to your Chromium directory. To do this, enter the following command: sudo cp ~ / libwidevinecdm.so /usr/lib/chromium/libwidevinecdm.so
- Attention: The path can be completely different depending on the installation. Just look in the data structure of your main directory.
- Then download the user agent Switcher for Chrome.
- Then delete your cookies, restart Chromium and log in to Netflix. The playback should now work.
In the next few articles, we will show you how to cancel your Netflix account and what alternatives there are to Netflix.