SMPlayerLinux
vs
MiroWindows
SMPlayer as a Linux alternative to Miro
Updated
Our verdict
SMPlayer is a strong replacement for local media playback and basic streaming, but it lacks Miro's core RSS auto-download feature. It handles almost any local file format without external codecs and supports YouTube playback. If your main use case is playing local files and occasional web streams, SMPlayer works well. However, if you relied heavily on Miro to automatically download and manage video feeds from RSS channels, you will need a separate tool for that specific task. For pure media consumption, it is a solid, lightweight choice for most Linux users.
- License
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 25.6.0 (June 8, 2025)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Plays local audio and video files with built-in codec support
- Supports streaming from online sources like YouTube
- Manages playback settings and remembers position for files
- Free and open-source software available on major Linux distributions
What is different
- SMPlayer does not auto-download content from RSS feeds
- Miro had a dedicated interface for managing downloaded feed content, which SMPlayer lacks
- SMPlayer focuses on playback and settings memory rather than content library management
- Miro was discontinued, while SMPlayer is actively maintained with recent releases
Opening your Miro files
SMPlayer can play most local video and audio files that Miro could, as both support common containers and codecs. However, SMPlayer does not import Miro's internal database or playlist formats directly. You will need to manually rebuild any complex playlists or re-add files to SMPlayer's history. There is no direct file conversion path for Miro-specific metadata or feed subscription files.
Switching from Miro to SMPlayer, step by step
- Install SMPlayer via your distribution's package manager or Flathub
- Locate your existing local media files on your Linux system
- Open SMPlayer and add your frequently used folders to the recent list
- Manually create new playlists for any curated lists you had in Miro
- Test playback of various file formats to ensure codec compatibility
- Configure subtitle settings if you used them in Miro
Key features of SMPlayer
- Built-in codecs for virtually all video and audio formats
- Remembers playback position and settings for each file
- Supports playing videos directly from YouTube
- Automatic subtitle search and download
- Cast media to external devices like smartphones and tablets
- No external codec packs required
- Available via Flathub and native package managers
How to install SMPlayer on Linux
flatpak install flathub info.smplayer.SMPlayersudo apt install smplayersudo apt install smplayersudo dnf install smplayersudo pacman -S smplayersudo zypper install smplayerFrequently asked questions
Can SMPlayer download videos from RSS feeds like Miro did?
No, SMPlayer is a media player and does not have built-in RSS feed management or auto-download capabilities. You would need a separate application for that.
Does SMPlayer require external codec packs?
No, SMPlayer comes with built-in codecs that handle virtually all common video and audio formats without needing additional installations.
Is SMPlayer available on all major Linux distributions?
Yes, it is packaged for Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu, and is also available via Flathub.
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