TotemLinux
vs
Windows Media Player (wmp)Windows
Totem as a Linux alternative to Windows Media Player (wmp)
Updated
Our verdict
Totem is a solid Linux alternative for most Windows Media Player users who need a straightforward player for music and video. It handles the common audio formats out of the box, supports popular video containers, offers basic playlist creation, and shows subtitles without extra configuration. Users who rely on deep library management, tight Windows‑only codec support (especially older WMV/ASF files), or tight integration with Windows Explorer will find Totem lacking. For everyday playback and light library tasks on a GNOME desktop, Totem works well; power users may need supplemental tools or plugins.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 43.2
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Plays MP3, AAC, WAV audio files","Plays MP4, AVI video files","Basic playlist creation via drag‑and‑drop","Displays subtitles for video","Simple, single‑window UI for quick playback
What is different
- No built‑in support for proprietary Windows codecs like older WMV/ASF without installing extra GStreamer plugins","Limited library management; no automatic music tagging, album‑art fetching, or advanced sorting","No Windows Explorer‑style right‑click context integration","No built‑in CD ripping or burning features","No direct export of playlists to WMP‑specific .wpl format
Opening your Windows Media Player (wmp) files
Totem can open the same audio and video files that Windows Media Player plays, provided the necessary GStreamer codecs are installed. It cannot open or edit WMP's proprietary playlist files (.wpl) directly, and it does not export to that format. For plain media files (MP3, MP4, AVI, WMV) it works as long as the appropriate codec packages are present; otherwise you may need to install the "gstreamer‑plugins‑bad" or "ugly" sets.
Switching from Windows Media Player (wmp) to Totem, step by step
- Install Totem from your distribution's package manager (e.g., sudo apt install totem)
- Install the full set of GStreamer plugins to cover common Windows codecs (sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-plugins‑bad gstreamer1.0-plugins‑ugly)
- Import your music folder into Totem by dragging it into the player or opening the folder from GNOME Files
- Recreate any important playlists manually in Totem or export them from WMP as M3U and open those files in Totem
Key features of Totem
- GTK+ interface that matches the GNOME look‑and‑feel
- Automatic codec handling via GStreamer plugins
- Playlist support and simple drag‑and‑drop
- Subtitle display with basic encoding detection
- Fullscreen and windowed modes with hotkeys
- Integration with GNOME Shell notifications
- Remote control via MPRIS/D‑Bus
- Simple file browsing through GNOME Files
How to install Totem on Linux
sudo apt install totemsudo apt install totemsudo dnf install totemsudo pacman -S totemsudo zypper install totemFrequently asked questions
Can Totem play WMV files out of the box?
Only if the appropriate GStreamer codec packages are installed; otherwise playback will fail.
Does Totem manage music metadata and album art like WMP?
It shows embedded metadata but does not automatically fetch missing tags or album art; tools like puddletag can fill that gap.
Is there a way to transfer WMP playlists to Totem?
Export the playlists from WMP as M3U files and open them in Totem; native .wpl files are not supported.
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