I'll make you a deal

[rstevenson1976]

Make a version of MakeMKV that actually works on Linux, and then I will pay for a permanent key

[16442496]

I have permanent key, since 2015 and MakeMKV works fine on Debian.

[NGr2023]

I've had zero issues on Manjaro.

What exactly doesn't work?

[BuffaloSlack]

I've had zero issues on Manjaro.

What exactly doesn't work?

Makemkv will refuse to work on a lot of drives on Linux > 1.17.7 that's probably what he's referring too very old bug.

The forum is littered with threads about this.

[Mark_McG]

Make a version of MakeMKV that actually works on Linux, and then I will pay for a permanent key

Arch here. Works fine on my main rig and all my various virtual machines in all sorts of nixy flavours.
What's your actual issue and I'll try to help fix it.

[zaaghn]

MakeMKV for Linux version 1.18.2 works perfectly on my Linux Mint 22.2 system with the ASUS BW-16D1HT drive on 3.10 firmware.

[destine97]

It looks like it is broken specifically when using Pioneer drives - and maybe only broken when using drives where the LibreDrive status is "Possible, not yet enabled".

In that case, MakeMKV is supposed to generate a firmware dump that you can email to support so they can add LibreDrive support for your drive's firmware. I suspect that this firmware dump step might be where it's hanging.

[16442496]

It looks like it is broken specifically when using Pioneer drives - and maybe only broken when using drives where the LibreDrive status is "Possible, not yet enabled".

In that case, MakeMKV is supposed to generate a firmware dump that you can email to support so they can add LibreDrive support for your drive's firmware. I suspect that this firmware dump step might be where it's hanging.

I have two old Pioneer BD-Rom drives. I only get firmware dump by using older MakeMKV version.
MakeMKV 1.17.6.
So, now i have take backups from that firmware file and keep using newer versions with no problems.
Now on MakeMKV 1.18.2 (compiled from sources)

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-ROM BDC-202
Revision: 1.07
Serial number: ---------------
Firmware date: 2008-05-29
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, but very unlikely to happen
Drive platform: Pioneer RS1003
Firmware version: ID58

[SamSpeexy]

It looks like it is broken specifically when using Pioneer drives - and maybe only broken when using drives where the LibreDrive status is "Possible, not yet enabled".

In that case, MakeMKV is supposed to generate a firmware dump that you can email to support so they can add LibreDrive support for your drive's firmware. I suspect that this firmware dump step might be where it's hanging.

I have two old Pioneer BD-Rom drives. I only get firmware dump by using older MakeMKV version.
MakeMKV 1.17.6.
So, now i have take backups from that firmware file and keep using newer versions with no problems.
Now on MakeMKV 1.18.2 (compiled from sources)

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-ROM BDC-202
Revision: 1.07
Serial number: ---------------
Firmware date: 2008-05-29
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, but very unlikely to happen
Drive platform: Pioneer RS1003
Firmware version: ID58

Yep.

The easiest way to use Makemkv in Linux after 1.17.7 is to use drives with Libredrive firmware. Either flash the drive yourself or buy one pre-flashed from a seller like Billycar11, MartyMcNuts, or Asmcom.

[rstevenson1976]

Debug log started at Tue Jan 27 20:02:20 2026 , written by MakeMKV v1.18.3 linux(x64-release)
001005:0000 MakeMKV v1.18.3 linux(x64-release) started
001004:0000 Debug logging enabled, log will be saved as file:///home/randall/MakeMKV_log.txt
Using 262272KB for read cache.
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 0 at `BLLaJX7%0; ?J)zOB:`KC:29393631
No SDF v0a5: ASUS_BW-16D1X-U_A105_212012021114_KLCN52E2603
SDF auto v0a5: ASUS_BW-16D1X-U_A105_212012021114_KLCN52E2603

Linux Mint 22.3

[science-nerd]

I got it working on Arch based CachyOS installing makemkv v1.18.2 (oss GUI) a few days ago from the AUR or chaotic-aur for both the BP55EB40 EB52 and Verbatim 43888 (with BU40N inside) drives.

Flashing does not work on the latest makemkv version, as the commands will hang the cpu indefinitely. I got it working by using a standalone binary of known to work v1.17.7 just with the terminal, as the Ultimate UHD drive flashing guide warns about using this for flashing until further notice.

I was curious how to cross-flash the BP55EB40 drive to BP60NB10 firmware in order to unlock UHD ripping as there was little documentation to be found how to do the two step flash 1. Write MK firmware and 2. Use Recovery for cross-flash shown in the SDFtool Flasher thread viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896. A GIF in the middle of MartyMcNuts' post gives a visual aid to these steps.

Scouring all kinds of posts I finally got these two steps working by commands and wrote up my findings how to flash and cross-flash with Recovery on Linux here viewtopic.php?t=40977

I can't thank anyone involved in developing the software enough for enabling anyone to preserve our media and actually own it. Even if getting things to work on Linux might not be the smoothest experience, don't blame the devs for it. I am happy we got a native version at all.

See if my guide can get you up and running and reconsider buying a license to support all these efforts