MP4 is a popular video file format, mainly known for its compatibility across different devices and platforms. However, like any digital file, you may encounter issues when MP4 videos become corrupted or damaged, leading to playback issues. When your MP4 video won't play, it can be a distressful experience, especially if it contains important content.
Luckily, there are several video repair methods available online to repair MP4 that won't play on your device. This guide will explore various simple solutions for repairing MP4 videos that won’t play, helping you restore your video files to working condition.
Why MP4 Videos Won't Play?
Before you proceed with any method to repair a video file that is not playing, it's important to understand why such instances usually occur. Common causes include:
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Corrupted File Headers: The file header contains critical information about the video, such as its length and codec type. If this header gets corrupted or damaged, the video may not play.
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Incomplete Downloads: If your MP4 video is not fully downloaded, the file may be incomplete, causing playback issues.
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Unsupported Codecs: Sometimes, the video or audio codec used in an MP4 file might not be supported by your media player and thus corrupts or damages your video.
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Software Issues: Problems with the media player or your device's OS can also prevent MP4 videos from playing.
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File Transfer Errors: Any problems during the transfer of MP4 files from one device to another can lead to their corruption, causing playback issues.
Quick Methods to Repair MP4 Videos that Aren't Playing
Once you are familiar with the reasons for your unplayable MP4 videos, it's important to immediately apply proper methods to repair them. In this part of the blog, we have outlined some commonly used methods that you can try to make your videos playable again:
Method 01: Use a Different Media Player
Sometimes the problem is not with your video file, your videos won't play due to any issue with your media player. In such cases, you can try playing your MP4 videos in any different media player. Different media players support different codecs and file formats, so switching to another player might solve the problem.
Method 02: Repair Damaged MP4 Videos Using VLC Player
Windows in-built VLC media player isn't just a great tool for playing video files but also provides several options to fix minor corruption issues in your videos. You can follow the below steps to fix a corrupt MP4 video file using VLC player:
- Firstly, convert your MP4 video to AVI file format. For this, right-click on the corrupt video and select Rename.
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Change the file format to .avi and press Enter key.
- Launch the VLC player, click on Tools and then select the "Preferences" option.
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Switch to the "Input/Codecs" section, and then scroll down to the Files section.
- Select the Always Fix option from the drop-down menu next to the "Damaged or incomplete AVI file" option and click Save.
Once done, try playing the corrupt .mp4 video file with VLC and check whether it is playing or not.
Method 03: Repair Corrupt Videos by Transcoding in VLC
Transcoding corrupt videos allows you to convert them to a different format to fix playback issues or compatibility problems. Go through the steps given below to repair MP4 video by transcoding it in VLC media player:
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Launch the VLC media player, and click on Convert/Save from the Media menu.
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Click the "Add" button and browse the MP4 video that you need to transcode.
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Now, click on the Convert/Save option and select a file name and the desired file location within the Convert window.
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Also, select the preferred input codecs from the Profile list for your video file.
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Select the Edit Selected Profile option to configure the profile settings for a specific profile.
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Lastly, click the "Start" button to initiate the transcoding process.
Once done, restart your device and try playing MP4 videos.
Method 04: Increase Cache Value in VLC Player
If your MP4 video is choppy or freezes during playback, increasing the cache value in VLC Media Player might help. This method allows VLC to load more of the video into memory, which can smooth out playback and fix minor corruption. All you have to do is:
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Start the VLC player on your computer, go to Tools > Preferences.
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Now, scroll down to the "Show Settings" option and from the Simple and All options, select the All option.
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Click on the Input/Codec option and select Advanced.
- Locate the "File caching (ms)" option and increase the value to 1000ms or more.
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Click Save and restart VLC. Try playing your MP4 file again.
Method 05: Use Third-Party Video Repair Software
If the above methods don't work, you might need to use video repair software designed to repair corrupted MP4 files. Tools like Stellar Repair for Video offer more advanced repair options that can fix severe corruption issues. The software supports the repairing of multiple videos simultaneously. You can use this tool to repair not only MP4 videos but also other formats such as MOV, AVI, MKV, AVCHD, MJPEG, WEBM, ASF, WMV, etc.
This all-in-one video repair software allows you to repair any corrupted video in three simple steps, all you have to do is:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Repair for Video software on your Windows PC/Mac. Launch the software and click Add Videos to upload the corrupt videos that you need to repair.
Step 2: Click the Repair button to initiate the repairing process and wait till it is completed.
Step 3: After the repairing process is finished, you can preview the video to ensure it plays correctly and then click the Save Repaired Files button to save repaired videos at the desired location.
Wrapping Up
Having a corrupt or damaged MP4 video file that won’t play on your device can be painful, but with the above-mentioned video repair methods, you can fix them. These methods will help you to fix corrupted MP4 files easily and effectively. Just start with the manual methods like changing the video player or using VLC player to fix corrupt MP4 video files. If these methods fail, you can try using third-party video repair software such as Stellar Repair for Video as a solution that helps to tackle severe video corruption issues instantly.
