MP4 is one of the most widely used video file formats, mainly known for its excellent compatibility, high compression efficiency, and ability to maintain good quality even at smaller file sizes. However, sometimes your MP4 videos may get corrupted or become unplayable, which can cause trouble. If you are getting errors like “Can’t play this file” or “The file is corrupted or unsupported” while playing MP4 files, don’t worry.
Fortunately, there are several video repair fixes available online that you can try to repair MP4 files. In this guide, we’ll discuss different reasons why your video isn’t playing and how to repair MP4 files that won’t play on Windows. Let’s get started!
Understanding the exact reason why your MP4 file isn’t playing on Windows PC can help you determine the right video repair workaround. Some main reasons for the same include:
Corrupt or Incomplete File: Your MP4 video might be damaged, which usually occurs due to sudden power failure, interrupted file transfer, etc. These issues cause problems while playing video on your device.
Unsupported Codecs: MP4 relies on codecs like H.264, H.265, or AAC; an unsupported codec in your media player can prevent the file from playing.
Outdated or Broken Video Player: Sometimes, it’s your media player which prevents your MP4 video from playing. An outdated or bug-ridden player mainly generated such errors.
Malware or System Errors: Malicious programs like viruses or malware attacks can damage MP4 headers or important metadata, making the MP4 file inaccessible or unplayable.
Now that you are familiar with some reasons for the video playback issue, it’s time to check adequate repair fixes to make your MP4 videos playable again. For this, try the following methods in order:
Before applying any fixes to repair MP4 files that won’t play on Windows, it’s important to confirm that the issue isn’t coming from your video player. For this, you can try playing your video in a different video player.
VLC is a versatile media player that not only supports a wide range of video formats but also helps fix minor video corruption issues. To play your video in VLC, you need to:
Firstly, install VLC media player on your Windows PC from its official website.
Right-click the MP4 file you need to play, click on “Open With” and select VLC.
Check if the video plays.
If the video is playing, then the problem is with your default Windows player - not the MP4 file.
As mentioned above, VLC provide several in-built utilities that you can try to fix minor corruption issues with your MP4 file. It has a hidden feature that automatically repairs damaged or incomplete MP4 files. Here’s how to repair videos using VLC:
Launch VLC player, go to Tools > Preferences to modify VLC’s input and codec options.
Select the Input/Codecs section to view advanced playback and repair features.
Next to the “Damaged or Incomplete AVI file” option, choose Always Fix.
Click Save to save the changes immediately.
Once done, try playing the MP4 file again to check if the corruption is resolved.
Sometimes, changing the file format of your video from MP4 to another (such as MKV, AVI) can make it playable again. Converting the video format can often fix issues caused by a damaged header or faulty codec.
To convert your video file format using VLC:
Launch the VLC player on your Windows PC.
Go to Media > Convert / Save.
Now, click Add to upload the MP4 video you need to convert.
Click Convert / Save again and then select the output format.
Tap Start to initiate the conversion process.
The latest Windows OS, i.e., Windows 10 and Windows 11, comes with an in-built Troubleshooter utility to fix video playback issues. If you can't play MP4 files on Windows, run the troubleshooter to fix video errors. All you have to do is:
Press the Windows + I keys to launch the Settings app on your Windows PC.
Click on System from the left pane, tap Troubleshoot.
Click Other troubleshooters. The list of troubleshooting problems appears.
Scroll down and click Run from the Video Playback option.
Once troubleshooting is complete, restart your device and try playing MP4 files in the media player. If the issue keeps existing, you need to use professional video repair software.
If the aforementioned video repair methods fail to fix your video that won’t play on Windows, try repairing it using a professional video repair tool. Stellar Repair for Video is an all-in-one video repair software that allows you to fix videos that won't play due to pixelation, frozen frames, black screen issues, or any other reason. The software can repair videos recorded on mobile phones, DSLRs, GoPros, drones, CCTV cameras, camcorders, and other devices.
Here’s how to repair MP4 files that won’t play on Windows using the amazing Stellar Repair for Video
tool:
Step 1: Firstly, download and install the Stellar Repair for Video tool on your Windows PC. Once installed, launch the app and from the homepage, click Add Videos to load the MP4 videos you want to repair.
Step 2: After adding the videos, click the Repair button to initiate the repairing process and wait till it completes.
Step 3: Once the repair is complete, the tool lets you preview the fixed videos before saving them. Preview the repaired files and click Save Repaired Files to save them at a safe location on your device.
Having an MP4 video that won’t play on your Windows PC can be distressing, but the aforementioned methods can help you. Whether the video is not playing due to unsupported codecs, player issues, file corruption, or storage errors, there’s always a chance to fix it. Start with simple fixes like switching players or using VLC’s built-in features. If the MP4 file is heavily corrupted, professional MP4 repair software tools like Stellar Repair for Video provide the highest success rate. Following the above methods step-by-step will help you successfully repair MP4 files that won’t play and restore your videos quickly.
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