Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions
Looking at several android forums shows that many users complaining that their Android devices are no longer playing videos. This may be due to video corruption, the use of outdated and uncertified software on their phones among other issues. This article shows you how to solve these issues and get your videos playing on your android device.
There are times when your android phone suddenly stops playing videos. These may be videos that you have recorded and stored on your SD card or videos streaming from sites like YouTube. There are various reasons why your Android device suddenly stops playing videos.
These range from the corruption of the video files themselves, playing videos using uncertified or untrusted apps, outdated Android OS, malware, or virus attacks on your device among many others.
This article will show you how you can fix video not playing on your android phone and you may more enjoy video entertainment when you are on the move.
As mentioned earlier, there are several reasons why video won't play on your Android device. Below are some of the major causes of this error.
When a video file gets corrupted, there is a change to the header, file format, or other structural changes within the video file. This may make the video not play altogether, or there will be parts where it will get stuck and then jump to a different section after a while.
Some of the reasons why videos get corrupted include:
As the Android OS develops further, some features are updated and may not work well with outdated media players. An outdated media player may not recognize a codec or format recorded on the latest Android version for one reason or another. Similarly, connection protocol to some video streaming sites may require that you have the latest media player tools.
If you store your videos on an SD card, there are chances that it could be damaged. Damage on an SD card can be caused by many factors, such as:
Mishandling your Android device may cause physical damage to the SD card. Make sure that you do not drop your device, or place it in liquids which can not only affect the SD card, but also the Internal Storage device.
Some malicious websites offer video downloads that have malware that can cause damage to the SD card.
Playing videos when you have low system resources can also cause the video not to play. I this case, there is no damage to the SD card, but the device does not have enough memory for the video playback app to run.
Removal of the SD card on many occasions can cause physical damage to the sensitive device. It is best to install an SD card once and then use a USB cable to transfer files from one device to your computer.
You should try and clear the cache and temporary files from your device regularly.
You must update security features on your Android device to protect against videos not playing on your Android device. Install antivirus that will stop malware from infecting your device.
Updating your Android OS makes sure that you get patches and bug fixes that stop malware and viruses from changing crucial system files. When these files are changed, the device will not behave normally, and this may include refusing to play video files.
Make sure that you use verified apps on your android device. Downloading APK files and apps from uncertified providers can cause a system failure. Use apps that have been certified by Google Play Store.
There are several ways in which you can fix the videos not playing on Android phone error. The solutions involve both fixing corrupted videos and also repairing the Android OS and updating media player files.
Update your Media player so your videos can play well on the Android device. VLC media Players for Android, MX Player, and BS Player are some of the best. Follow the simple steps below to update your media player.
Step 1. Log into your Google Play Store account and then navigate to "My Apps & Games".
Step 2. Find the media player that you are using and then click on the "Update" button.
Step 3. Click on "Install" and wait for the media player to be updated.
If your Android OS is not up-to-date, then your videos may not pay as they should. Here are some of the simple steps to use when updating your Android OS and any security app that you have on your device. The steps will vary from one device to another.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" and then navigate downwards until you get to "About device" or "System". Click on it followed by "System Updates".
Step 2. Proceed and install the listed Android OS updates.
There are times when videos will not play on your Android device due to errors in the internal file hierarchy or low available resources to play the video. Here are two ways in which you can rectify these two scenarios.
Method 1: Reboot/ Restart your device
Restarting the device will help restore file hierarchy and structure. This will solve the problem and your videos will play well once more.
Step 1. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the screen displays options to restart or power down.
Step 2. Tap on the "restart/reboot" option and wait for a short while as the device powers down and restarts once more.
Now you may try and play your videos once more.
Method 2: Clear the Cache
Sometimes, there are too many temporary files stored in the cache of your device. These files may come from your browsing history as well as using apps on your device. When the cache gets filled up, it reduces the memory available to play your videos. This is why you must clear the cache regularly.
Step 1. Depending on your device, go to "Settings" and Navigate down to "Apps & Notifications".
Step 2. Click on the app you use for playing videos, and then navigate to "Memory Usage".
Step 3. Choose "Clear Cache" to remove all cached files.
This method may be a bit tedious if you have to clear the cache for all the apps in your device. An alternate and fast method are to use third-party phone management apps, which will help you clear the combined caches for all apps on your Android device.
There are certain procedures that you must maintain so you ensure that your videos are played easily on your Android device. Here are some of them:
Make sure that the media player you use on your Android device can play a wide range of video formats and codecs. VLC media player for Android is one of the best.
Viruses on your Android device can corrupt system or app files rendering them incapable of playing videos. They may also corrupt stored video files and ruin them. Always make sure that you have a powerful Android anti-virus and that you update it regularly.
Storing videos on a corrupted SD card can and up ruining the files themselves. You should always scan your SD card and see that it is not ruined. This way, your videos will play properly.
Make sure that the video your record or download is in a format that is compatible with your Android device. It is best to store the video in your internal disk when you record it and then move it to your computer or SD card afterward.
When videos stop playing on your Android device, there is no cause for alarm. Using the steps outlined above, you can update the system and media player apps so they operate normally. You may also clear the cache to free up system resources so they play videos well, or restart the android phone to restore file hierarchy and structure. Use Wondershare Video Repair to repair corrupted videos on your Android device.
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Eleanor Reed
staff Editor