Step 01 Download and launch the HitPaw Video Converter on your PC
Step 02 Open the main interface and press on "Add Video"
Step 03 From the given options, select the desired output format for your MP4 video.
Step 04 Click on the "Convert" button.
It can be pretty irritating when VLC won't play MP4, but it's not a problem you can't solve. If you're stuck in this situation, rest assured because you're at the right place. We'll tell you exactly why your VLC is not playing MP4 video and seven ways you can fix that error!
There are a few reasons why VLC is not playing MP4. Firstly, the MP4 video you're trying to play may be corrupt or fake. Other than that, it may be that your VLC "video output modes" are set incorrectly.
It could also be that VLC won't play MP4 video because it faces an MP4 video codec problem on your PC. Lastly, you might be trying to play an MP4 video on an outdated version of the VLC player. Regardless, we have the solution for all these issues; keep reading to find out.
Fixing the "VLC won't play MP4" issue is a lot easier than it may seem. Since it may root in different errors in your PC, we have seven different solutions to cater to each problem. If your VLC player is not playing MP4, you can try converting the MP4 video to a VLC-compatible format.
You could also try another MP4 player or repair the corrupted MP4. Regardless, we have many different ways you can solve the VLC can't play MP4 video issue. Keep reading to find out how you can get rid of this problem with the help solutions discussed below.
It's possible that your VLC won't play MP4 because the MP4 video you're trying to play is not compatible with the VLC player. The HitPaw Video Converter is the best software to do so. It has the lightning-fast conversion speed and 800+ supportive video and audio formats. You don’t need to dive into plenty of tutorials to learn its use it since its interface is user-friendly.
Also, this software lets you download YouTube videos from over 1000 websites in HD, 2K, 4K, and even 8K. You can easily and quickly convert your downloaded file into any desired file format in a hassle-free way.
Here's how you can convert your MP4 video to a VLC-compatible format on HitPaw:
Of course, you could always try another MP4 video player that doesn't show the same errors and bugs as the VLC player. This will help you branch out and see which services work best. You may even find some MP4 video players that offer you features you wouldn't have found in VLC.
GOM Player is an excellent alternative to VLC. It is free, but it also has a user-friendly interface and allows you to control it from your mobile. Plus, it has quick conversion support, so you never have to face the "VLC player won't play MP4" issue again!
It's also possible that the MP4 file you're trying to play is corrupted or fake. Here's how you can repair a corrupted MP4 file if MP4 won't play on VLC:
If you find that your VLC player does not have this option, it's probably better to use an MP4 repair tool to fix the corrupted MP4 file.
As we mentioned, it's probably that VLC won't play MP4 because it is facing an MP4 video codec problem on your PC. Here's how you can install the required and correct MP4 codec for the VLC player in a few simple steps:
You can also use an online alternative to the VLC MP4 codec.
Disabling the hardware decoding of VLC may also help the you to resolve the issue. You can disable the hardware decoding of the VLC player on a Windows PC by following these steps:
Changing the video output module on VLC is another effective way to solve the VLC not converting to mp4 issue; here's how you can do so:
Lastly, you're probably using an outdated version of the VLC player, causing it to display a 'VLC can't play MP4' issue. Here's how you can update or install the latest version of the VLC player:
Although it may be an inconvenience, the VLC won't play MP4 issue isn't that serious of an error. The easiest and preferable solution is to use HitPaw Video Converter. This software has interesting video conversion options that you will love. You can convert videos safely, quickly, and efficiently.
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