Why Videos Not Playing On Android Phone? 15 Quick Solutions!

A smooth video experience is something you and every Android user expect, but sometimes, things don't go as planned. Videos not playing on Android can disrupt entertainment, work, or important moments shared through different platforms, and this causes extreme frustration. The right approach makes all the difference in restoring seamless playback, and that's what this guide is all about!

Part 1. Why Are Videos Not Playing on My Android Phone?

There might be many reasons why videos fail to play on your Android phone, whether you are trying to view them from the device's Gallery, Chrome browser, YouTube app, or received from an iPhone. Some of these reasons are:

• Temporary glitches in Android software.
• Low storage.
• Outdated Media player app or phone OS.
• Corrupt video files, network settings, or phone firmware.
• Outdated browser.
• Corrupt YouTube app or browser cache.
• Internet connectivity issues.
• Video is shot in high resolution and frame rate and sent to Android.
• MP4 encoded in HEVC.

Part 2. How to Fix Android Can't Play This Video Error In Gallery

If your Android phone pops an error that it can't play a video, below are some of the quick fixes:

Restart Android Phone

A simple restart often resolves temporary glitches. Power off the device, wait a few seconds and turn it back on. This clears background processes that may interfere with video playback. If the issue persists, try a force restart by holding the power and volume buttons together until the phone reboots.

Fix Low Storage

Insufficient space can prevent videos from playing on your Android phone. Check storage by opening "Settings" > "Storage" and delete unnecessary files. Moving large media files to an SD card or cloud storage helps free up space. Clearing the cache of the Gallery app under "Settings" > "Apps" also helps resolve playback issues.

Update Outdated Media Player

An outdated media player may not support certain video formats, especially if you are using an app other than the default one on your Android. To fix this, update it from the Google Play Store. Open "Play Store" > "Search for the media player" > Tap "Update" if available. Some media players struggle with advanced codecs, so switching to a reliable app like VLC or MX Player can improve compatibility and resolve the problem.

Update Android OS

Older Android versions may lack support for newer video formats saved on your phone. Therefore, make sure the OS of your phone is up to date. Go to "Settings" > "System" > "Software Updates," let the phone check for updates, and install.

Reset Android Phone

If none of the fixes work, a factory reset might be necessary. This restores default settings on your phone and removes potential software conflicts. Before proceeding, back up important files. To reset, open "Settings" > "System" > "Reset options" > "Factory data reset" and follow the prompts.

After resetting, set up the device and check if the videos play without issues.

Part 3. 4 Ways to Fix Videos Not Playing on Android Browser

Videos failing to play in Chrome on Android can be frustrating. Here are a few ways to stop this from happening:

Reset Network Settings

Incorrect network settings on your Android can disrupt video playback. Reset them by opening "Settings" > "System" > "Reset Phone > "Reset Wi-Fi Settings" (Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth).

This clears network configurations, which may resolve video playback issues in Chrome.

Update Chrome

An outdated Chrome browser might not support certain video formats. To fix this, open the Google Play Store, search for Google Chrome, and check for an update. If available, tap to download, restart Chrome, play a video, and see if this fixes the problem.

Clear Chrome Cache

Chrome saves cookies and site data to speed up page loading time but these stored cache files can cause videos not to play on the browser. The fix? Clear them by opening Chrome, then go to "Settings" > "Privacy and Security" > "Clear Data." Select Cached images and files, then tap "Clear data."

Restart Chrome and stream the video again.

Check Internet Connectivity

Slow internet is often the main culprit for video playback failure and constant buffering. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if videos start to play.

Part 4. How to Fix MP4 Video Not Playing on Android Phone

MP4 is a supported file type for your Android phone, and it should play videos in this format. However, if you can't play them, we'll share below 3 best fixes:

Save Another MP4

The video you saved on your Android can be corrupt and that's why it won't play. A quick hack is either to download the video again from another reputable source or ask the sender to send it again.

Install Another Media Player

The default Android media player or any other player you installed on your phone might not be compatible with running the MP4 files. It is best to install the VLC Media Player for Android. It is available on the Google Play Store that can play all kind of files, including all MP4 types, seamlessly.

Convert MP4 Video to Android Supported MP4

Most of the time, Android can play MP4 videos. But the catch is MP4 is a container and the one you are trying to play is encoded with high-efficiency video coding like H.265 rather than the Android-supported H.263 or H.264 AVC codec.

The fix is to make the MP4 video file more supported on Android. How? Open the Digital Office Pro converter website, upload the video, select 264, and click "Convert Now."

Now, you'll get the Android-supported MP4 video, which you can play on your Android without issues.

Part 5. iPhone Videos Not Playing On Android

You may have a low-end Android phone that cannot play videos shot on an iPhone's 4K resolution and 60 fps frame rate. Although you can resolve this glitch by installing the VLC Media player on Android, many users still face this issue afterward.

The workaround is to first lower the frame rate and compress the video to lower the resolution as well. To do this, download the HitPaw Univd Video Converter on your PC, launch the program, and click "Add Video." Then, click the "Edit" button next to the video to change the resolution to 1920 x 1080 and change the frame rate to 30 or 24 FPS.

Finally, click "Convert," export your video to the phone and it should play fine now.

If the problem persists, go to the HitPaw Online Video Compressor website on your Android browser and compress this video without losing quality.

Part 6. 3 Ways to Fix YouTube Videos Not Playing on Android Phone

YouTube videos often fail to play or load on your Android phone, and fixing this issue is not as complicated as it seems. Here are a few solutions:

Force Quit YouTube

Closing and reopening YouTube can fix temporary issues causing playback glitches. The first solution is to open "Settings" > "Apps" > "YouTube," then tap "Force Stop." Open YouTube again and try playing a video. If the issue rises again, restart your device.

Clear YouTube App Cache

YouTube cache can bulk up and corrupt, which can interfere with playback. Open "Settings" > "Apps" > "YouTube" > "Storage," then tap "Clear Storage" and "Clear Cache."

Restart the app and check if the videos play without issues. If problems continue, consider updating YouTube or reinstalling it.

Check Internet Connection

A Weak internet connection is the major reason for YouTube videos not playing on Android. First, restart the router if using Wi-Fi. If on mobile data, toggle Airplane Mode on and off to refresh the connection. Also, disable any active VPNs, as they may slow down video loading. If you are experiencing the same issue with other streaming apps, talk to your ISP and ask them to resolve the backend issues that result in internet speed lagging.

Part 7. FAQs of Videos Not Playing on Android

Conclusion on Videos Not Playing on Android

In this guide, you've discovered why videos don't play on Android when you use the YouTube app or browser. This problem also occurs when you try to view videos on your phone's Gallery or if someone sent them from an iPhone.

Hopefully, the abovementioned methods will help you resolve the issue quickly and get back to viewing in no time.