Windows Media Player Cannot Play the File: 9 Fixes
- Download Codecs Automatically. …
- Install Codecs Separately. …
- Set Correct Audio Device. …
- Update Audio and Video Drivers. …
- Update Windows 10. …
- Disable/Enable WMP. …
- Check Windows Registry. …
- Use a Different Media Player.
Also Why is my video file not playing?
Common Reasons for Video Playback Errors
Your media player cannot play it. Codecs are missing from your computer. The file extension is unrecognized. A DRM decryption key is missing.
Subsequently, How do you fix Windows Media Player Cannot play the file because there is a problem with your sound device?
Things to try:
- Method 1: Quit other programs that might be using your sound device, and then try to play the file again.
- Method 2: Install an updated driver.
- Method 3: If you have multiple sound devices installed on your computer, try using a different one.
Why isnt Media Player Cannot play the file? Windows Media Player cannot play the file error can occur if the file you’re trying to play is encoded using a codec that is not supported by your Windows Media Player. If this is the case, try using a different media player.
How do you resolve Windows Media Player Cannot play the file the player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file?
To resolve this problem,
configure Windows Media Player to download codecs automatically
.
…
Resolution
- On the Tools menu, select Options.
- Select the Player tab, select the Download codecs automatically check box, and then select OK.
- Try to play the file.
How do you know if a video is corrupted?
Look at the file size. Right-click on the file and choose “Properties.” You will see the file size in the Properties. Compare this to another version of the file or a similar file if you have one. If you have another copy of the file and the file you have is smaller, then it may be corrupt.
Why MP4 files are not playing?
The simplest way to fix this problem is to use a video conversion software to convert the MP4 file. If your MP4 videos are not playing, you can also try switching to a different media player. Codecs can be a reason why MP4 files are not playing, so we advise you to check them.
How do I fix Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file Windows 7?
Part 2.
Solve “Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem While Playing the File”
- Method 1: Use Windows Media Player Troubleshooter. …
- Method 2: Reinstall WMP. …
- Method 3: Download Windows Media Play codecs. …
- Method 4: Convert a video format to another format.
Why is Windows Media Player not working on Windows 10?
1) Try reinstalling Windows Media Player with a PC restart in between: Type Features in Start Search, open Turn Windows Features On or Off, under Media Features, uncheck Windows Media Player, click OK. Restart PC, then reverse the process to check WMP, OK, restart again to reinstall it.
Why won’t videos play on my laptop Windows 7?
There are reasons that Windows Media Player might have trouble playing a video other than a missing or broken codec—namely, problems with the video file itself. First, make sure your video file is complete; if you downloaded it from the Web, try clearing your browser cache and downloading the file again.
How do I fix this file isn’t playable?
To resolve such issues, try to play the video file on any other device or media player to see if it resolves the issue. Sometimes, updating the display driver or installing the Windows updates can help in fixing the error.
How do I fix Media Player error?
Windows Media Player errors
- Click the Start button and type system restore.
- Select Create a restore point, and then in the System Properties pane, select System Restore.
- Follow the prompts to select the restore point just before the round of updates that seemed to trigger the problem.
Why won’t my Windows Media Player play MP4 files?
Windows Media Player doesn’t come with the necessary video codecs, and this is why Windows 10 won’t be able to play mp4 files on your computer. Windows 10 doesn’t have native support for all MP4 files, therefore, it relies on video codecs. … CyberLink Power DVD is a great player, and if MP4 won’t play, be sure to try it.
How does a video file get corrupted?
Your videos may get corrupted due to different reasons, such as technical glitches or bad sectors in the storage drive. It can be a virus attack on files, malware in the system, or an improper video file transfer from camera to computer that corrupts video files.
How do I know if a file is corrupted?
Perform a check disk on the hard drive
Open Windows File Explorer and then right click on the drive and select ‘Properties’. From here, select ‘Tools‘ and then click ‘Check’. This will scan and attempt to fix glitches or bugs on the hard drive and recover corrupt files.
What does a corrupt file look like?
A corrupted file may not open at all, or it may appear scrambled and unreadable. This does not always indicate that the core program is corrupted, however – such as might be the case, for example, when a Microsoft Word file will not open, but all other files of the same type remain unaffected.
How do I fix a MP4 file that won’t play?
Follow the steps below:
- Right-click on the corrupt . …
- Change the file format to . …
- Launch VLC >> Click on Tools and select Preferences.
- Switch to Input/Codecs section; Inputs/Codecs Settings window will open.
- Under the files section, select Always fix in the Damaged or incomplete AVI file option and click Save..
Why isn’t my MP4 Cannot play video?
One of the main reasons behind VLC not playing MP4 video could be the incompatibility of MP4 codec with VLC. To fix this issue, you need to convert the MP4 file to other formats that are fully compatible with VLC. … Or you can download the VLC codec pack from the VLC site to install the required codecs for the MP4 video.
What does this mean Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file?
If the “Windows Media Player encountered a problem” error message pops up when you try to play an AVI, WAV or MOV video, your WMP software might be missing some codecs needed to play those file formats. Installing a few codec packs might resolve the issue for those video formats.
How do I fix Windows Media Player error?
Windows Media Player errors
- Click the Start button and type system restore.
- Select Create a restore point, and then in the System Properties pane, select System Restore.
- Follow the prompts to select the restore point just before the round of updates that seemed to trigger the problem.
Can I uninstall and reinstall Windows Media Player?
However, unlike other programs you can reinstall, you don’t actually need to delete Windows Media Player, nor do you download it from a website when you want to install it. Instead, just disable Windows Media Player within the Windows Features utility to remove it, or enable it to add it back to your computer.
How do I get Windows Media Player to work on Windows 10?
In some editions of Windows 10, it’s included as an optional feature that you can enable. To do that, select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features > Add a feature > Windows Media Player, and select Install.
What replaces Windows Media Player in Windows 10?
Best Windows Media Player Alternatives
- VLC Media Player. VLC Media Player is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as discs, devices, and network streaming protocols. …
- Kodi. …
- PotPlayer. …
- Plex Media Server. …
- WMPoweruser. …
- 5KPlayer. …
- MediaMonkey. …
- KMPlayer.
How do I repair Windows Media Player in Windows 10?
How to Reinstall Windows Media Player in Windows 7, 8, or 10 to Solve Problems
- Step 1: Uninstall Windows Media Player. Open up Control Panel and type “windows features” into the search box, and then click on Turn Windows features on or off. …
- Step 2: Reboot. That is all.
- Step 3: Turn Windows Media Player Back On.