How to Fix VLC Won’t Play MP4 Videos: 6 Effective Solutions

VLC Media Player supports MP4 files by default, but playback issues can still occur. Sometimes, VLC may fail to open an MP4 file, display a black screen, or show an error message such as "Unable to open the file." This guide explores the common reasons VLC won't play MP4 videos and provides effective solutions to get your files working again.

Possible Reasons for VLC Not Playing MP4

• Outdated version of VLC
• Missing codecs
• Improper playback settings
• A corrupted MP4 file

#1 Outdated version of VLC

If you’re using an older version of VLC Media Player, sometimes it might not play your MP4 or other video files.

#2 Missing codecs

If the required MP4 codec is missing from the VLC media player, it won’t play the video because it can’t identify the video or audio codec.

#3 Improper playback settings

VLC's playback settings also determine whether it can play videos. Improper playback settings can cause some problems with video playback.

#4 A corrupted MP4 file

If your MP4 video file is corrupted, it can’t be played with VLC Media Player or other media players.

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How to Fix VLC Won’t Play MP4

• Update VLC
• Convert MP4 to VLC-Supported Format
• Use Another Video Player
• Disable Hardware Decoding in VLC
• Change the Video Output Setting
• Reinstall VLC

Method 1: Update VLC

The first simple solution is to update VLC to the latest version, which can fix some temporary glitches and bugs.

Method 2: Convert MP4 to VLC-Supported Format

Fast Track:

1. Install MiniTool Video Converter.
2. Upload the MP4 file.
3. Set output format, codec, and resolution.
4. Start conversion.
5. Check the converted file.

Since MP4 supports multiple codecs, VLC may not play some files correctly. For better compatibility, convert the video to MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. If the file is 4K, reducing it to 1080p may also improve playback.

You can do this with MiniTool Video Converter, a free tool that converts video and audio files, supports various formats, lets you adjust video codec, resolution, and frame rate, and adds no watermark to the output.

Here is how to convert MP4 to a VLC-supported format with MiniTool Video Converter.

Step 1. Download and install MiniTool Video Converter.

Click the button below to download and install MiniTool Video Converter on your computer.

MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2. Upload the MP4 file.

Run MiniTool Video Converter and click on the Add or Drag files here to start conversion area to upload your MP4 video file.

Step 3. Set output format, codec, and resolution.

Click the gear icon. In the pop-up window, go to the Video tab, and select MP4 on the left.

Then, click the + Create Custom option to create a custom MP4 format by editing some parameters, and click Create. Then, select the custom format.

Step 4. Start conversion.

Click Convert to start the conversion task.

Step 5: Check the converted file.

Once the conversion is complete, click the folder icon to locate the converted file.

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With MiniTool Video Converter, you can convert MP4 to a VLC-supported codec and resolution easily.

Method 3: Use Another Video Player

You can try another video player when VLC won’t play MP4 files. There are many other VLC alternatives for smooth playback. If the MP4 video can be played with other media players, then the video file is not corrupted. On the contrary, if the playback fails, it means that the video file is damaged. If so, you need a video repair tool to repair it.

MiniTool Video Repair allows you to repair broken MP4, MOV, M4V, and F4V videos for free as well as videos from GoPro, Sony, Canon, DJI drones, and more. You can use this application to fix your MP4 video and then try opening it with VLC again.

MiniTool Video RepairClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Method 4: Disable Hardware Decoding in VLC

Another way to fix VLC Media Player not playing MP4 is to disable hardware decoding.

Step 1. Open the VLC Media Player and click Tools > Preferences.

Step 2. Click All at the bottom left corner.

Step 3. On the right side, change the Hardware decoding setting from Automatic to Disable.

Step 4. Click Save to save your changes. Relaunch VLC and play your MP4 file again.

Method 5: Change the Video Output Setting

You can also change the video output module to fix the VLC MP4 playback issue.

Step 1. In the VLC Media Player, select Tools > Preferences.

Step 2. Click the Audio tab at the top, ensure the Enable audio option is selected, and click Save.

Step 3. Go to the Video tab, make sure that the Enable video option is selected, change the Output setting from Automatic to OpenGL video output, and click Save.

Step 4. Restart your VLC and then see if the MP4 playback issue is solved.

Method 6: Reinstall VLC

To fix VLC not playing MP4, you can also reinstall this application. First, uninstall it from your computer. Then, go to the VLC official website to download VLC again. Once the installation is finished, open it and try playing the MP4 file.

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Tip: Best MP4 Video Editor

If you want to edit your MP4 video, MiniTool MovieMaker, an easy-to-use and feature-rich video editor, is a good choice. This application allows you to trim, split, crop, rotate, reverse, speed up, and slow down videos, change the video aspect ratio, apply filters, transitions, and motion effects, add stickers and text, etc.

After editing, you can export the MP4 video up to 1080p for free and without watermarks.

MiniTool MovieMakerClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

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Conclusion

VLC failing to play MP4 videos is usually caused by codec incompatibility, software issues, incorrect settings, or file corruption. To fix this problem, converting the video to a VLC-friendly codec (H.264 video and AAC audio) is a good way. MiniTool Video Converter can help you do this.

If you have any questions about MiniTool Video Converter or MiniTool MovieMaker, please contact us via support@minitool.com for help.

VLC Won’t Play MP4 FAQ