How to Repair Corrupt MP4 and MOV Files using VLC Player
Summary: This blog shares various methods to use VLC Media Player to repair corrupt MP4 and MOV formats videos. In some cases, if you aren’t able to fix a video problem, the post recommends Stellar Repair for Video tool that can make severely corrupt videos playable again.
Most of us are familiar with VLC, a free media player for viewing movies. But, we are not familiar with the capabilities of the application and the features that it offers to deal with corrupted or damaged media files. This may take you by surprise, but you can repair corrupt MP4 and MOV files using VLC Player. VLC transcode abilities allow converting damaged MOV and MP4 videos into playable files!
At times, you may get an error message while attempting to access media files in VLC that shows that the files are broken, and the player cannot read it. It may prompt to ask for user permission to repair the file. Unaware of the repairing capabilities of VLC, we usually select ‘No’. Therefore, the next time you encounter a similar issue, and the application asks to repair MP4, MOV, AVI or other media files, click ‘Yes’.
Method# 1: Repair Corrupt MOV & MP4 Files with VLC
VLC Media Player can convert unplayable video files to a playable format. This method works if videos are not playing due to incompatible codecs. Follow the below steps:
Step 1: Launch VLC Player.
Step 2: Go to Media and select Convert/ Save.
Step 3: Click on Add to insert videos that need to be transcoded.
Step 4: Click Convert/ Save.
Step 5: In the Convert window that appears, provide the file name and location against the Destination file option.
Step 6: Select the desired input codec from the Profile list.
Step 7: You can choose the Edit Selected Profile button to change a specified profile settings. You can also create a new profile or delete any existing profile.
Step 8: Next, click Start in the Convert window.
This may help repair video files, therefore, making it playable in VLC and other media players. If not, there are other procedures that can also repair corrupt video files.
Watch the video – How to repair corrupt MP4 & MOV files using VLC Player
Method# 2: Repair with VLC built-in video fix feature
VLC Player has a built-in feature to fix AVI video files. If you have a corrupt video other than AVI, like MP4 or MOV, first change the file extension to .AVI and then use this VLC feature to fix the video problem.
Note: Don’t work on the original MP4 or MOV file. Create a copy and apply this VLC fix on it.
Follow the below steps to repair MP4 or MOV video using AVI fix in VLC:
Step 1: To rename MP4/ MOV video file, right click on it. Select Rename and change extension to .AVI. Hit Enter.
Step 2: Now, launch VLC Player
Step 3: Select Tools on top. Click and follow Preferences >Input or Codecs.
Step 4: Select Always Fix next to Repair AVI Files.
Step 5: Click on Save at the bottom
Now, try to play your repaired videos in VLC or other player, the video problem should be fixed.
Method# 3 Increase cache values in VLC
If your videos or movies stutter, lag, or are playing jerky in VLC, increasing the media player’s cache values may help.
Follow the below steps to increase cache value:
Step 1: Open VLC Player.
Step 2: Go to Tools. Click Preferences.
Step 3: At the bottom left in Show settings select the All.
Step 4: Click on Input/ Codecs option from the list.
Step 5: On the right pane, scroll down to Advanced.
Step 6: Under Advanced, across File caching (ms) change the values from 300 to 1000 or above.
Step 7: Click Save and restart VLC.
Now, your MP4 and MOV videos should play fine in VLC Media Player.
Method# 4 Change video output module in VLC
If your MP4 or MOV video files show black, white or other distortions when trying to play in VLC Media Player, change the video output settings of the player.
This would fix poorly playing video problem in VLC.
Step 1: Open Tools > Preferences.
Step 2: Choose Video.
Step 3: In Video Settings, under Output change settings from Automatic to DirectX (DirecDraw) video output. Note: Windows XP and below users can try DirectX 3D, DirectX, OpenGL and Windows GDI video output modules.
Step 4: Click Save and restart VLC.
Unable to repair videos with VLC Player? Get a Video Repair Software
If none of the above-mentioned VLC Media player video fixes help in resolving the issue, you can try using Video Repair Software to repair your corrupt MOV and MP4 files. The tool has the capability to deal with all kinds of MP4, MOV corruption issues including broken file header, compression issues, slider movement problem, frames corruption etc. The software also fixes video errors that pop-up due to file corruption.
You can try the software free version here to evaluate and asses if the software can repair your corrupt video.
Steps to Repair corrupt Video Files – MOV, MP4 with Video Repair software
Step 1: Launch Stellar Repair for Video
Step 2: Click Add file upload damaged or unplayable MP4 and MOV files to the software
Step 3: Click the ‘Repair’ button. The software begins repair process.
Step 4: Preview the repaired files before saving them to your desired location.
Step 5: Select files and click on Save Repaired Files. In dialog box choose location to save the your repaired videos and click Save.
Advantages of using a professional video repair tool
Using a professional video repair tool such as Stellar Repair for Video can help you fix severely corrupt video files. Unlike VLC Media Player, you don’t require to follow intricate steps. The algorithms of the video repair software automatically fixes a corrupt video in 3 steps – Add file, Repair and Save. The software is compatible with latest Windows and macOS versions including Catalina.
Other benefits:
- It repairs video files stored on hard drives (external or internal), memory cards, digital camera, smartphones, or other video storage devices
- Not only MP4 and MOV, you can repair several other video file formats such as AVI, ASF, WMV, MKV, FLV, DIVX, WEBM, MJPEG, MPEG, AVCHD, MTS, 3G2, 3GP, M4V and F4V.
- The software can help you fix any number of corrupt videos at one go.
Finally
VLC Media Player has repairing capabilities but the open source tool isn’t always successful in repairing corrupt videos. A dedicated video repair software can be considered an effective alternative to bring corrupt video files to a playable format. The professional video repair software saves your good amount of time and you can also approach technical expert for free video repair advice.
About The Author
Sumona Chatterjee
Sumona is a technical blogger with experience in writing data recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 7-year experience in data recovery/repair technology. She is passionate about Photography and Exploring lesser-known destinations.
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Hi,
I want to recover some old video files that I have deliberately deleted in the past.
Using the licences that I bought for EaseUS Data Recovery I was able to identify some of them, but when I tried to play the videos that was impossible to start in VLC player and Media Player. even tried to repair videos with incorporated VLC tools, but nothing.
Tried then using Stellar Free version and faced with the same issue as Adam here in comments. Advanced repair loop started and finally the result is that I cannot view those MP4 and AVI.
Hi Tudorel, Our Software Free version provides preview of repaired files up to 20% of total video size. If our software preview the repaired file it’s definitly repaired the corrupt file. You need to purchase license version If the issue occur goto Advanced repair option and add a sample video file of same format (here MP4 file) shot with the same device as your corrupt video. Thanks!
I tried using Stellar Repair for video to fix a corrupted MP4 movie file. The software told me it was very corrupted and recommended Advanced Repair. Which I did use. I tried twice and it still said it was too corrupted is there anything I can do. BTW it asked in the Advanced Repair section for a sample video. Maybe I’m still doing something wrong?
Hi Adam,
In the case of a severely corrupted video file, the software gives you an option of Advance Repair using sample file.
You have to add a sample video file of same format (here MP4 file) shot with the same device as your corrupt video.
I was recording a Bandicam MP4 when suddenly the game I was recording crashed. I’ve tried everything and wasn’t able to repair the file.
Hi Alec,
Try Stellar Repair for Video to fix corrupt MP4 video. Also you can do few things to fix Bandicam crash issue like reinstall your computer’s graphic drivers and next time record at lower frame rate. Bandicam provides a software called Bandifix that would fix broken AVI videos but not MP4, so to be on the safer side you may decide to set output video at AVI.
Thanks for sharing this article, I download this software and used it. It was very useful.
Dear Madam,
Can MP4 files damaged by jope ransomware be repaired. I have removed the virus through Malawarebytes and Antivirus and decryptor and bulk renaming, but unable to recover damaged files, they do not run. I even used Stellar video repair, but it is unable to recover. any suggestions.
Regards,
Mukhtar
If you have already purchased the software, you may then contact our support team via online chat or toll free number. Thanks!
VLC did not work for me. Stellar did work but did not recover the video 100% Plus when I hit save, it asks me to pay for a license key.
Hi Padipundhi, You can save the recovered files by using the licensed key.
I cannot thank you enough. I have scoured to the ends of the internet to fix capture galleries from my PS4. So you have an Idea, ps4 does not copy videos to usb well and typically corrupts the videos, which is bad for my uploading to my twitch channel.
Not only did this work, it is the only thing that works to recover this data. You guys are literally the best. THANK YOU SO MUCH I could hug every last one of you!
Hi Dan,
Thanks for reading our blog – ‘How to Recover Deleted or Lost PS4 Game Videos from HDD?’
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
I’m quite sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
Hi Greg, Thanks for sharing your valuable feedback with us. Keep reading for the next update!