{"id":195147,"date":"2026-07-23T09:22:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T09:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=195147"},"modified":"2026-07-23T09:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T09:22:18","slug":"fix-whatsapp-video-not-playing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/fix-whatsapp-video-not-playing\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp Video Not Playing? Fix it on Android, iPhone, and Web"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, when you send or receive a video via WhatsApp, it may fail to play, and display errors like “video file cannot be played” or “there was an error playing the video file”. Such errors come up when the file is not fully downloaded, your network connection is unstable, or the app needs a refresh.<\/p>

Other common causes include low storage on the recipient’s device or an unsupported video file format. Here’s how the causes are divided based on format compatibility, storage, and network issues.<\/p>

Causes of WhatsApp Video Not Playing<\/strong><\/h2>

We have broadly divided the causes into two categories.<\/p>

    \n
  1. Video format Issues <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    Unsupported file formats<\/strong> – WhatsApp primarily supports all popular video file formats, including MP4, MOV, and 3GP. However, if someone sends you an AVI, WMV, M2TS, FLV, MKV, or any other incompatible video file, WhatsApp will likely fail to play it.<\/p>

    Incompatible Video Codecs<\/strong> – While a video file may seem to end with .mp4 or .mov, it might be using a codec that WhatsApp cannot read. In that case, the video might fail to load.<\/p>

    File corruption or damage<\/strong> – For users on a slower connection, the default video size limit is 64MB\/480p, while on a faster internet connection, it’s 100MB\/720p. So, when you send an  HD or 4K video via WhatsApp exceeding 64 MB limit, it may sometimes get compressed improperly and become corrupted. WhatsApp may fail to play such video files.<\/p>

      \n
    1. Device and Network Issues <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>

      Poor Network Connectivity <\/strong>– If your internet connection is choppy and weak, the video files may fail to download properly and will not play on your device.<\/p>

      Insufficient Storage<\/strong> – WhatsApp needs temporary storage to download and play video files on your device. If your device has insufficient storage, the video file may freeze, fail to load, or show any playback error.<\/p>

      Corrupted Device Cache<\/strong> – WhatsApp accumulates temporary data whenever you open the app. These cache files can become corrupted with time and cause the app’s media player to glitch.<\/p>

      Outdated App Version<\/strong> – If your WhatsApp version is old, it may contain bugs that can clash with newer mobile OS and video formats causing issues in the video file playback.<\/p>

      Too Many Background Apps<\/strong> – Running too many background apps can consume most of your device’s RAM. As a result, WhatsApp will lack the memory required to render the video.<\/p>

      Common WhatsApp Video Error Messages<\/strong><\/h2>

      If WhatsApp shows you an error message itself, this narrows down the cause behind the playback issue.<\/p>

      Error 1 – There was an error playing the video<\/strong> – This error points to an outdated WhatsApp app version, corrupted app cache, or a temporary server issue.<\/p>

      Error 2 – This video is not available because something is wrong with the video file<\/strong> –  As the name suggests, this one points at the video file itself. If it shows up only for a specific video, skip to the corruption section below.<\/p>

      First Try These General Fixes (For Android and iPhone)<\/strong><\/h2>
        \n
      1. Check your Network Connection<\/strong>. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or vice versa), and confirm your internet connection works fine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Update WhatsApp app<\/strong>. Open the Play Store or App Store, Search WhatsApp, then check for an update and install it if available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Restart the app, or the phone<\/strong>. Close WhatsApp completely, then reopen it. If that doesn’t help, restart your device.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Check your device’s free storage<\/strong>. Free up some space if your phone is more than 90% full. Low storage can quietly break media playback.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

        Fix WhatsApp Video Not Playing on Android<\/strong><\/h2>

        If you are experiencing “WhatsApp video not playing”<\/strong> error on your Android device, try out the below fixes.<\/p>

        Clear the WhatsApp cache<\/strong><\/h3>

        Outdated or corrupted cache on your WhatsApp can cause playback issues. Clearing the cache can help avoid the same.<\/p>