Samsung users often complain that their videos are not playing or won’t open. This can be due to outdated or faulty video player apps, accumulation of cache data, incompatible video format, interruption during transferring or downloading, or file corruption.
Try the methods mentioned in this blog to fix the ‘videos not playing on Samsung phone’ issue.
Why are my videos not playing on Samsung phone?
From file corruption to an unsupported video format, there could be various reasons behind videos not playing on Samsung phones. Here are some common reasons:
- Corrupt or damaged video file
- Unsupported video format
- Incomplete video download/transfer
- Using an outdated video player app
- Using an outdated Android version.
- Virus or malware infection
- Improper video conversion
- App permission
- Cache Accumulation
Methods to Fix Video Not Playing on Samsung Phone
Here are some of the easiest ways to fix the error’ Samsung phone not playing videos.’
Restart the device/ video player
If your videos are not playing on a Samsung phone, close all the apps running in the background and restart your phone.
Alternatively, close the video player you’re using and relaunch it to see if the video plays.
Update the video player app
Often, outdated video player apps can cause issues like ‘videos not playing,’ ‘video won’t open,’ etc. Update your video player app immediately to eliminate the issue of video not playing on Samsung phone.
Re-download the Video
If a video downloaded from the internet or any messaging app is not playing on a Samsung phone, try to re-download it and play it again. Often, when the download process is interrupted, the file gets corrupted, making it impossible for Android to recognize it.
Play the video in another video player
If your regular media player does not play a video, try to play it on another app to see if the error is fixed. Try professional video player, such as MX player, VLC media player, or KMPlayer, to play the video.
Convert the Video Format
If your media player does not support the video file format, converting the video into another file format can help fix the issue.
You can convert your video to MP4, MOV, or any other format compatible with your video player using Video Converter, Video Format Factory app, etc., on your phone. You can even use VLC Media Player or other online tools on your Windows/Mac to convert the video and transfer it to your Samsung phone.
Caution: Do not work on the original video file. Make a copy of the original file and then use it.
Check Storage Permission
If the Gallery app of your Samsung phone doesn’t have storage permission, it won’t read videos stored on the device, let alone play them. You must grant the required storage permission to the Gallery app so that it can play the video. Here’s how to give storage permission to the Gallery app:
- Tap the Gallery app icon on the Samsung phone and open the info menu.
- Select Permissions > Photos and videos.
- Tap the radio button beside Always allow all.
Phone is Overheating
If your Samsung phone is overheating after a long gaming or video recording session or due to multiple apps running in the background, it eats up your phone’s CPU.
So, if your phone gets too hot, it slows down the processor and drains the battery quickly.
In such a situation, let your phone cool down and try to play your video after some time. Moreover, avoid opening multiple apps at a time.
Lack of Storage on Your Samsung Phone
If your Samsung phone has low storage space or limited internal storage, it fails to perform basic tasks like playing videos. Check your phone’s storage space and take the required steps to free up some storage. Here’s how to check storage space on the Samsung phone:
- On your Samsung phone, go to Settings > Device Care.
- Tap on Storage to see the detailed breakdown of your device storage.
- You can delete Recycle Bin, Unused apps, Duplicate, or large files from your phone to free up space.
Clear Cahe Data
Accumulation of cache, cookies, browser history, and temp files also affects the performance of your Samsung smartphones. So clear your phone cache files to fix this problem.
Update Samsung Phone OS
Update your Samsung phone OS to fix the video not playing issue. Before updating the OS, it is recommended to back up your device data.
Although updating the phone’s OS does not cause data loss, any technical glitch during the update process may lead to losing or corrupting your device data. Here’s how to update Samsung OS:
- Open Settings on your Samsung Phone.
- Go to Software Update and check for the update. If any new version is available, click Download and Install to start the installation process.
Repair Corrupt Video
If you’ve tried everything mentioned above and your Samsung phone is still not playing videos, your video file may be corrupted. There could be various reasons behind this corruption:
- Incomplete download
- Turning off the phone while recording the video
- Transferring the video to an unsafe system
- Removing the SD card while transferring the video
- Malware-attacks
If the Samsung phone’s video is corrupted, it’s best to use a reliable video repair tool to fix the corruption. Stellar Repair for Video is the best tool for repairing corrupt Samsung phone videos. The tool repairs unplayable videos caused by incomplete file transfers/ downloads, malware attacks, OS crashes, etc.
The easy-to-understand tool uses advanced repair algorithms to fix corruption in the video metadata, index, file header, or data frame movement. You can use Stellar Repair for Video to repair multiple videos of the same or different formats, like MP4, MKV, MOV, etc.
To see how the software works, download the free version from here.
Steps to Repair Corrupt Samsung Phone’s Videos
- First, transfer the corrupted video from your Samsung phone to your Windows/Mac.
- Download, install, and launch Stellar Repair for Video software.
- Click Add File to add the corrupted Samsung phone’s videos.
- Next, click Repair to start the repair process.
- Once the repair process ends, click Preview to see the repaired videos. Then click Save Repaired Files to save the videos at the desired location.
Best Practices to Avoid Corruption in Samsung Videos
While the problem of ‘Samsung phones not playing videos’ is widespread, you can prevent this issue altogether by following some best practices:
- Use only a reputed brand’s SD card for your Samsung phone.
- Don’t save any data on the SD card when it’s full or the battery is low.
- Make sure your Samsung video player app is always updated.
- Always save the video in a format compatible with your phone.
- Install an anti-virus tool.
FAQ
How do you repair corrupted MP4 files?
To repair corrupt MP4 files, try the following fixes:
- Convert your MP4 format to another format like MOV, etc.
- Download the required MP4 codec.
- Repair MP4 videos using the VLC Video Fix Feature.
How to fix YouTube videos not playing on Android?
To fix YouTube videos not playing on Android,
- Check the internet connection.
- Force quit the YouTube app and then open it again.
- Clear cache of the YouTube app.
How to fix videos not playing on Google Chrome in Android?
Follow the below steps to fix videos not playing on Google Chrome in Android:
- Check the network settings of your phone.
- Update the Chrome app.
- Clear browsing data and cookies.
- Turn on the JavaScript.
