Top 5 Methods to Resolve ‘MOV Files Not Playing’ Error

MOV is quite a popular video file format mainly due to its high quality, widespread compatibility with Apple devices, and support for multiple tracks (video, audio). However, sometimes you might encounter a situation when these MOV videos get corrupted or become unplayable. If you fail to play MOV videos on your device, don’t worry! 

There are several MOV file repair methods available online that you can try to repair those corrupt videos. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss common reasons for video corruption and the top 5 methods to resolve the ‘MOV files not playing’ error effectively.   

What Makes MOV Videos Unplayable?

MOV videos can become unplayable due to several reasons, some of them are:

- Corrupted Video Files: File corruption can occur due to improper downloading, transferring, or sudden power loss during recording, which makes video players unable to recognize your videos. 

- Unsupported Codec: The required codec for encoding or decoding the video may not be installed on the media player and this leads to MOV files not playing error. 

- Incomplete Downloads or Transfers: Interruptions during the download or transfer process can result in an incomplete or corrupted file. 

- Media Player Issues: The media player being used might have compatibility issues or lack the necessary updates to play the MOV file. 

- File System Errors: Issues with the storage device, such as bad sectors or file system corruption, can affect the file's integrity and make the video unplayable.

Quick Methods to Fix MOV Videos Not Playing

Now that you are familiar with the reasons why MOV files aren’t playing on your device, it’s time to apply adequate MOV file repair methods to fix them. Just go with the below-mentioned methods one by one to get your videos to play again.

Method 01: Repair MOV Videos Using Video Repair Software

Let’s start with the simplest method first! Before you proceed with any manual methods to repair unplayable videos, try using professional video repair software. Tools like Stellar Repair for video allow you to video repair due to any reason, including OS crashes, viruses, malware attacks, editing/ recording/ converting errors, improper file transfer, etc. 

Key Features of Stellar Repair for Video Software

- The Stellar Repair for Video tool supports repairing videos saved on any internal or external storage devices, such as Memory cards, USB Drives, SSDs, HDDs, and many more. 

- Easily repair any corrupted, damaged, broken & choppy videos.

- Provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for easy and quick recovery even for beginners.

- It allows you to repair multiple video files of different formats simultaneously.

- The preview feature of the software allows you to preview repaired files before saving them.

Here’s how to repair MOV videos using the Stellar Repair for Video tool:

Step 1: Download, install, and launch the Stellar Repair for Video software on your Windows/Mac device. Click the Add Videos button to upload the corrupt MOV videos that you need to repair. 

 

Step 2: Click the Repair button to begin the repairing process and wait till it is completed. 

 

Step 3: After completion of the repair process, preview the repaired videos and click the Save Repaired Files button to save the repaired videos at the desired location. 

 

Method 02: Update Your Media Player

Sometimes, your videos might not play on any video player if it is outdated. An outdated player might not support the latest codecs or could have bugs that prevent it from playing certain files. In such cases, you can follow the below steps to update your media player:

Steps to Update Your Media Player:

Windows Media Player:

- Launch the Windows Media Player. 

- Navigate to the Help menu and tap the "Check for updates" button. 

- Go through the on-screen instructions to install any available updates.

QuickTime Player: 

- Open QuickTime Player. 

- Go to the Help menu and select "Update Existing Software." 

- Follow the on-screen instructions to update QuickTime Player.

 

VLC Media Player: 

- Open VLC Media Player. 

- Go to Help, then click Check for Updates. 

- If an update is available, follow the instructions to install it.

 

Method 03: Try Other Media Player

If you are facing the “MOV Files Not Playing” issue even after updating the media player on your device, then try playing your MOV videos on other video players. Different media players have varying levels of codec support and performance. 

Here are some commonly used video players that you can try:

- VLC Media Player: Known for its wide range of supported formats and powerful playback capabilities. 

- Windows Media Player: Integrates seamlessly with Windows OS, offering a user-friendly interface for playing and managing media files. 

- QuickTime Player: Designed by Apple, it provides high-quality video playback and supports various multimedia formats, especially on macOS.

Method 04: Use VLC to Repair MOV Videos

Apart from the above-mentioned third-party video repair software, you can use Windows' built-in VLC player to repair videos that are corrupted or unplayable. VLC is a versatile application which allows you not only to play videos but also to repair them in several ways. You just need to convert your MOV video to AVI format first and then apply the below-given steps to get unplayable MOV videos repaired: 

- Firstly, convert your corrupt MOV file into AVI using any online video converter.

- Launch VLC player. Click on Tools from the menu bar at the top and then tap Preferences.

- Under the "Input/Codecs" section, click the drop-down button next to "Damaged or incomplete AVI file".

- Select "Always Fix" from the dropdown menu.

- Save the changes and try playing the MOV video again. 

Method 05: Update Graphics Drivers

If your MOV videos are unable to play due to outdated or corrupt graphics drivers, then you can fix the issue by updating the drivers. All you have to do is:

Steps to update graphics drivers:

On Windows: 

- Press Win + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu that appears. 

- Expand the "Display adapters" section. 

- Right-click your graphics card and select "Update driver." 

- Lastly, click on the "Search automatically for updated driver software" option and follow the on-screen prompts.

 

On Mac: 

- Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences." 

- Click "Software Update" to check for and install any available updates. 

Updating your graphics drivers can enhance video playback performance and resolve issues with playing MOV files.

Wrapping Up:

If you are unable to play MOV files on your device, apply the above-mentioned top 5 methods to resolve the ‘MOV Files Not Playing’ error. These methods will help you to troubleshoot and resolve the problem effectively. Whether it’s updating your media player and graphics drivers or using a third-party video repair software, each method offers a practical solution to get your MOV files playing smoothly again. By systematically applying these video repair methods, you can enjoy your multimedia files without interruption and ensure a seamless playback experience.