The solutions listed can fix corrupt videos shot on Android, iOS, action cams, DSLRs, and other professional cameras etc.
If you’re wondering, “Is it possible to recover a corrupted video file?” before attempting to fix it, try these:
- Try different media players (VLC, MPC-HC, QuickTime).
- Copy the file to another device and try playing the video
- Ensure codecs are installed.
- Rule out hardware issues (damaged SD card reader, bad USB port).
If the above solutions don’t work, it indicates severe video damage. Proceed and try these methods.
- Why Do Video Files Become Corrupt?
- How to Repair a Video File?
- Remo Video Repair Software
- Fix Corrupt Video Files using VLC Media Player( Convert and Always Fix)
- Online Video Repair Tool
- Tips to Prevent Video Corruption
Why Do Video Files Become Corrupt?
Some of the most common scenarios under which your video might get corrupted are as follows:
Encoding or Decoding Errors: Video encoding compresses large videos into smaller ones. Errors during encoding or decoding can damage the entire video.
Improper Conversions: Converting video files for compatibility can be risky with unreliable tools. Careless video editing can also lead to corruption, rendering MP4 videos unplayable.
File System Errors: The file system on a storage device manages files on your SD card or other storage. Leading to playback issues like audio-video sync problems or MP4 files missing video or audio.
Outdated Drivers: Drivers enable communication between a PC’s hardware and Windows. Outdated drivers can create compatibility issues, leading to video errors.
Virus Infection: Viruses or malware can corrupt files on a device. If infected, recorded videos from cameras may become corrupted and unplayable.
How to Repair a Video File?
From professional video repair tools, VLC Media Player is listed from most to least effective for fixing corrupt video files. Read and pick one.
Solution 1: Use Remo Video Repair Software (Effective)
Remo Video Repair tool uses a powerful algorithm to fix corrupt video files (MP4, MOV, AVI and others) in just a few clicks. It safely repairs videos from various cameras like Androids, iPhones, DSLRs, and action cameras like DJI, GoPro, etc.
Remo Video Repair is considered one of the leading video repair tools and has a strong success rate. It works on Professional-grade cameras from brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, dashcams, or drones. Using read-only mode, it safeguards the original video file.
- Scan file structure.
- Rebuild missing headers/indices.
- Stitch together playable streams and More.
Supported Codecs:
Video – AVC (H.264), and HEVC (H.265)
Audio – aac, sowt, RAW, mp4a, ms, priv, twos
Steps to Repair Corrupt Videos Made Simple:
- Download and open Remo Video Repair Software. Select the corrupt video file by clicking “Select File.”
- Click “Repair.” For severely corrupted video files, the software may request a Reference video file for advanced repair.
- After repair, preview the fixed video for free. If satisfied, click “Save” to store it in your preferred location.
Solution 2: Use VLC Media Player (Free)
For playback errors, use VLC Media Player to repair a corrupt video file for free with its Convert and Always Fix features.
Part 1: Convert Corrupt Video to Another Format
VLC Media Player supports codecs like H.264, MPEG-4, HEVC (H.265). You can fix errors by rebuilding damaged parts during conversion.
- Open VLC, go to “Media,” and click “Convert / Save.”
- Click “Add” to select the corrupt file, then click “Convert / Save.”
- Choose the “Profile” (Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) recommended), select a save folder, and click “Start.”
The converted video, now in H.264 video codec and MP3 audio codec, should play smoothly. If not, try the next method.
Part 2: Use VLC’s Always Fix Option
VLC’s “Always Fix” feature fixes damaged frames, choppy playback and more.
- In VLC, click “Tools” and select “Preferences.”
- Go to the “Input / Codecs” tab.
- Under the “Files” section, select “Always Fix” from the dropdown for “Damaged or incomplete AVI file,” then click “Save.”
Your video file should play without issues. If VLC doesn’t play videos. Try the next solution.
Solution 3: Online Video Repair Tool
Online video repair has limitations. These work well for minor video corruption but struggle with severe or major video corruption or damage.
- Open the Online Video Repair Tool.
- Click “Upload Videos” to select the broken video file you want to fix.
- Wait for the online video repair process to begin after uploading.
- Once the repair is complete, download the fixed video to your preferred location.
Note: Online video repair tools are ideal for issues like audio-video sync, playback problems, and more. If the tool cannot fix your corrupt video, try other solutions.
Tips to Prevent Video Corruption
- Backup Videos: Always save copies of important videos on an extra SD card, hard drive, or cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive.
- Safe Recording Practices: Don’t suddenly stop recording on your camera, such as by removing the SD card during recording. Also, safely eject the SD card from your computer when playing videos.
- Use Quality SD Cards: Choose high-quality SD cards with fast write speeds and high storage capacity. Check your camera’s user manual for recommended SD card models.
- Protect Against Malware: Put antivirus software on your computer and keep your Windows operating system updated. This helps stop malware or viruses that might harm or corrupt your video files.
- Avoid Unreliable Tools: Don’t use untrustworthy tools to recover or edit video files. Some unreliable video converter tools may not work with the right codecs or file formats, which can damage videos during editing.
Conclusion:
Repairing a corrupt MP4 video file or any video can be a challenging task, but thankfully, it’s not impossible. All you need are the right tools and techniques to help you restore damaged or corrupted MP4 or MOV video files.
Whether you capture videos for a living or you are a casual user, you need to take the necessary steps to protect your files from getting corrupted.
When videos are corrupted or unplayable, choose professional video repair tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can try playing the video in VLC Media Player, which can fix small issues. If that doesn’t work, use a video repair tool like Remo Video Repair to fix the video file.
To fix a corrupt MP4 file, try these steps:
Use video repair software like Remo Video Repair or VLC Media Player’s repair function.
Convert the file to another format using a reliable tool like HandBrake.
If you have a backup, restore the file from there.
Check for codec issues and ensure your media player supports the file format.
Yes, VLC Media Player can sometimes fix corrupted videos. It has a built-in repair feature for minor issues:
Open VLC, go to Tools > Preferences > Input/Codecs.
Set “Damaged or incomplete AVI file” to “Always fix.”
Save and try playing the video. However, VLC may not work for severely corrupted files, and you may need dedicated repair software.
Yes, many corrupted videos can be repaired. Tools like VLC or dedicated repair software, such as Remo Recover, can help restore playback.
Improve bad quality videos by using enhancement tools like DaVinci Resolve or Topaz Video AI to boost sharpness and clarity.
A corrupted video means the file is damaged and won’t play properly. This occurs due to errors during video saving, transfer, or download.
On Mac, try VLC first. If the video still doesn’t work, use repair software like Remo Video Repair or Wondershare Repairit to fix the file.
