- MP4 is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio.
- This format replaced MP3 on most portable devices since MP3 was limited to storing only audio data.
- If you want to read more about this amazing file format, check out our dedicated Video Hub.
- For more great troubleshooting guides, check out our PC Software Fix page.
We all enjoy multimedia content on our Windows 10 devices, and as you know, multimedia comes in all sorts of formats.
Speaking of multimedia formats, users have complained that Windows 10 can’t play MP4, so let’s fix this problem.
Before we start, we need to explain how MP4 file format works. This file format is a digital multimedia container format, similar to MKV.
In fact, not that long ago, we’ve covered what to do when you can’t play MKV videos in Windows 10, so you might want to read that as well.
Since an MP4 file is a multimedia digital container, it relies on different codecs in order to work properly.
How can I play MP4 files on Windows 10?
MP4 files are great, but sometimes issues with them can occur. Speaking of MP4 files and issues, in this article we’re going to cover the following topics:
- VLC not playing MP4 Windows 10
- It’s most likely a settings issue.
- To fix the problem, you just need to go to the configuration page and change a few settings.
- How to play MP4 on Windows 10
- You should download third-party codecs and install them.
- If you don’t feel comfortable downloading codes, you can always install VLC Player and use it to play MP4 files.
- Windows Media Player won’t play MP4 video
- You might be able to fix the problem simply by disabling video acceleration in Windows Media Player.
- Can’t play MP4 in Movie Maker
- You can fix it by reinstalling Windows Live Essentials.
Quick Tip
Before starting searching for codecs, players, and problems on your OS, we would recommend you to let a third-party software do the job for you.
Adobe Premiere Pro is a great tool that supports pretty much any type of video file format for both import and export.
It is perfect for opening, viewing, editing MP4 and other video-format files, as well as for converting popular video formats into MP4.
Adobe Premiere Pro
No more trouble opening, viewing and even editing your MP4 files with this highly popular and professional software.
1. Switch to a third-party media player
Windows Media Player doesn’t come with the necessary video codecs, and this is why Windows 10 won’t be able to play mp4 files on your computer.
Windows 10 doesn’t have native support for all MP4 files, therefore, it relies on video codecs. If you don’t wish to install video codecs, you can always install a third-party media player.
Most of these players come with all the necessary codecs, and they’ll be able to play all MP4 files without any issues.
If you’re looking for a good third party media player, we recommend downloading the CyberLink Power DVD.
This is a wonderfully featured all-around media player, that supports a large variety of media formats.
It offers a unique CyberLink Cloud feature (in the Pro versions) that allows you to upload and stream from a cloud storage space of your own.
CyberLink PowerDVD
With this powerful, fully-featured multimedia player, managing MP4 files won't ever be a problem.
2. Convert your files
If other solutions can’t fix your problem, you might want to consider converting your MP4 files to a different format.
There are many great applications that can convert your MP4 files to other formats, and one of the best ones is WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe.
Keep in mind that file conversion can take a while, usually a couple of minutes depending on the size of your video.
If you can’t play just a couple of MP4 files, you can convert all of them using this tool which conveniently improves conversion time compared to similar software.
Besides, with the batch conversion feature, you can queue dozens of files and convert them with just one click.
WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
Now you can have full control over videos in SD, HD and 4K resolution on your PC with WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe!
3. Install the necessary codecs
As we have already mentioned, MP4 files rely on different codes in order to work properly, and if you don’t have these codecs installed, you won’t be able to play MP4 files on your Windows 10 PC.
To fix this issue, it’s advised that you download and install a codec pack on your computer. One of the most used codec packs is K-Lite Codec Pack, and you can download it from Codec Guide.
If you wish to use any other codec pack, feel free to do so. Once you download and install the necessary codecs, MP4 files should work in all media players.
4. Run the troubleshooter
- Press Windows Key + I and open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Navigate to the Troubleshoot section.
- Select Video Playback and click on Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooter.
You can also run the Troubleshooter from Control Panel as following:
- Press Windows Key + S and type control panel.
- Select Control Panel.
- Click on Troubleshooting.
- Choose View all.
- Select Windows Media Player Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete it.
5. Reinstall Microsoft Live Essentials
If you can’t play MP4 files in Windows Movie Maker, the issue might be related to Microsoft Live Essentials. According to users, they had issues with this app, but they fixed the problem by reinstalling.
To remove a certain application from your PC, along with all of its files, we recommend using an uninstaller software. Check out any of these three tools to uninstall any application from your device:
After removing Microsoft Live Essentials, download the latest version and install it. After doing that, you should be able to play MP4 files in Windows Movie Maker again.
6. Turn off WMV DirectX video acceleration
- Open Windows Media Player.
- Click on Organize and go to Options.
- Navigate to the Performance tab and disable Turn on DirectX Video Acceleration for WMV files.
- Click on Apply and OK to save changes.
- Restart Windows Media Player.
7. Change the file extension
- Locate the video that you want to play.
- Make sure that file extensions are revealed.
- Click on View and select File name extensions.
- Optional: Create a backup of the video file before you change its extension.
- Locate the file and rename it.
- Change the extension of the file from .mp4 to .mp4v.
- Click Yes to confirm.
- Play the video again.
File is unusable after changing its extension? Check out how to avoid this unpleasant surprise.
8. Change VLC settings
- Open VLC Player.
- Navigate to Tools / Preferences.
- Now select Input / Codecs.
- In the Codecs section, locate Hardware-accelerated decoding and change it from Disabled to Automatic.
After doing that, the problem with VLC and MP4 files will be resolved, and they should start playing again without any issues.
As you can see, problems with MP4 files aren’t related to Windows 10 itself, they are related to video codecs that might not be installed on your computer.
And the only solution is to download and install the codecs, or to use a third-party multimedia player.
If you have any further suggestions on this topic, feel free to drop us a line in the comments section below.
FAQ: Learn more about MP4 files
MP4, also known as MPEG-4 Part 14, is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio, but it can also be used to store subtitles and still images. If you’re running on Windows 10 and can’t use MP4 files, see this guide for alternatives.
The easiest way to play MP4 files is to use a video player since this is one of the most common file formats available.
- Are MP4 files still used today?
Yes, MP4 is still a very common video file format, especially when it comes to portable multimedia devices. Music players usually convert them to MP3.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in September 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
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