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Users shoot 4K videos for high-quality playback but what happens when some technical issues hinder the video from playing properly? If 4K videos are not playing smoothly, it can be because of faulty graphics drivers or unsupported system hardware. These issues can be harmful for your video files and may cause damages as well. This blog provides a detailed guide to fix 4k videos not playing issues.
Why do users face the 4K video playback problem?
There are several reasons why users are unable to play 4K videos on their system, such as:
- Unsupported codecs: Contrary to popular belief, 4K videos don’t use the same codec packs as other video formats. Many media players, particularly on older systems, lack support for the HEVC (H.265) or AV1 codec used for 4K videos.
- Outdated media players: Older media players like Windows Media Player doesn’t support modern hardware acceleration and playback of 4K videos.
- Issue with graphics drivers: Graphics drivers are responsible for decoding and rendering high-resolution video files without altering video quality. If the graphics drivers are outdated or corrupted, it can give rise to video playback issues and may even damage the video file.
- Hardware is insufficient: Playing 4K videos requires far more resources than normal HD videos. If your system has old or outdated hardware (CPU, RAM, or basic graphics card), then it may be difficult for your system to render ultra-HD videos.
- Internet is unstable: Streaming 4K videos needs a steady and stable network connection of 15-25 Mbps (or higher) for smooth playback. Anything less than this leads to buffering or a drop in video quality.
- Video is corrupted: If you’ve the correct codecs and appropriate hardware to play ultra-HD videos, and still you’re facing a 4K video not playing issue, then there’s a chance that your video file is corrupted.
Methods to fix 4K videos not playing issue
Facing issues while playing 4k videos is a mess as it hampers your work and video watching experience. Fix this 4k videos issue with the methods listed below:
Before trying advanced fixes, check these things:
- Try playing the video file in another media player or another device.
- Check whether you’ve the correct codecs installed.
- Make sure that your display and HDMI cable support 4K.
Method 1. Check & update system specifications
For ultra-high-definition 4K videos, certain system requirements are mandatory (software and hardware). Let us have a look at the common specifications to run a 4K resolution video smoothly on your PC.
- Enough hard disk space – For example, 150GB for a 3 hour movie.
- Video memory & GPU frequencies – 6000MHz and approx. 1100MHz respectively.
- RAM – Minimum 4GB.
- Monitor or Projector – 4K supported.
- Processor decoding ability should be more than or equal to 15.
This process works when:
- Your system crashes during 4K video playback.
- Video stutters or buffers during playback.
- Standard HD videos play normally.
Method 2. Update your Media Player
Try updating your VLC Media Player to its latest version to play 4K videos without any issues. Follow the steps below to update VLC:
- Open VLC Media Player and click on Help.
- Select Check for updates.
- Download and install the latest update, if available.
This process works when:
- You’re using an outdated version of VLC player.
- Only 4K videos are facing the playback problem.
- Video stopped playing after a regular system update.
Method 3. Install the required codecs
4K videos use HEVC (H.265) and AV1 for decoding and rendering of videos for playback. Check if your system supports these codecs or not. Many older Windows systems and some old media players, like Windows Media Player, don’t support these advanced codec packs. Check for compatibility and then follow the steps below to install the correct codec packs:
Note: You can try playing your videos in VLC Media Player as it has built-in decoders for HD and ultra-HD video playback.
- Download a trusted all-in-one codec pack like K-Lite Codec Pack from the official site.
- Install these codecs and select Normal as the preset type for all 4K video containers.
This process works when:
- The video displays a black screen during playback.
- You can hear the audio but can’t see the video at all.
- Video plays perfectly on another device, but not on your device.
Method 4. Enable Hardware Acceleration
Doing this could resolve the lagging and freezing issues with the video file by increasing streaming, filtering, and decoding speeds. Before trying this solution, it should be confirmed that the system is installed with the latest drivers.
- Open the installed VLC Media Player on your system. Go to Tools> Preferences.
- On the Simple Preferences page, click Input/Codecs icon and then choose the desired option from the displayed dropdown list under the Hardware-accelerated decoding option.
This process works when:
- Video playback becomes choppy after a system update.
- Video lags a lot despite updating the media player and graphics drivers.
- Audio plays but video doesn’t play.
Method 5. Update Graphics Driver
If you want smooth playback of high-resolution videos, just confirm that you are working with the latest version of graphics drivers. Follow the steps below:
- Press Win + Q and type Device Manager.
- Scroll down and click on Display adapters to see your system’s graphics card.
- Right-click on it and select the Update Driver Software option.
- Click on the Search automatically for updated driver software option to install any available updates.
This process works when:
- Video starts flickering during playback.
- Video freezes or displays distortion when you try to play it.
- 4K videos stopped playing after a Windows update.
Repair corrupt video file with professional tool
If you’re facing a 4K video not playing error even after updating your graphics drivers and trying to play your 4K video files in another media player, then the issue may be in your video file rather than in your system. Unlike codec or graphics driver issues, video corruption can’t be easily solved by installing new codecs or graphics drivers.
You can try repairing your corrupt 4K videos in VLC Media Player; however, if the video is severely damaged, you’ll need to take the help of a video repair software. Kernel Video Repair is designed to repair highly corrupt video files and restore their original quality. Users can easily repair 4K video files shot from cameras, drones, and other devices.
Quick reference to understand which method is for which error:
| What’s the issue? | Most likely cause | Method to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Video showing black screen | GPU error or issue with video output | Enable or disable hardware acceleration |
| Video unavailable but audio is available | Issue with the audio codec | Install the required codecs |
| Video stutters or glitches | Unsupported hardware | Check if your system is compatible with 4K videos |
| VLC crashes during playback | Issue with the media player or graphics card issue | Update graphics drivers |
| Video won’t play in any media player or device | Corruption in video file | Repair the corrupt video file |
Conclusion
Unsupported codecs, incompatible hardware 4K videos, or corrupted graphics drivers can be the reason you cannot play 4K videos properly. They need special advanced settings and system requirements to play smoothly without any problems. Check what the exact underlying cause of this error is and then resolve this 4K video not playing error with the appropriate method. Also, check for corruption in the video file once and repair it with VLC player, if needed.
People also ask
A. When all you can hear is audio, but your video isn’t visible, then there’s an issue with the codecs. Your PC is not able to decode ultra-HD video streams.
A. If your 4K video was working fine in your previous PC but stopped working after transferring it to another PC, then maybe this new PC doesn’t have the necessary codecs and hardware to play 4K videos properly.
A. Check that your HDMI cable is plugged in properly in your PC and Windows display resolution is set to 3840×2160. Also verify that your graphics drivers are up to date.
A. Play the video in VLC to look for any visual distortions, pixelations, and blurriness during the video.
