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Google Drive makes it convenient to upload, store, share, and stream videos without a full file download. However, you may sometimes click a video and see messages such as:
- “Video is unplayable”
- “Video is still processing”
- “There was a problem playing this video”
Such error messages put a complete stop to video playback and streams as well. This situation is frustrating, especially if it happens regularly. Still, you can restore smooth playback. If the video also fails after you download it, however, the file itself may be corrupted or encoded in a way your media player cannot handle.
So, for issues that are browser-related or file-specific, we’ve compiled the solution. You can implement and recover the video file for smooth playback and streams. Let’s begin to understand and fix video not playing in Google Drive!!
Why Is My Video Not Playing in Google Drive? Common Reasons
Apart from being a cloud storage rather than a dedicated video stream, Google Drive video playback can fail for several reasons. The most common ones include:
- You’ve a spotty or unstable internet connection.
- The video is still being processed after upload.
- The browser or Google Drive is outdated.
- The video uses an unsupported container or codec.
- The browser cache or an extension is interfering with playback.
- You do not have sufficient permission to access the shared video.
- A temporary Google Drive or browser problem is affecting playback.
- The video file is corrupted or incomplete.
- The video has an encoding problem that prevents browser playback.
Some Basic Fixes for Video Not Playing in Google Drive
Many times, basic fixes prove to be helpful to fix video not playing in Google Drive if the cause is minor. Follow these quick solutions first:
- The first thing you can do is check your internet connection and bandwidth too.
- Also, don’t stream video immediately after upload. Wait for Google Drive to Finish.
- Refresh your browser as well as Google Drive and then try to play the video.
- Try another supported browser to login Google Drive and stream video files.
- If the above fixes don’t help you, download the video and try playing it locally.
- Test DNS settings like Cloudflare or Google and switch back to your ISP’s default, or vice versa.
- Open Google Drive in incognito or private mode if general mode fails or becomes problematic.
- Check video container format, fix unsupported video codec, audio codec, resolution, frame rate, and file completeness.
Detailed Methods to Fix Video Not Playing in Google Drive
Besides the basics, here are some more helpful and working fixes that can resolve the “This video cannot be played in Google Drive” issue. Opt for them at your preference:
Method 1: Check the File Permissions in Google Drive
A shared video may fail to play due to a permissions issue. So, make sure you are signed into the Google account that has permission to access the file. After that, open it with the correct Google account. Ask the file owner to verify the sharing permissions and download the file if the owner has allowed downloads.
If the owner has restricted access, then the problem remains as before. The file owner must provide the appropriate permission.
Method 2: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Over time, a browser’s cache and cookie data get corrupted, and with them, streaming video in Google Drive might be challenging. If Google Drive videos suddenly stop playing after previously working correctly, then clear cache and cookies for resolution. Here are the steps to follow:
- On your Chrome browser, tap on the three dots, then choose Settings.
- Go to Privacy and Security and tap on Clear browsing data.
- Select what you want to delete (Cache & Cookies) and tap on Clear Data.
Method 3: Disable Browser Extensions Temporarily
Improper extensions interfere with scripts, media playback, cookies, or page elements used by Google Drive. So, disable extensions temporarily and reload Google Drive. Here is how to do it:
- From your Chrome Browser, tap on the three dots and click on More Tools>Extensions.
- Disable each and every extension by using their respective toggle button.
Restart the browser, login to Google Drive, and play videos. If the video starts playing, enable your extensions one at a time to identify which one is causing the problem. Once identified, remove that extension.
Quick Way to Identify and Fix Video Not Playing in Google Drive
You do not have to wander around for the right route to fix ‘There was a problem playing this video issue in Google Drive’. Use this quick diagnostic path as per the infographic given:
How to Repair a Corrupted Video File?
Download your videos from Google Drive, or if you have the existing copy locally, repair that. To transcode and repair a video file for free, you can try ffmpeg (a command-line tool) or VLC Media Player. VLC fixes AVI format videos only, but sometimes if you rename other video file extensions to .avi, it repairs. Follow these steps:
- Select your video files and change the file format to .avi.
- Open VLC, tap on Tools, and then Preferences.
- Go to the Input/Codecs section, click Browse, and then add your video files.
- Once added, select Always fix in the Damaged or incomplete AVI file, then click Save.
Your video might be playable. Still, if the issue persists, the deep video repair method is needed. To fix severe corruption in video files or deal with multiple video formats, manual approaches often fail. As usual, a dedicated video repair solution is needed. Kernel Video Repair scans the video file deeply and repairs it effectively so that the quality remains intact throughout the process. Even if you’ve bulk corrupted or damaged videos, you can repair them with it at once.
Final Say
When a video is not playing in Google Drive, don’t immediately assume that the file is corrupted. Start with the simplest resolutions: allow the upload to finish processing, check your internet connection, refresh Drive, test another browser, and temporarily disable extensions.
If the problem persists, repair the video file either with VLC or a dedicated video repair tool. With a video repair tool, you get wider video format support, guaranteed repair with full quality intact. Once you have a working copy, upload it to Google Drive again and verify playback before deleting the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Due to format incompatibility, media support, or file corruption, Google Drive may show this message video is unplayable.
A: Processing time depends on factors such as the video’s size, resolution, encoding, and current service conditions. You should wait for the processing before you open it.
A: Download the video and try to open it in one media player. If it consistently fails outside Google Drive, especially after a complete download, the file may be corrupted.
