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Why Is Broken MP4 Video Still Unplayable After Using VLC?

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on

Categories Troubleshooting

Home » Troubleshooting

Can VLC Actually Fix Your Corrupted MP4 Files Effectively?

I've been helping people fix their broken videos for years. Let me share what I've learned about using VLC to repair MP4 files. It's free. It works sometimes. But it has limits.

What VLC Can Actually Do for Your Broken Videos

VLC isn't just a video player. Most people don't know this. It can fix certain types of video problems. Not all problems. Just specific ones.

Think of VLC like a basic first aid kit. Good for small cuts. Not so good for broken bones.

VLC works best when:

  • Your video has sound and picture data that's still good
  • The file didn't finish downloading properly
  • The video index got messed up
  • You see black screens or choppy playback

VLC won't help when:

  • Large chunks of video data are missing
  • Your storage device is physically damaged
  • The video file is severely corrupted
  • Hardware errors damaged the recording

Step-by-Step: Fixing MP4 Videos on Windows

I always tell people to make a copy first. Always. You don't want to lose your original file if something goes wrong.

Here's exactly what I do:

  1. Open VLC Media Player
  2. Click "Media" then "Convert/Save"
  3. Add your broken video file using the + Add button
  4. Click "Convert/Save" to continue
  5. Choose "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" from the list
  6. Click the wrench icon to open settings
  7. Set these options:
    • Encapsulation: MP4/MOV
    • Video codec: Keep original video track
    • Audio codec: Keep original audio track
  8. Pick where to save your fixed file
  9. Click Start

Pro tip: If the video is still broken after this, try forcing re-encoding. Don't keep the original tracks. Choose H-264 codec instead. Set bitrate to 1024. This takes longer but sometimes fixes deeper problems.

Mac Users: Your Process Is Slightly Different

Mac version looks different. Same idea though.

  1. Open VLC on your Mac
  2. Go to File > Convert/Stream
  3. Select "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" profile
  4. Click Customize
  5. Configure these tabs:
    • Encapsulation: MP4/MOV
    • Video codec: H-264, bitrate 1024
    • Audio codec: MP3, bitrate 128
  6. Apply changes
  7. Choose "Save as File"
  8. Pick your save location
  9. Press Save to start

Why VLC Sometimes Fails (And It's Not Your Fault)

I see this all the time. People follow the steps perfectly. Video is still broken. They think they did something wrong.

They didn't.

VLC has limitations. It's designed for simple problems. When your video has complex corruption, VLC can't handle it.

VLC struggles with:

  • Files with missing data chunks
  • Videos damaged during recording
  • Severely fragmented files
  • Hardware-related corruption
  • Advanced codec issues

Think of it this way. VLC is like using tape to fix a broken window. Sometimes it works. Sometimes you need a whole new window.

Common Reasons Your MP4 Files Break

Understanding why videos break helps prevent future problems.

Download Interruptions

Your internet cuts out mid-download. File ends up incomplete. Happens more than you'd think.

Storage Problems

Hard drives develop bad spots. USB drives get corrupted. Memory cards fail. Your video gets caught in the crossfire.

Software Crashes

Video editing program freezes. Computer shuts down unexpectedly. File doesn't get saved properly.

Transfer Issues

Copying files between devices. Something goes wrong. File gets damaged in transit.

Virus Infections

Malware can corrupt files. Not common but it happens.

Quick Fixes When VLC Doesn't Work

Update VLC First

Old versions have bugs. New codecs need new VLC versions.

Try Different Output Settings

Change video output module in preferences. Sometimes fixes playback issues.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Go to Tools > Preferences > Input/Codecs. Turn off hardware decoding.

Reset VLC Preferences

Nuclear option. Resets everything to default.

Download the File Again

If it's from the internet, try downloading fresh copy.

Mobile Users: Android Solutions

VLC works on Android too. Same basic process. Download from Play Store.

But phones have less processing power. Complex repairs might not work well.

Consider dedicated mobile repair apps if VLC fails.

What About MOV Files?

Yes, VLC can fix MOV files too. Same process as MP4. They're similar formats.

Formats VLC Handles Well:

  • MP4
  • MOV
  • AVI
  • MKV
  • WMV

Older Formats It Struggles With:

  • IV40
  • IV41
  • IV51
  • RV30

When to Give Up on VLC

Sometimes VLC just can't help. Signs it's time to try something else:

  • Multiple repair attempts fail
  • Video plays but with major glitches
  • Audio and video are out of sync
  • File size is dramatically smaller than expected
  • Error messages during conversion

VLC is a great starting point. It's free. It's easy. It works for many common problems.

But it's not magic. Severely damaged videos need specialized tools. Don't waste hours trying to force VLC to fix something it can't handle.

Start with VLC. If it works, great. If not, move on to dedicated repair software. Your time is valuable.

Remember: always backup your files. Prevention beats repair every time.

The key is knowing when VLC is the right tool and when it isn't. Now you know both.