Home Video Enhancer How to Fix Corrupted Video Files (MP4 & MOV)

How to Fix Corrupted Video Files (MP4 & MOV)

Learn how to fix corrupted video files with simple methods. You can repair videos using free software, both on Windows and Mac. These tools help restore your videos without losing quality. Follow easy steps to recover your damaged files.

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Joy Taylor | Last Updated: Sep. 25, 2024
1385 words|4minute

Having a video file corrupted is not fun, particularly if the film holds important memories or a business project. It’s important to understand that you are not alone if you experience issues with MP4 or MOV videos that refuse to play or display an error message.

Fortunately, repairing damaged video files with no technical know-how is possible. This article will explore the complete details of fixing corrupted video files. So, let’s begin to learn how to fix corrupted video files.

What are the Reasons for Video Corruption?

Video files can become corrupted for many reasons, making them unplayable or damaged. Corruption often occurs during transferring, editing, or even recording the video. Understanding the causes can help prevent future issues and guide you in fixing corrupted files. Here are some common reasons for video corruption:

  1. Sudden Power Loss or System Crash

A sudden power failure or system crash while recording can cause incomplete video data, leading to file corruption.

  1. Incomplete or Interrupted File Transfer

The video file may become corrupted if a file transfer is interrupted due to connectivity issues or accidental disconnection.

  1. Software Bugs or Crashes During Editing

Video editing software crashing during use can corrupt files by improperly saving or overwriting incomplete data.

  1. Improper Conversion of Video Formats

Incorrect conversion of video formats can result in missing or unreadable data, causing the video to become corrupted.

How to Fix Corrupted Video Files with VLC

VLC Media Player is one of the most universal and famous media players. It can playback almost every video format. VLC is not only a media player that can play videos; it also has interesting features, including video repair, which aims to repair MP4 and MOV formats.

This free and open-source software is not only capable of playing those videos that are clipped or truncated in some way but can attempt to repair the videos that have been corrupted due to some transfer issue, power failure, or some other reason. VLC is compatible with Windows, Mac, or Linux, and its features are easily accessible and downloadable by anyone without any professional knowledge of the software. It is helpful when one comes across a broken video and prefers an easy repair.

Key Features:

Now, let’s discuss the methods for how to fix corrupted mp4 files and also repair any MOV file.

Method 1: Using Transcoding

Step 1. Open VLC Media Player, click “Media,” and then choose “Convert/Save.”

Click Convert or Save

Click Convert or Save

Step 2. Click “Add” to select the MP4/MOV files you want to fix.

Click Add

Click Add

Step 3. Click “Convert/Save” again. Set the file name and location for the repaired video.

Step 4. Choose a format from the Profile list. You can adjust settings if needed.

Step 5. Click “Save” in the window.

Click Save Button

Click Save Button

Methods 2: Using VLC Video Fix Feature

Step 1. Right-click the MP4/MOV video file, select “Rename,” and change the file extension to. AVI. Press Enter.

Step 2. Open VLC Media Player.

Step 3. Go to “Tools” in the top menu and click “Preferences.” Then, select “Input/Codecs.”

Input and Codecs

Input and Codecs

Step 4. Next to Repair AVI Files, choose “Always Fix” from the dropdown menu.

Choose Always Fix

Choose Always Fix

Step 5. Click “Save” at the bottom to apply the changes.

Method 3: By Increasing Cache Value

Step 1. Open VLC Media Player. Click on “Tools” and then select “Preferences.”

Step 2. At the bottom left of the window, choose “All” under “Show settings.” In the list, click on “Input/Codecs.”

Click Input or Codecs

Click Input or Codecs

Step 3. Scroll down to “Advanced” on the right side.

Step 4. Under “Advanced,” increase the “File caching (ms)” value from 300 to 1000 or higher.

Step 5. Click “Save” and restart the VLC Media Player. Your MP4 and MOV videos should now play smoothly in VLC.

Pro Tip. How to Improve Video Resolution on Mac & PC

If your video quality deteriorates while fixing corrupt files, you can easily enhance the resolution with the help of AnyEnhancer. This tool uses sophisticated models to improve video quality, which entails features like super-resolution to increase the resolution of the video to be even as high as 2K or 4K. The Resolution Enhancement model is designed to make your videos clearer and brighter, making them sharper on the screen.

In addition to its resolution enhancement capabilities, AnyEnhancer provides several other valuable features. The Face Restoration model detects and improves blurry facial details, making them clearer and more defined. The Colorize Model is a post-processing tool that colorizes the originally grayscale videos. Finally, the Denoise Model helps reduce visual noise when it is present in the video and enhances its quality.

Key Features:

Now, let’s discuss the steps to use this tool:

Step 1. Download and install AnyEnhancer on your computer.

Free Download for all windows & 100% safe Free Download for all mac & 100% safe

Free Download100% Clean & Safe

Step 2. Open AnyEnhancer and click “Upload Video,” or drag your 1080p file into the program.

Upload the Original Video

Upload the Original Video

Step 3. Choose “Resolution Enhancement” to upgrade your video to 2K or 4K quality.

Select Resolution Enhancement

Select Resolution Enhancement

Step 4. Click “Preview” to see a short comparison of the improved video versus the original.

Preview the Resoltion Enhancing Effect

Preview the Resolution Enhancing Effect

Step 5. If you like the preview, click “Export.” Set the file name and format, save the location, and click “Export” again to save your final video.

Export the Video

Export the Video

FAQs on Fix Corrupted Video Files

Is there a way to repair damaged video files for free?

Indeed, various free software applications, including VLC Media Player, can be used to fix damaged video files. These tools can address minor problems, but sophisticated instruments may be required to address some challenging tasks.

How can I determine if my video file is corrupt?

There are several signs of a corrupted video file. Some of them include the particular video file not playing at all, displaying errors or missing parts, or sometimes working with glitches or distorted images on a full screen.

My video resolution decreased after fixing a corrupted file. What can I do?

If your video’s resolution decreases after you fix it, you can use AnyEnhancer to improve the quality. This tool offers features like Resolution Enhancement to restore and enhance video clarity.

Final Words

To sum up, it is possible to repair damaged video files with the help of many efficient tools and methods. Whether utilizing VLC Media Player for simple solutions or applying complex techniques for severe damages, steps must be taken to effectively repair corrupted videos. For those seeking both repair and enhancement, AnyEnhancer is an excellent choice. It fixes corrupted files and improves video quality with features like Resolution Enhancement.

AnyEnhancer – AI Video Enhancement

Download AnyEnhancer to enhance your video quality to 4K resolution, remove grain, smooth motion, and add color to black and white videos with just one click.

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Joy Taylor

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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