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How to open .MP4 files on Linux

To open .MP4 files on Linux, play with VLC or mpv media player.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Play with VLC or mpv media player.
  2. Ensure necessary codecs are installed via package manager.

Common issues

Black screen with audio

This occurs when the video codec is unsupported by the player.

  1. Try using VLC or another media player with extensive codec support.
  2. Convert the file to a more compatible format using ffmpeg.

No sound during playback

The audio codec may not be supported by the media player.

  1. Check the volume settings and ensure they are not muted.
  2. Use VLC or update the media player to the latest version.

File won't open

The file might be corrupted or improperly downloaded.

  1. Attempt to re-download the file.
  2. Try opening the file with a different media player.

Video plays choppy

This can happen due to high resolution or insufficient system resources.

  1. Close other applications to free up system resources.
  2. Try lowering the video resolution or using a more efficient player like VLC.

Error 0xc00d36c4: "This item was encoded in a format that's not supported"

Windows Media Player and Films & TV only decode some codecs. MP4 is only the container; the video inside is often H.265 (HEVC) or another codec Windows does not include by default.

  1. Open the file in VLC media player, which ships its own codecs.
  2. Alternatively install the "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Microsoft Store if the video uses H.265.
  3. To make it playable everywhere, re-encode it to H.264/AAC with a tool such as HandBrake (free).

The video does not play on a TV, car system or older device

These devices often support only H.264 video with AAC audio inside the MP4 container, at limited resolution.

  1. Re-encode the video to H.264 and AAC, at 1080p or lower.
  2. Copy it to the device on a FAT32 or exFAT drive; files above 4 GB do not fit on FAT32.
  3. Check the device manual for the supported profile and level.

Still can’t open your .MP4 file?

Repair a damaged .MP4 file

If the file opens with errors or not at all, a dedicated repair tool can often rebuild it. Work on a copy and keep the original file untouched.

Wondershare Repairit (Video)

Repairs corrupt or unplayable video files such as MP4, MOV and AVI.

Recover a deleted or lost .MP4 file

If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery

Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.

Wondershare Recoverit

Windows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.

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Security note

Always update media players to protect against vulnerabilities.

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