WhatsApp videos not playing or opening is a common issue that many users face. There could be several reasons why your WhatsApp videos are not working properly. Here are some quick potential solutions to try if your WhatsApp videos won’t open or play:
Check Your Internet Connection
The most obvious reason videos won’t play is if you have a weak internet connection or no connection at all. WhatsApp requires an active internet connection to send and receive media files. Check that your Wi-Fi or mobile data is connected and working properly. Try toggling your connection off and back on again to reset it. Move closer to your router if on Wi-Fi or try switching to mobile data if that works better.
Update/Reinstall WhatsApp
Another common fix is to make sure you’re running the latest version of WhatsApp. Open your device’s app store, search for WhatsApp, and check if any updates are available. Install any pending updates and then try opening videos again. If that doesn’t work, uninstall WhatsApp completely, reboot your phone, reinstall WhatsApp fresh, and attempt playing videos again. This will wipe any corrupt cached data that could be preventing videos from loading.
Check Video File Format
WhatsApp has limitations on which video formats it supports. Most common formats like MP4 should play just fine. But if you’re trying to play an unsupported format like MOV, FLV, AVI, etc then WhatsApp won’t be able to open it. Check the source video file on your device and make sure it’s a supported format. You may need to convert the file to MP4 before sending to have better success.
Clear WhatsApp Cache/Data
Over time, cached WhatsApp data on your device can become corrupt and cause issues like videos not playing. Try clearing the WhatsApp cache and app data from your phone’s settings menu. This will wipe temporary files and refresh the app back to default. Just be aware it will also delete your WhatsApp chat history. So backup any important chats first before clearing app data.
Allow WhatsApp Media Autodownload
If you have WhatsApp media autodownload disabled, this could prevent videos from loading. Go into WhatsApp Settings > Data and Storage Usage. Make sure you have “When Using Mobile Data” and “When Connected on Wi-Fi” enabled for auto-downloading media. This will allow WhatsApp to retrieve the full video file automatically so it plays properly.
Free Up Phone Storage
Lack of available storage space on your phone can also cause issues downloading and opening WhatsApp media. Make sure you have at least 500MB – 1GB of free space on your device for the best performance. Delete old photos/videos, uninstall unused apps, clear app cache/data, or move files to cloud storage to free up room.
Force Stop WhatsApp
Sometimes WhatsApp can get “stuck” after prolonged use, preventing videos and media from loading correctly. Try force stopping the WhatsApp app on your phone and clearing it from your device’s recent apps list. Then launch WhatsApp again fresh and test if videos will play now.
Update Phone Software
Having the latest OS and security updates installed on your device also helps WhatsApp run smoother. Open phone settings, check for any pending system updates and install them. Restart your phone after it’s done updating for the changes to take effect.
Disable Battery Optimization
Battery/power saving modes can sometimes interfere with WhatsApp’s ability to download and open videos properly. Try whitelisting WhatsApp to disable battery optimization for the app. This will allow WhatsApp to function normally without any power restrictions.
Restart Your Phone
As simple as it sounds, a quick reboot of your phone can often fix inexplicable issues like WhatsApp videos not playing. Close all apps, power down your device completely, wait 30 seconds, boot it back up and try again. Restarting will refresh the phone’s memory and reconnect system services.
Update WhatsApp Plugins
If you use any third party WhatsApp plugins like WA Tweaker or GBWhatsApp, make sure they are updated to the latest version. Outdated mods can sometimes conflict with WhatsApp and cause media errors. Either update or temporarily uninstall them to see if that fixes your video issue.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting your phone’s network settings will wipe and refresh all connections, which could resolve any conflicts stopping WhatsApp videos from loading properly. Just be aware this will forget all saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings, so you’ll need to enter those passwords again.
Change Video Upload Settings
Uploading large or high quality video files to WhatsApp could fail and prevent them from being viewed. Open WhatsApp Settings > Data Usage and lower the video upload quality/size to see if that helps. This will compress videos before sending so they transfer faster.
Conclusion
In summary, common fixes for WhatsApp videos not playing include checking your internet connection, updating/reinstalling WhatsApp, clearing app cache and data, allowing media autodownload, freeing up storage space, updating device software, disabling battery optimization, restarting your phone, and adjusting video quality settings. With some troubleshooting and tweaking of settings, you should be able to get WhatsApp videos working again.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Weak internet connection | Check Wi-Fi and mobile data, move closer to router, toggle airplane mode |
| Outdated WhatsApp version | Update WhatsApp in app store |
| Unsupported video format | Convert video to MP4 format |
| Corrupt cached data | Clear WhatsApp cache and app data |
| Media autodownload disabled | Enable autodownload in WhatsApp settings |
| Insufficient storage space | Delete files and free up storage space |
| “Stuck” WhatsApp app | Force stop and clear app from recents |
| Outdated device software | Install latest OS and security updates |
| Battery optimization enabled | Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp |
| System/memory issues | Restart your phone to refresh |
| Outdated 3rd party plugins | Update or uninstall WhatsApp mods |
| Network conflicts | Reset network settings |
| Large video files | Lower video upload quality/size |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my WhatsApp videos show as blank/black screens?
A blank video screen typically means the video file is having trouble loading or becoming corrupted during download. Try clearing WhatsApp cache/data, allow media autodownload, update the app, free up storage space, or lower video quality settings.
Why does the loading icon keep spinning when I try to play WhatsApp videos?
The spinning loader means WhatsApp is having trouble retrieving the full video file. This is often due to weak internet, low storage space, outdated app version, or battery optimization restricting the app. Check the solutions above to troubleshoot.
Why do some WhatsApp videos play but others don’t?
Certain video formats may not be supported by WhatsApp. Most common formats like MP4, MKV, AVI should play fine. But unsupported formats like MOV, FLV, etc may not open. Try converting incompatible videos to MP4 before sending.
How can I fix WhatsApp video call issues?
For video calls not working, check your internet connection first. Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp, allow permissions to access your camera and microphone, restart your phone, force stop the app, and clear cache/data. Update WhatsApp and device software as well.
Why is WhatsApp video quality so bad?
Large or high quality videos will often downgrade in quality over WhatsApp. To improve it, go into WhatsApp Settings > Data Usage and lower the video upload quality. This will compress videos before sending so they don’t lose as much quality.
How can I recover deleted WhatsApp videos?
If you accidentally deleted a WhatsApp video, your best chance to get it back is with a file recovery app. Download one onto your device and run a scan on your internal storage. With luck it can retrieve deleted media. Avoid saving new data that could overwrite the deleted files.
WhatsApp Video Troubleshooting Step-by-Step
Follow these steps below to troubleshoot and fix any issues of videos not playing on WhatsApp:
- Check your internet connection – Restart router, switch Wi-Fi/mobile data, move closer to router.
- Update WhatsApp – Go to app store and install latest version.
- Reinstall WhatsApp – Uninstall app, reboot phone, reinstall fresh copy.
- Clear app cache/data – In phone settings wipe WhatsApp cached and app data.
- Allow media autodownload – Enable autodownload in WhatsApp Settings.
- Free up storage space – Delete old files and clear space.
- Force stop WhatsApp – Stop app and clear recent apps list.
- Update device software – Install latest OS and security patches.
- Disable battery optimization – For WhatsApp in phone settings.
- Restart your phone – Power down completely, wait 30 secs, restart.
After trying these troubleshooting steps, WhatsApp videos should start playing properly again. Be sure to also keep WhatsApp updated going forward to avoid recurring issues. Let us know if any problems persist!
WhatsApp Video Format Specifications
| Format | Container | Video Codecs | Resolution | Bitrate | Frame rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP4 | MPEG-4 | H.264 | 1920 x 1080 | 25mbps | 30fps |
| 3GP | MPEG-4 | H.264 | 1280 x 720 | 5mbps | 30fps |
| WMV | ASF | WMV3 | 1280 x 720 | 10mbps | 30fps |
| MKV | Matroska | H.264 | 1920 x 1080 | 20mbps | 30fps |
| WEBM | WebM | VP8/VP9 | 1920 x 1080 | 10mbps | 30fps |
WhatsApp supports most common video formats like MP4, MKV, WEBM, 3GP. Video resolutions up to 1080p are supported. For best compatibility, encode videos in H.264 codec with 30fps frame rate at bitrates around 10-20mbps.
Fixing WhatsApp Video Call Issues
Can’t get WhatsApp video calls to connect? Try these tips:
- Check internet connection – Reset router, switch networks.
- Switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data.
- Move closer to router or into an open area.
- Disable battery saver/optimization mode for WhatsApp.
- Close background apps and free up phone memory.
- Allow WhatsApp access to microphone and camera.
- Update WhatsApp to latest version available.
- Update device OS and software to newest version.
- Reset network settings on device.
- Clear WhatsApp cache and data.
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Restart your phone completely.
With consistent connectivity and optimal device performance, WhatsApp video calls should work reliably. Make sure to keep the app updated as well for best results.
WhatsApp Video Call Requirements
- Stable high-speed internet connection.
- Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data signals.
- Latest version of WhatsApp installed.
- Latest version of phone OS/software installed.
- Sufficient storage space available.
- Battery optimization disabled for WhatsApp.
- Microphone and camera access permissions enabled.
- Proper lighting conditions for video call environment.
To successfully make WhatsApp video calls, make sure the above requirements are met. This provides optimal performance and prevents call connectivity issues.
Summary
WhatsApp videos not playing or opening is a frustrating problem, but the good news is there are many troubleshooting steps you can try to get them working again:
- Check your internet connection and Wi-Fi/mobile data signals.
- Update or reinstall WhatsApp to the latest version.
- Clear cached data and app data for WhatsApp.
- Enable autodownload for media in WhatsApp settings.
- Free up storage space on your device.
- Update device OS and software to newest available.
- Disable battery/power optimization for WhatsApp.
- Convert incompatible video formats before sending.
- Lower video quality settings in WhatsApp to avoid compression.
Following the tips outlined, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix any WhatsApp video playback issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for any other help resolving the problem!