It may be that when you try to erase the WhatsApp data, all the information you have in it will be lost. It is a decision you must make if you want the problem to be solved, unless it is only a problem with the internet connection, which you must identify before deleting the data. While you solve the problem, use WhatsApp web by scanning a barcode , to enjoy the messages and videos.
Index( )
- What is causing your cell phone to have this error in WhatsApp?
- You do not have the necessary CODECS
- The video is from an alternate platform
- Your contact has deleted the video
- How can you fix the error in WhatsApp videos?
- Install a CODEC
- Clear the cache
- Uninstall WhatsApp
- Format your cell phone
What is causing your cell phone to have this error in WhatsApp?
The first problem could be a problem with the network connection, which can be one of the causes, since this is an essential resource for playing videos and other WhatsApp functions. Another cause could be that the App in question had some kind of error that requires reinstalling or deleting its data.
On the other hand, there may be some kind of playback conflict, this caused by differences in video and audio formats. If you send or receive a video that contains formats that WhatsApp does not know, the annoying message of ‘Error playing this video’ will appear. It also happens that the video has been lost from the files or your sender has deleted it, a probable cause for causing the error.
You do not have the necessary CODECS
The codecs have to do directly with the formats of the videos including their audios, their function is to encode or decode the video data , when there is an absence of these, the videos cannot be played, since they are affected by incompatibility of formats. For this reason, it is necessary to download external programs or Apps to solve the error.
By downloading a player with all the sufficient codecs you will be able to watch any video or movie without any problem, since it will be supplying the necessary codes that the file needs to be able to be reproduced. One of the players with the most complete codecs is ‘VLC Media Player’ which is available for Android and for many other systems.
The video is from an alternate platform
WhatsApp is compatible with video formats such as MP4, AVI, MKV, 3GP whose codecs can be H.264 or MPEG-4, in the case of audios the compatible codecs are AAC or AC3. Videos that are different from this format may not open, may be corrupted, or may not be heard. The same happens with the codecs, because if they are different from those mentioned, the video will not play either. However, some videos may be able to see them, if so it is recommended to group files in a single folder , to organize them.
Your contact has deleted the video
Deleted WhatsApp messages are a privacy feature of the messaging platform . Including stickers, images, and most importantly, videos, they can be removed in a specific amount of time, over an hour to be exact.
In other words, if a video is deleted by its sender, within that period it will also be deleted from your files, unless you have backed it up. On the other hand, if users wish, they can send a hidden message on WhatsApp , thus avoiding deleting a message, something that can be considered disrespectful, but it is nothing less than a privacy protection.
How can you fix the error in WhatsApp videos?
There are many things that you can try, before having to format the phone, something that can result in the permanent loss of all the data stored on it. Try installing a ‘Codec’ player, which contains all the formats compatible with WhatsApp. If that doesn’t work delete cache or uninstall the App.
Install a CODEC
To fix the ‘Error playing this video’, try installing a player that supports many codec-type formats. It is recommended to use ‘VLC for Android’, for that go to the Play Store application store, type in the search engine the name mentioned and proceed to install. The process will take a few minutes. Once installed, proceed to search for the video and when your device asks with the App with which you want to play it, select ‘Open through VLC for Android’.
Clear the cache
This can be a possible solution for a video playback error. WhatsApp is no exception for this type of situation. To delete the cache of the App in question, access the phone settings, once there go to the ‘Applications’ section, locate WhatsApp and select it. Then, in the storage section, click on ‘Cache’ memory and choose to delete, wait a few seconds and that’s it, try opening the video with which you have problems.
Uninstall WhatsApp
It’s a bit of a drastic solution that you have to try. Go back to the settings of your phone, in the ‘Applications’ section, look for the WhatsApp application and click on it. At the bottom of the screen, right in the middle, click on the ‘Uninstall’ button, confirm the operation, wait for it to finish and click on accept. Then you must install the application again and wait for a video to be sent to you, when you open it you will realize if the problem is fixed.
Format your cell phone
If the previous solution seemed drastic, this will be even more so, before doing a format or factory reset it is advisable to do a ‘Backup’ on Android , but if what you have is an iPhone, make a copy with iCloud. To do the formatting, you need to go to the phone’s settings, look for the option related to advanced settings or one that says ‘About phone’, press where it says ‘Reset’ and click on ‘Restore default values’.
Confirm the operation by clicking on accept and wait for the process to finish, the phone will turn on and the configuration will remain the same as the previous one , as when it was new. You should bear in mind that the stored data will no longer be there, unless you restore the backup that was recommended to you. Then to finish, install WhatsApp again and wait for a video to arrive.
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