Last updated on February 22nd, 2022 at 01:59 am
Updated 19.2.2022
How do I Repair a Corrupt MP4 file?
Do you face issues like jerky playback, visual artifacts or lockups with your MP4 video?
If you do, chances are your video is corrupt.
If it’s a commercial video, you could just go out and get yourself another copy.
What if it’s a personal video shot on your camera and you have only one version of it?
Definitely, you would want to find a way to fix it and get a ‘clean’ version of it.
Causes of a Corrupt MP4 File
If you’re wondering how your video file got corrupted in the first place, here are some possible reasons:
- The video could have been recorded on a memory card when it was full
- Corruption could have occurred when the video copying from one storage to another was interrupted.
- If the storage media containing the video file had bad sectors or a virus infection
- The changing of file format of video from one to another can also result in a corrupted file.
As far as possible try to avoid the above situations if you don’t want to end up with a corrupted video file in the future.
Solution to Fix Corrupted MP4 File
So, what’s the solution to a corrupted MP4 file?
Worry not. There are software programs that can repair your corrupted MP4 video files.
You also don’t have to fork out a huge sum of money. Most of them can be used for free.
You must be patient when it comes to repairing your corrupt MP4 files using these free video repair tools.
Sometimes, you’ll get it right the first time. Otherwise, you’ll have to try one tool after another until you get your corrupted file MP4 file repaired.
Here are the top Free MP4 video repair Software programs you can check out to get your corrupted MP4 clip(s) fixed.
How to Fix Corrupted MP4 Files Using VLC Media Player
You may already have this free versatile media player on your computer.
VLC Media Player doesn’t only play almost any media file thrown at it. It also helps fix some damaged MP4 files.
Here are two methods on how to fix corrupted MP4 files using VLC.
Method 1
Launch VLC Media Player. Go to Media and choose Convert/Save.
Next, click on Add to import your MP4 file. Then click on Convert/Save.
Next under Profile click on the spanner icon as shown below.
Choose your preferred format under encapsulation and then hit Save.
Next set your destination file path and hit Start..
If VLC can repair your corrupted file, it will create a new file. Otherwise, it will show an error message.
Method 2
The second method on how to fix corrupted MP4 files using VLC uses VLC’s fix AVI file feature. To use this fix, you’ve to first make a copy of your corrupt MP4 file.
You can do this by copying your file to another folder. From there rename the extension to AVI. Do this by right-clicking on the file and choosing rename. Add .avi after the file name. Hit Enter.
In VLC Player choose the Tools menu and select Preferences.
Under the Preferences window, choose Input/Codecs. At the bottom under Damaged or Incomplete AVI file, choose Always fix. Then hit Save.
Now play your renamed AVI file to see if the problem has been fixed.
Watch the video below to see how to repair a corrupt MP4 file for free with the VLC Media Player.
Digital Video Repair
This software has been around for years and is popularly known as rising research digital video repair software.
One notable advantage of this digital video repair program is its ability to repair partially downloaded MP4 clips.
Does your MP4 video freeze after playing for a few seconds? Digital Video Repair freeware can fix that.
Or if you have a problem fast-forwarding your MP4 video file, this handy free program can take care of that, too.
Digital Video Repair is a 1MB download for Windows available as a .exe or zip file from Rising Research.
Repair Video Master
Repair Video Master has been around since 2011.
It claims to repair all kinds of video files, ranging from MP4, WMV to RMVB.
Even audio files like AC3.
Among the issues this video repair tool can fix include:
- Video files that can’t be completely copied from a CD or DVD
- Files that freeze during playback
- Files that have fast-forwarding and rewinding problems
This is actually paid software but you can try it out for 15 days free to fix your partly damaged or corrupted MP4 files.
The only limitation to the free version is it doesn’t support batch file repair. You can only repair one file at a time.
It is a 1.79MB download available at Repair Video Inc
DivFix ++
DivFix++ Video repair program that boasts over a million downloads. Apart from repairing damaged video files, it also acts as a video clip previewer.
It can handle a file size of over 2GB.
The video repair program can be downloaded at the DivFix++ Official Site. It is available for the Windows, Linux and Mac platforms
DivFix++ relies on donations to support its development
Video Repair Software
This program with repairs more than MP4 files.
It also fixes corrupted MOV, MP4, 3GP, and M4V files, among others.
Other than that, it fixes video files that don’t play on Windows Media Player or Quicktime Player.
It also repairs videos not finalized in the camera.
The video repair tool is not entirely free. The developer allows you to fix only 50% of your corrupted video for free.
However, there’s a workaround to this shortfall. Check out the useful video below to see how it’s done.
You’re invited to try out these MP4 digital video repair software programs. However, exercise caution when downloading and installing them. Scan each with your anti-virus program.
Always select custom install whereby you have the option not to install other third-party programs bundled with them.
Selecting express install may invite the risk of installing external third-party programs that you don’t need.
Untrunc Repair MP4 Tool
Untrunc works for Linux. But according to the developer, “the code runs under Linux, but it should not be difficult to port to Windows (or Mac)”.
Watch the video below to see how Untrunc works to repair a corrupted MP4 file.
For more information, check out the Untrunc site.
Repair Your Corrupt MP4 File with FFmpeg
FFmpeg is an open-source program that converts, edits, and record audio and video streams.
It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Not many know that it has a video repair function. Let it be known that FFmpeg is not the usual software you run on your computer.
You can’t install it because it is a command-line program. You’ve to run it very much like a DOS program back in the day. You do it by typing commands.
It may be a little challenging for the uninitiated. However, the video below will do a good job in guiding you step-by-step to repair a corrupt MP4 file for free.
Video Repair Online
Don’t fancy installing video repair software into your computer?
Can’t get the above software options to repair your damaged or corrupted video files?
Then check out the online video repair option.
Good luck with your video file repair and hope you get your broken, damaged or corrupted video files working again.
How to Fix a Corrupted VideoFile on Android
If you’ve ended up with a corrupted MP4 video file on Android, check out this guide on how to fix corrupted MP4 files on Android.
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