GoPro Videos Not Playing on PC? 7 Ways to Fix It

Having trouble playing GoPro videos on your computer? Wondering how to fix the 'GoPro videos won't play' error? It's a problem, often caused by missing codecs, incompatible media players, or file corruption. If you're one of the many people who are dealing with GoPro playback issues, don't worry as we bring you the solution for this. In this blog post, we'll show you how to fix 'GoPro videos not playing on PC' issue in multiple ways. Let's roll!

Overview of GoPro Videos Not Playing on PC

Symptoms

If you can't play GoPro videos on your PC, you might encounter errors like:

• The video opens but displays a black screen, with no image or sound.
• A pop-up error might appear, indicating that the file format is unsupported or the codec is missing.
• You cannot open the video file at all, or the GoPro player is not working.
• The video plays but freezes intermittently or lags behind the audio.

Causes

There are many different reasons behind the 'GoPro video won't play' error, and the most common ones are listed below:

• Unsupported File Format: GoPro cameras (especially from the HERO6 onwards) often use the HEVC codec to compress videos. This codec provides higher video quality with smaller file sizes, but it's not supported by many media players (like Windows Media Player).
• Insufficient Hardware Resources: GoPro cameras often capture 4K or higher resolution videos. If your PC has lower-end hardware, it may struggle to play 4K videos smoothly.
• Video File Corruption: There's a chance your video files could get corrupted during transfers.
• Playing Videos Directly from SD Card: When you play GoPro videos directly from the camera's SD card, the data transfer speed of the card might not be fast enough to allow smooth playback, especially for high-resolution videos.

Top 7 Methods to Fix GoPro Videos Not Playing on PC

Option A: Try Another Media Player

If your GoPro videos won't play on your computer, the first thing to try is using a different media player. We recommend VLC Media Player because it's a powerful and versatile multimedia player that supports almost all audio and video formats. VLC is free, open-source, and available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Option B: Repair Corrupted Video Files

If the GoPro videos not playing on PC error persists, it's likely because your video files are corrupted or damaged due to unknown reasons. Corruption is an extremely common problem, so there's no need to worry about it. Dedicated tools like 4DDiG File Repair can help you repair unplayable, choppy, grainy, or distorted videos in just a few simple steps. Let's take a glance at some key features of this powerful tool:

• Performs well in various playback issues, such as no video or black screen, no sound, audio and video out of sync, and more.
• Support the recovery of various video formats,
• Intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for computer novices.
• Ability to repair multiple files at once, saving valuable time.
• Industry-leading success rate, with fixes up to 98.6%.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to repair corrupted GoPro video files with the help of this tool:

Step 1: Begin with downloading and installing the 4DDiG File Repair tool on your computer. Then, launch the app, go to the "Corrupted File Repair" tab and pick the "Video Repair" option.

Step 2: Click on the "Add Videos" button to upload the damaged video files.

Step 3: After that, click the "Repair All" button to proceed. Once completed, this tool allows you to preview the repaired videos before saving them. If you are satisfied with the results, select the desired videos and hit the "Save" button.

Option C: Re-encode Your Video Files

One potential solution for the 'GoPro videos won't play' error is to try converting the video compressing format to H.264. As we mentioned earlier, while HEVC provides better compression efficiency, its compatibility is limited. H.264, on the other hand, is a more universally supported video encoding standard, with nearly all devices and platforms capable of playing H.264-encoded videos. In addition, H.264 has lower hardware requirements compared to HEVC. You can use a free tool called HandBrake to get the job done, and here's how:

Step 1: Install and launch the HandBrake tool. Next, drag the GoPro video you want to convert into the application.

Step 2: In the "Summary" tab, set the format to MP4. (it should default to MP4).

Step 3: Go to the "Video" tab, and under the "Video Codec" dropdown, select H.264 (x264).

Step 4: Choose the location and name for the converted file by clicking "Browse" at the bottom.

Step 5: Once everything is set, click the green "Start Encode" button.

Option D: Install HEVC Video Extensions

For those with limited computer knowledge, you may find it difficult to re-encode your GoPro video files. Fortunately, if your media player doesn't support HEVC videos, Microsoft provides a convenient solution. Simply open the Microsoft Store, search for "HEVC Video Extensions," and install it. This will enable your computer to decode and play HEVC videos properly in apps like Windows Media Player and other supported software. Note that this app is not free; it usually costs around $0.99.

Option E: Install a Codec Pack

You are bound to encounter the GoPro mp4 files not playing error When the necessary codecs are missing. To fix such issues, your best bet is to install the K-Lite Codec Pack on your computer.

It's a collection of codecs and related tools that enable your media player to properly decode and play a wide range of audio and video formats, including those used by GoPro cameras. Do remember that always download the K-Lite Codec Pack from its official website. Additionally, the K-Lite Codec Pack comes in several versions (Basic, Standard, Full, and Mega). For most users, installing the Standard version is sufficient to fix GoPro player not working error.

Option F: Run Windows Troubleshooter

Running the Video Playback troubleshooter is a viable option If you're experiencing issues with your GoPro mp4 files not playing. To do so:

Step 1: Press Windows + R on your keyboard to bring up the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type the "msdt.exe /id VideoPlaybackDiagnostic" command and click "OK."

Step 3: Click "Next" to proceed.

Option G: Free up RAM and Disk Space

Freeing up disk space and RAM can also be an effective solution for GoPro videos not playing on PC error. This is especially true when playing GoPro videos recorded in 4K or higher resolutions. To optimize system resources, right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and pick Task Manager. Make sure to close any programs and applications that you're not actively using. Or, end tasks that are taking up too much memory or CPU power. You can also use Windows' built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove unnecessary files, such as system cache, temporary internet files, and error reports.

So, there you have it: that's everything related to the GoPro videos won't play error and how to fix it!

Final Words

If you can't play GoPro videos on your PC, try the five effective solutions we've provided here. From switching to a more powerful media player or running the Windows troubleshooter, you'll have your GoPro footage playing smoothly in no time. On the other hand, when faced with file corruption, 4DDiG File Repair is a trusted choice. This tool works with any brand of action camera and excels at repairing video files corrupted by interrupted recordings, faulty memory cards, or unexpected power loss.