"Hello all. So for some reason recently I have run into an issue where my iPhone 10 will not play any videos at all. I know this is not internet related as the videos include those on camera roll as well as those on apps like YouTube. Every time I play a video, the first second of the video plays and then it becomes permanently paused. It lets me unpause it but will not do anything".
- from Apple Community
The iPhone is the primary device for many people to watch videos, but occasionally we may encounter situations where videos won't play. Whether it's online videos or local videos, playback issues can prevent us from enjoying video content. Why is my iPhone not playing videos? This article will explore common reasons for videos not playing on iPhone and provide some effective solutions.
Before diving into the solutions to the iPhone not playing videos, it's important to understand some common reasons. Why are my old videos not playing on my iPhone? The following are some possible reasons:
After we know the possible reasons, the following are some effective solutions to videos on iPhone not playing. You can try them one by one.
For online videos, first, ensure that your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network or a mobile data network with a strong signal. You can try the following steps:
Step 1. Open "Settings" > "Wi-Fi" to check if you are connected to the correct network.
Step 2. If using mobile data, make sure "Cellular Data" is turned on and the signal is strong.
Step 3. If the network signal is weak, try reconnecting to Wi-Fi or switching to another network source.
Step 4. If the network connection is fine and the video still won't play, go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset" > "Reset Network Settings" to reset your network.
If your videos not playing on iPhone app, app glitches or errors can cause video playback to fail. Force quitting the app and reopening it may resolve the issue.
Here is how to do it:
Step 1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the task manager.
Step 2. Find the Video app and swipe it up to close the app.
Step 3. Reopen the app and try playing the video.
Each app has a default feature to clear accumulated data, which can not only free up space on your device but also help resolve issues caused by insufficient running space. If videos aren't playing on your iPhone app, try clearing the stored cache and then attempt to play the video again.
If there is an issue with the video app itself, it may cause videos are not play on my iPhone. In this case, deleting and reinstalling the Video app can sometimes resolve the issue.
Here are the steps:
Step 1. Find the Video app, press and hold the app icon, then tap "Remove App". (Can't delete app on iPhone?)
Step 2. Re-download and install the app from the App Store.
Step 3. Reopen the app and play the Video to check if it works properly.
If your iPhone doesn't have enough storage space, you won't be able to open large videos or 4K videos. If you find that videos are not playing on your iPhone, you can try clearing up storage space. To do it, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Open "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage" to check storage usage.
Step 2. To free up space, you can delete unwanted photos, apps, and other files. Alternatively, you could try reducing the video size.
Sometimes, iPhone videos not playing may be due to incompatible video formats, especially when local videos won't play. iPhones typically support MP4, MOV, and M4V video formats. If the video format is incompatible, you can use a video converter tool to convert the file to a format supported by the iPhone. One of the most popular video converter tools is Video Converter Ultimate.
What can Video Converter Ultimate do for you?
Here is how to use Video Converter Ultimate to change the video format:
01Download, install, and launch Video Converter Ultimate on your computer.
02Click "Add File" and choose "Add Files" or "Add Folder" to select your video files. Alternatively, you can directly drag and drop the video files into the program.
03Click the "format" button next to the video file and choose a preset from the available options, such as MP4. To adjust format settings, click the "gear" icon.
04Set the destination folder at the bottom, then click "Convert All" to begin.
If videos not playing on iPhone Safari, clearing the history may help restore video playback. To clear Safari history, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Safari".
Step 3. Scroll down and select "Clear History and Website Data".
Step 4. Confirm by tapping "Clear History and Data".
System errors or software issues may also cause videos to not play. If you find that your iPhone 15/16 is not playing videos, try updating or restarting the device to resolve any potential software problems.
To update your iPhone: Open "Settings" > "General" > "Software Update" to check for available updates. (iPhone software update failed?)
To restart your iPhone: Press and hold the "power" button (or the "power" button and "volume" button, depending on your iPhone model), slide to power off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
If other methods don't resolve the issue, a system malfunction may be preventing the video from playing. In this case, you can use a professional system repair tool - iOS System Recovery, to fix the iPhone system issue without data loss.
Highlights of iOS System Recovery:
Here is how to use iOS System Recovery to fix videos on iPhone not playing:
01Click the download button below to get the tool. Once the download is complete, open the program and select "iOS System Recovery".
02Connect your iPhone to the computer and trust the connection. Then, click "Start" and follow the on-screen instructions to enter recovery mode.
03Select "Standard Mode" and click "Confirm" to continue. The tool will begin downloading the necessary iOS firmware.
04Once the download is complete, click "Repair" to start the repair process. The tool will fix your device and resolve the iPhone videos not playing issue without any data loss.
If you've tried all the methods and the issue persists, it's recommended to contact Apple Support. Professional technical support can help you resolve the issue of iPhone videos not playing.
One of the most common reasons for videos not playing on iPhone is video format incompatibility. In this case, using Video Converter Ultimate to convert the video to a format supported by an iPhone (such as MP4) can effectively resolve the issue and ensure smooth playback. Another possible cause is a system malfunction. In such cases, it is recommended to use iOS System Recovery to fix the device's system issues and restore normal video playback functionality.
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