Among several video file formats available in today’s digital world, MP4 is quite popular and mainly known for its high-quality playback across multiple devices. However, sometimes it became quite distressing when these MP4 videos suddenly got corrupted or became unplayable. Usually, MP4 video gets corrupted due to file system errors, improper ejection of storage devices, virus or malware attacks, or physical damage.
Fortunately, various video repair tools and techniques are available to easily repair corrupt MP4 files. This comprehensive guide explores various methods on how to repair corrupt MP4 video files from USB drives and SD cards. Also, check some preventive tips to avoid such video corruption issues in the future.
Understanding Causes of MP4 Video Corruption
Understanding the exact cause for your MP4 video corruption can help you identify the adequate video repair workarounds. Some main reasons why MP4 files get corrupted on USB drives and SD cards are:
- Improper Ejection: Improperly ejecting the USB drive or SD card from your device leads to incomplete file transfers, making MP4 videos unplayable.
- File System Corruption: When the file system of your storage device gets corrupted, it makes all the stored files, including your MP4 videos, inaccessible.
- Virus or Malware Infection: Storage devices are prone to malicious programs like viruses or malware, which can also damage stored MP4 files, rendering them unplayable.
- Incomplete Video Transfer: If the process of transferring or downloading MP4 videos gets interrupted, it may prevent them from playing due to missing headers or metadata.
Signs of Corrupt MP4 Video Files
When an MP4 video gets corrupt or damaged due to any of the aforementioned reasons, you may encounter the following signs:
- An error message like “Unsupported format” or “File cannot be opened” may appear on your screen.
- You may encounter issues like sudden glitches, pixelation, freezing, or missing frames while playing video files.
- The file might not open, but instead shows a black or blank screen.
- If the process of copying MP4 files gets interrupted, it generates an error message like “Cannot copy file. The file is corrupt or unreadable.”
Quick Methods to Repair Corrupt MP4 Video Files
Now that you are familiar with the reasons for MP4 video corruption on your USB drives or SD cards, it’s time to apply adequate repair methods. Just go with the following methods one-by-one to make your videos playable again:
Method 01: Transcode MP4 Video Files Using VLC Player
VLC is a free and open-source media player which, along with playing your video files, allows you to fix minor corruption issues. If your video is corrupt due to incompatible format or codec issues, transcoding it can resolve playback errors. Follow the below steps to transcode MP4 video files using VLC player:
- Firstly, launch VLC Media Player on your device.
- Click on Media from the top menu bar and select “Convert / Save” from the dropdown menu.
- Now, click Add to upload the MP4 file that you need to transcode and then tap the Convert/Save button:
- In the Convert window, provide the file name and desired folder location next to the Destination file
- Also, choose the desired input codec from the Profile list
- Lastly, click the Start button and wait till the VLC transcodes your MP4 video.
Once the process is complete, go to the destination folder and check if the issue is resolved.
Method 02: Increase the Cache Values in VLC Player
Another method that you can try to repair corrupt MP4 video files from USB drives and SD cards using VLC Media Player is via increasing its cache value. This method can help resolve buffering issues, especially when playing large MP4 files, high-resolution videos, or streaming content over a network. All you have to do is:
- Launch VLC media player on your Windows or Mac PC.
- Click on Tools, and then select Preferences.
- From the bottom left corner, select All under Show Settings.
- Scroll down and expand Input / Codecs.
- Now, increase the value of File caching (ms) under the Advanced section from the default 300 ms to 1000 ms (1 second) or more.
- Click the Save button located at the bottom of the Preference window.
- Close and restart VLC player for the changes to take effect.
Method 03: Repair Corrupt MP4 File Using FFmpeg
For advanced users, FFmpeg is a powerful open-source command-line tool which can help you repair corrupt MP4 video files from USB drives and SD cards easily. This tool fixes your video by rebuilding missing or damaged indexes, fixing metadata, and re-encoding problematic video streams. All you have to do is:
- Download and install FFmpeg from the official website: https://ffmpeg.org/download.html.
- Launch Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux).
- Now, type the following command: ffmpeg -i corrupt.mp4 -c copy repaired.mp4 and press Enter.
- FFmpeg will attempt to fix the file by copying intact data into a new MP4 file.
Method 04: Use Third-Party Video Repair Software
If the above manual methods to repair corrupt MP4 files from USB drives and SD cards fail, then a dedicated video repair software such as Stellar Repair for Video can help you. This tool completely analyzes the file structure of your video, identifies missing or damaged parts, and repairs them to restore playback. You can use this all-in-one video repair software to repair corrupt videos saved on any internal or external storage devices.
The Stellar Repair for Video tool can help you repair damaged/corrupt videos of multiple file formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, AVCHD, MJPEG, etc. It also allows you to preview the repaired video files before saving them on your device. Here’s how to repair corrupt MP4 video files from USB drives and SD cards using this amazing tool:
Step 1: Firstly, connect your USB drive or SD card to your computer. Also download and install the Stellar Repair for Video tool on that device.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the homepage, click Add Videos to upload the corrupt MP4 video files you need to repair.
Step 3: Click the Repair button to initiate the repairing process and wait till it completes.
Step 4: Once the repair is done, preview the repaired video files and click the Save Repaired Files button to save them at the desired storage location.
Preventive Tips to Avoid MP4 File Corruption
To prevent future corruption of MP4 videos on your computer, you can consider the following preventive measures:
- Avoid Improper Ejection: Use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before unplugging your USB drive or SD card to prevent file corruption.
- Backup Your Important Videos: Regularly backup your important MP4 videos to an external hard drive or cloud services like Google Drive to avoid permanent loss.
- Use Reliable Antivirus Software: As video corruption might occur due to virus or malware attacks, use an antivirus software to protect your system against such threats.
- Format Storage Devices Properly: Format USB drives and SD cards using FAT32 or exFAT file systems for better compatibility and reduced corruption risk.
Conclusion
Having a corrupt MP4 video file on USB drives and SD cards can be painful, but the aforementioned video repair tools and techniques can help you repair your videos. Start with using VLC Media Player, FFmpeg, and if these methods fail, professional video repair software such as Stellar Repair for Video can help restore playback. Moreover, consider preventive measures like always eject storage devices properly, back up important videos, and use reliable hardware to reduce the risk of corruption.
