How to repair damaged mp4 video files​？

MP4 is a commonly used video format, and there are various reasons why MP4 video files may get damaged, such as incomplete downloads, software or hardware malfunctions, and virus attacks.

Repair with Professional Video Repair Software

VLC Media Player

Introduction: VLC is a popular multimedia player that can also be used to repair some damaged MP4 files. It has a built-in feature that can attempt to fix certain video errors.

Steps: Open VLC Media Player. Go to “Media” in the menu bar and select “Open File” to choose the damaged MP4 file. If the file is playable to some extent, go to “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Input / Codecs”. Under “Damaged or incomplete AVI file”, select “Always fix”. Then try to play the video again. VLC will attempt to repair and play the file simultaneously.

FFmpeg

Introduction: FFmpeg is a powerful command-line tool for handling multimedia files. It can be used to repair and convert various video formats, including MP4. It works by re-encoding the video file, which can sometimes fix errors in the file structure.

Steps: Download and install FFmpeg on your computer. Open the command prompt or terminal. Navigate to the directory where FFmpeg is installed. Use the command ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v copy -c:a copy output.mp4. replacing “input.mp4” with the name of your damaged file and “output.mp4” with the desired name for the repaired file. This command copies the video and audio streams without re-encoding them, which can sometimes fix minor errors. If that doesn’t work, you can try re-encoding the video with a command like ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4.

Wondershare Repairit

Introduction: Wondershare Repairit is a dedicated video repair software with a user-friendly interface. It can repair severely damaged MP4 files and supports batch repair, allowing you to repair multiple files at once.

Steps: Download and install Wondershare Repairit on your computer. Launch the software and select the “Video Repair” option. Click the “Add” button to add the damaged MP4 files. You can also directly drag and drop the files into the software interface. After adding the files, click the “Repair” button to start the repair process. The software will analyze and repair the files. Once the repair is complete, you can preview the repaired videos and save them to the desired location.

Repair in Online Repair Tools

Online-Convert

Introduction: Online-Convert is an online platform that offers a variety of file conversion and repair services, including MP4 video repair. It’s convenient to use as it doesn’t require any software installation.

Steps: Go to the Online-Convert website. Select the “Video” category and then choose “MP4 Repair” or a similar option. Upload the damaged MP4 file by clicking the “Choose File” button and selecting the file from your computer. After the file is uploaded, click the “Convert” or “Repair” button. Wait for the process to complete. Once the repair is finished, you can download the repaired MP4 file to your computer.

Zamzar

Introduction: Zamzar is another popular online file conversion and repair tool. It supports a wide range of file formats and can repair MP4 files with various types of damage.

Steps: Visit the Zamzar website. Select “MP4” as the output format (even though you’re repairing, it will output a repaired MP4). Click the “Add Files” button to upload the damaged MP4 file. You can also enter the URL of the MP4 file if it’s hosted online. After uploading, choose an option to receive the repaired file, such as entering your email address to get a download link. Click the “Convert” button to start the repair process. Check your email for the download link and save the repaired file to your computer.

System and Software Solutions

Check and Repair Disk Errors

Introduction: Sometimes, MP4 file damage can be caused by disk errors. Checking and repairing disk errors can potentially fix the problem.

Steps: On Windows, open “This PC”, right-click on the drive where the MP4 file is located, and select “Properties”. Go to the “Tools” tab and click “Check” under “Error checking”. Follow the on-screen instructions to check and repair disk errors. On Mac, open “Disk Utility”, select the disk containing the MP4 file, and click “First Aid” to check and repair disk problems.

Update or Reinstall Video Players

Introduction: Outdated or corrupted video players can cause issues when playing MP4 files and may even contribute to file damage. Updating or reinstalling the video player can resolve these problems.

Steps: For popular players like Windows Media Player or QuickTime Player, check for updates through the software’s settings or the official website. If updating doesn’t work, uninstall the player and then download and install the latest version from the official source.

Other Solutions

Use Video Editing Software

Introduction: Some video editing software can import and process damaged MP4 files to a certain extent. By importing the damaged file and exporting it again, the software may be able to repair some errors.

Steps: Open video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. Import the damaged MP4 file into the project. If the file imports successfully, make any necessary adjustments or edits. Then, export the video as a new MP4 file. The process of exporting can sometimes correct file errors and produce a playable MP4.

Seek Professional Data Recovery Services

Introduction: If the above methods don’t work and the MP4 file contains extremely important data, it may be worth considering professional data recovery services. These services have specialized tools and expertise to handle complex file damage and recovery situations.

Steps: Search for reputable data recovery companies in your area or online. Contact them and describe the situation of your damaged MP4 file. They will usually offer a free consultation and assessment. If you decide to proceed, they will take your storage device (such as a hard drive or memory card where the file is stored) and use advanced techniques to attempt to recover and repair the MP4 file.