Google Drive is a fantastic tool for storing and sharing files, but it can be frustrating when it won't play videos on your Android device.
The issue might be due to the file format being unsupported by Google Drive, as mentioned in the article section, where it's stated that Google Drive only supports a limited number of video file formats, including MP4, AVI, and MOV.
Another possible cause is a corrupted file, which can prevent Google Drive from playing the video at all. This can be a real bummer, especially if you've been looking forward to watching that new movie or TV show.
To troubleshoot the issue, let's start by checking the file format and making sure it's one of the supported formats.
Troubleshooting
Let's get started with troubleshooting the issue of Google Drive not playing videos on your Android device. First, make sure your Android device is connected to the internet, as Google Drive videos are stored online.
Check if your uploaded video file itself is corrupted, which could be the reason why it's not playing. This is a common issue, and it's easy to fix by re-uploading the video or checking the file for any errors.
Your browser might not have the required extension or add-on to play Google Drive videos. Try updating your browser or installing the necessary extension to see if that resolves the issue.
If you're using a VPN, it might be blocking access to your Google Drive files. Try disabling your VPN and see if that allows you to play the video.
Here are some possible reasons why Google Drive videos are not playing on your Android device:
Sign out of any secondary Google accounts and try playing the video again. Also, make sure you're not trying to play a pirated content, as that can also cause the issue.
Format and Resolution Issues
Google Drive won't play video on your Android device? Let's troubleshoot the issue together.
Google Drive has a list of supported video formats that can be played in your browser, but it's not exhaustive. You can play WebM, MPEG4, 3GPP, MOV, MPEG-PS, AVI, WMV, FLV, MTS, and OGG formats.
If you're using a Windows PC with a standard browser, you can play all these formats, but your Android device might not be as lucky. Google Drive doesn't guarantee that your mobile can play all those formats.
The resolution of your video is also a concern. Google Drive blocks videos with a resolution of more than 1080p, which means you can upload a 4K or 8K video, but you won't be able to play it. Your video must have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or less to play smoothly.
Check the Format
You can upload any video on Google Drive, but not all formats can be played in your browser. Specifically, Google Drive supports WebM, MPEG4, 3GPP, MOV, MPEG-PS, AVI, WMV, FLV, MTS, and OGG video formats.
Google Drive doesn't guarantee that all these formats will play on your mobile device, so be aware of that possibility.
Check the Resolution
You can upload and store videos with resolutions of 4K or 8K on Google Drive, but you won't be able to play them.
The maximum resolution that can be played on Google Drive is 1080p, which is 1920 x 1080 pixels.
This means you'll need to compress your videos to meet the resolution requirements if you want to play them on Google Drive.
Converting to Mp4
You can convert Google Drive to MP4 using a reliable video converter like VideoProc Converter AI. This tool supports 370+ input formats and 420+ output codecs, including 8K resolution and above.
The maximum playback resolution in Google Drive is 1920 x 1080, so it's best to compress your video size by re-encoding it directly with H.264/HEVC.
To convert your video, select the output profiles to convert in the Target Format section of VideoProc Converter AI. You can choose MP4 or other formats like H.264, MOV, AVI, etc.
Here are some tips to reduce the file size manually:
- Decrease the frame rate
- Adjust the bitrate to a smaller value
- Slide the quality control to the right a little to prevent largely quality degrading
You can also use VideoProc Converter AI's built-in editing tools to further polish your video, including cutting, cropping, merging, adding subtitles, effects, rotating, and more.
Error Messages
If you're getting a "This Video Cannot Be Played" error on Google Drive with your Android device, it's likely due to one of the following reasons.
Corrupted video files can cause playback issues, so it's a good idea to check if your uploaded video is corrupted.
Maybe your access to Google Drive has been revoked, or you're experiencing an access issue.
Incompatible browser extensions or add-ons can prevent video playback, so make sure your browser is up-to-date and has the necessary extensions.
Incompatible browser extensions or add-ons can also be the culprit, so check if they're compatible with your browser.
Intermittent network issues can cause video unavailability, so try checking your internet connection.
Firewall settings might be blocking access to your files, so try disabling your Firewall to see if it resolves the issue.
If you're using a VPN, it might be preventing you from accessing your files, so try turning it off to see if it resolves the issue.
Basic Troubleshooting - 12 Ways
If Google Drive won't play video on your Android device, don't worry, you can try some basic troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.
First, follow the on-screen instruction to allow the software to identify your Android device. Once done, you'll enter the main screen.
Make sure your internet connection is stable and strong, as a weak connection can cause Google Drive to malfunction.
You can also try restarting your Android device, as this often resolves connectivity issues.
If you're using an older version of the Google Drive app, try updating it to the latest version.
Clearing the cache and data of the Google Drive app can also help resolve the issue.
Allow the software to identify your Android device by following the on-screen instructions.
If you're still experiencing issues, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Google Drive app.
Ensure that the video you're trying to play is compatible with the Google Drive app.
You can also try playing the video on a different device to see if the issue is device-specific.
Conversion to MP4
If Google Drive won't play your video on Android, it's likely due to an incompatible format or large file size. To fix this, you can convert and compress your video to the supported file format and size.
VideoProc Converter AI is a robust video processing tool that can convert video to any formats and codecs on both Windows and iOS, with 370+ input formats and 420+ output codecs.
To compress your video, you can use VideoProc Converter AI, which can shrink the video file over 90% of its original size while maintaining image quality.
The supported formats for playback in Google Drive include MPEG4, MOV files, AVI, FLV, WebM files, MPEGPS, WMV, MTS, OGG, and 3GPP.
Here are the maximum playback storage and resolutions specified in Google Drive:
You can compress your video size by re-encoding it directly with H.264/HEVC, which can downgrade the video resolution to 1920 x 1080 while auto-calculating the best bitrate for the videos to retain the best image quality.
To manually reduce the file size, you can decrease the frame rate, adjust the bitrate to a smaller value, or slide the quality control to the right a little to prevent largely quality degrading.
It's also worth noting that VideoProc Converter AI comes with a range of editing tools, including cut, crop, merge, add subtitles, effects, rotate, and more, which can be used to further polish your video.
Why Videos Won't Play
Videos won't play in Google Drive on Android, and it's frustrating. This issue can be caused by a corrupted video file.
Maybe your access to Google Drive has been revoked, or your browser is not compatible with the video file. Your browser might have an outdated version or a corrupted extension that's preventing playback.
Corrupted video files are a common issue, and you might need to try uploading the file again. Your browser's version or the video file's format could be the problem.
Here are some possible reasons why videos won't play in Google Drive on Android:
- Corrupted video file
- Access issue due to revoked access or browser incompatibility
- Browser or extension issues
- Unavailability due to intermittent network issues
- Firewall or VPN issues
If you're experiencing issues with video playback, try checking the video format, resolution, and file size. Also, make sure you're not blocking third-party cookies, and sign out of any secondary Google accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are videos not playing in Google Drive?
Videos may not play in Google Drive due to unsupported file formats, outdated app versions, or cache issues. Try updating the Google Drive app, clearing its cache, or checking the file format to resolve the issue
Sources
- https://www.problogbooster.com/2018/06/google-drive-videos-cannot-playing-android-computer-mp4-fixed-solution.html
- https://www.thewindowsclub.com/google-drive-videos-are-not-playing-or-showing-a-blank-screen
- https://www.cbackup.com/articles/google-drive-not-working-on-android-6688.html
- https://www.mobikin.com/android-recovery/fix-google-drive-not-working-on-android.html
- https://www.videoproc.com/resource/play-mp4-in-google-drive.htm
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