Videos play a very significant role in today's digital world. However, sudden corruption of important video files on any device, including your Mac, can be distressful. There are several reasons, such as improper system shutdowns, interrupted transfers, software glitches, etc., why any video gets corrupted or becomes unplayable on your Mac. Fortunately, you can fix corrupt video files on Mac by applying several manual quick fixes or third-party online video repair tools.
This article will help you understand several quick ways to repair a video file on your Mac online, i.e., without downloading any third-party software. Just follow the methods mentioned in this aricle one-by-one to repair the video files quickly and efficiently on your Mac.
What Causes Video Corruption on Mac?
Before you apply methods to repair corrupted video files online, it is important to understand the exact cause of your video corruption. Some main reasons why video files generally get corrupted on Mac are:
- Interruption during transfers: There may be interruptions while downloading the video files from the internet or transferring them between storage devices, which can result in corruption.
- Sudden System Shutdown: Unexpected power loss or system shutdown during a file operation may lead to corruption or even deletion of video files.
- Faulty Video Player: Some media players don't support all video codecs, which makes the files appear corrupt when played.
- Malware or Software Bugs: Although rare on macOS, sometimes software bugs interrupt the files stored on your Mac and make them inaccessible.
How do I Repair Video Files on Mac?
In this part of the article, we will discuss several methods, including manual as well as via a third-party online video repair tool, which can help you fix corrupt video files online. Let's start!
Method 01: Use QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a macOS built-in video player tool which not only allows you to play video files but also to repair minor corruption issues. Here's how you can repair video files using the QuickTime media player:
- Firstly, right-click on your video file that you need to repair.
- Select Open With > QuickTime Media Player.
- If any error appears on your screen, try using the Export As feature:
- Go to File, then select Export As from the context menu.
- Choose a desired file format (for example: 1080p).
- Once done, save the new file and try playing it.
Method 02: Use VLC Media Player
Another versatile media player which can help you fix corrupted or damaged video files is VLC Media Player. It is an open-source, free multimedia player available for macOS, which you can use to repair corrupt video files in several ways. Follow the steps below to repair corrupt video files on Mac using VLC Media Player:
- Download and install the VLC player on your Mac.
- If your corrupted video file is in any format other than AVI, you need to rename it by changing the file extension to .AVI.
- Open the AVI file in the VLC media player.
- Now, click on the Tools option from the menu bar located at the top.
- After that, go to Select Preference > Input & Codecs.
- Select the Always Fix option from the drop-down next to 'Damaged or Incomplete AVI file.'
- Lastly, click Save to save the repaired video on your device.
Once your video is saved to a safe location, check if you are able to play the video without any errors or issues.
Method 03: Use Terminal Commands (For Advanced Users)
For advanced users, Mac's built-in Terminal utility can also be a lifesaver. You can use macOS's FFmpeg, a powerful command-line tool for processing video and audio files. All you have to do is:
- Install FFmpeg using Homebrew on your Mac.
- Now, run the following command: ffmpeg -i corrupted_video.mp4 -c copy repaired_video.mp4
Sometimes, changing the video file format can help fix the issue and make your videos playable. You can run the following commands to convert your video to another format:
- ffmpeg -i corrupted_video.mp4 repaired_video.mov
Method 04: Use Online Video Repair Software
If you are still looking for the easiest approach to repair video files and that's too without downloading or installing any third-party software, the online video repair can help you. There are several online video repair tools, such as Stellar Online Video Repair, Wondershare Repairit, Remo Video Repair, etc., available on the internet to repair your video easily. These tools can repair your damaged video files just by uploading them to the interface and following the on-screen steps.
Here's how to repair a video file online on a Mac using these online video repair tools:
- Firstly, open a web browser (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox) on your Mac.
- Visit the official website of the trusted online video repair software.
- Upload the corrupt video that you need to repair and go through the steps appearing on the screen.
- Wait while the file is processed.
- After completion of the repair process, preview and download the repaired file.
Tips for Successful Online Video Repair:
- Use a sample/reference video recorded from the same camera or phone for better repair results.
- Avoid refreshing or closing the browser while the repair process is in progress.
- Check the file size limits — some tools restrict upload size unless you upgrade.
- Make sure you've a strong internet connection for large files to avoid failed uploads.
Preventing Video Corruption in the Future
Now that you are familiar with the methods to repair corrupt video files online, it's time to avoid such corruption issues on your end. To avoid future headaches, here are some simple ways:
- Always properly eject your external storage devices before unplugging.
- Avoid forced shutdowns while performing any operation on your video files.
- Keep your system and applications updated to prevent software-related corruption.
- Create regular backups of your important video files using Time Machine or cloud services.
Wrapping Up
It can be a nightmare when your important video files stop playing suddenly. When you encounter such an issue, start with simple methods like QuickTime or VLC, and move to professional tools like Stellar Online Video Repair or Wondershare Repairit if required. Whatever is the cause of your video corruption, there's always a chance to fix it. Moreover, it is also important to maintain good backup habits and use trusted software to avoid such issues in the future.