How To Fix WhatsApp Videos Not Playing On Android/iPhone

WhatsApp allows its users to share photos, videos, and other files with friends and family, making it easier to stay connected. However, some users have reported that they are facing problems in playing WhatsApp videos after updating the WhatsApp app. If you are also having the same problem, read this guide to learn how to fix WhatsApp videos that are not playing on Android/iPhone.

Why Are WhatsApp Videos Not Playing On Android Or iPhone?

When your WhatsApp videos are not playing then you want to solve the issue as soon as possible but before fixing the problem you should first know the reasons why videos are not playing on your WhatsApp.

Here is a list of causes behind this problem:

Unstable internet connection.
Outdated WhatsApp app or OS.
Low storage space on your device.
Incompatible video format.
Outdated app cache and data.
WhatsApp app server problem.

So, these are some of the common reasons behind this problem. Now, it is time to know how to fix WhatsApp videos not playing.

How To Solve WhatsApp Videos Are Not Playing On iPhone/Android

Solution 1: Check Internet Connection

You should first check your network connection as a poor network connection can create problems in playing WhatsApp videos. If you are using mobile data then you should switch to a WiFi connection.

If you are using a Wi-Fi network then you should switch to cellular data. You can also restart your router to refresh the connection and solve the problem.

Solution 2: Force Stop WhatsApp App

You can force-stop the WhatsApp app to fix WhatsApp videos not playing on Android.

Here are the steps to do the same:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Then tap on Apps/App Manager.
Now you will find a list of installed apps. Select WhatsApp app from there.
Next, tap on Force Stop and then on OK.

Solution 3: Update WhatsApp App And Phone OS

As you know outdated apps and the phone’s OS version can also cause WhatsApp videos won’t play problem. Hence, you are suggested to check the update for WhatsApp on iPhone or Android OS version to its latest version.

Here are the steps to update the app or Operating System (OS):

Steps To Update WhatsApp app:

Open the Google Play Store or App Store on your smartphone.
Then enter WhatsApp on the search bar and tap on the result.
If you find Update button then tap on it to install the latest update.

Steps To Update Android OS:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Then tap on System > Software Update.
If you find the latest update then follow the on-screen steps to download and install it.

Steps To Update iPhone OS:

Go to Settings > General.
After this, tap on Software Update.
Now, it will show you the latest update; to download and install it follow the on-screen steps.

Solution 4: Allow Background App Refresh

If background app refresh for WhatsApp is disabled then this will restrict the app from loading the latest messages and WhatsApp attachments.

So, you should check it and if it is disabled then enable background app refresh for WhatsApp to solve the problem.

Here learn how to enable background app refresh for the WhatsApp app on Android or iPhone:

On Android:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Then go to Data Usage
Now, look for WhatsApp and toggle on “Background data access” for both mobile data and Wi-Fi.

On iPhone:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Then look for WhatsApp.
Next, find the “Background App Refresh” option and enable it.

Solution 5: Check WhatsApp App Server

If there is any problem with the WhatsApp app server then also you will face problems in playing videos on WhatsApp.

Hence you should check the server status of the WhatsApp app by visiting the downdetector website. If you find the server down then you need to wait until the server problem gets solved.

But if the server status is Ok then you need to follow the next solution.

Solution 6: Check Storage Space

If your mobile phone doesn’t have enough storage space then WhatsApp app can misbehave.

Therefore, you are suggested to check the storage space of your iPhone or Android device. If the storage is low then you can delete unwanted apps and data from your phone.

Here are the steps to check storage space on a mobile device:

On Android:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Scroll down and tap on Storage.
Now, it will show you the storage space that you have used and the left storage.

On iPhone:

On your iPhone go to General > Settings.

After this, tap on iPhone Storage.

Note: You will get suggestions to clear storage space if your iOS version is 11 or newer.

Solution 7: Clear WhatsApp App Cache

You can also fix WhatsApp video won’t play issue by clearing the WhatsApp app cache.

Below follow the steps to clear the cache of WhatsApp on Android or iPhone.

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps.
Find WhatsApp from the app’s list and tap on it to open the app info page.
Next, tap on Storage.
After this, tap on Clear Cache.

On iPhone:

Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone.
After this, hit on Storage.
Next, tap on WhatsApp.
At last tap on Offload App to offload WhatsApp app and then reinstall it to reset the app and solve the problem.

Solution 8: Save Video On Your Phone’s Gallery

If the video is not playing on your WhatsApp app, then you should try to save the video on your phone’s Photos or Gallery app.

On Android:

If the received video is not downloaded in your WhatsApp chats, then tap on the video to download it.
After this, select the video by tapping on it and then hit 3 vertical dots at the top left corner of the screen.
Next, tap on Save.
Now, open the saved WhatsApp video in Google Photos and play it using a built-in player.

On iPhone:

Open the WhatsApp chat whose sent video is not playing.
If the video is not downloaded then tap on it to complete the download.
Once the video gets downloaded, long press on the video and select “Save”.
Open the Photos app and try to play the WhatsApp video.

Solution 9: Turn On And Off Airplane Mode

You can also solve the problem by enabling and disabling Airplane mode.

To enable Airplane mode on Android, go to Quick Settings menu and tap on Airplane Mode icon to turn it on and then again tap on it to disable it.

On iPhone, you need to open the Control Centre and tap on the Airplane Mode icon to enable it. After a few seconds tap on it again to disable it.

Solution 10: Play Video With Another Media Player

If there is any problem with the media player then also your WhatsApp video won’t play.

Hence, you can install third-party media player apps such as VLC from App Store or Google Play Store.

Solution 11: Uninstall & Reinstall WhatsApp

Uninstall and reinstalling the app can also solve the issue that you are currently going through.

Here, follow the steps to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp app:

On Android:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Then tap on Apps/App Manager.
Look for WhatsApp and tap on it to open the app info page.
Now, tap on Uninstall
Once the app gets uninstalled open the Google Play Store app, search for WhatsApp, and hit Install button.

On iPhone:

Tap and hold the WhatsApp app icon > Delete app > Delete.
Now to reinstall it open the App Store and enter WhatsApp > tap on the get icon.

Conclusion

This guide has taught you why videos are not playing on WhatsApp and how to fix WhatsApp videos not playing on Android/iPhone.

We hope the above-discussed solutions have helped you and now you can play the videos without any problem.

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Max Field

Max Field is a founder of Recover Android Data. He is an Android lover and loves to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions and more related to Android.