Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers on desktop and smartphone alike. For users who use a computer just for browsing the internet, they can do all their work using the browser only, as the browser can perform all the functions itself.
However, on some video content websites, users get an error message that says, ‘Error loading media: File could not be played’. Here, I shall discuss why you get this error, and how you can solve this on your computer.
Why Do I Get ‘Error Loading Media’ Error Message?
Users usually see videos not playing on websites that host video content. The error usually occurs due to Chrome not being able to support the video hosted by the platform. This issue occurs when users try to load a video that is not supported by JW player or other online players.
Such online players generally cannot play videos with .wmv and .mov extensions, which do not use the H264 video codec. This error is not limited to Chrome as such, as there have been reports of Users facing this error on Firefox and Safari as well.
You can get this error due to many different reasons like incorrectly configured online media player, missing or broken cache data, and malfunctioning browser extensions. Let us take a look at how you can solve the ‘Error loading media’ issue on your device easily.
How To Fix Error Loading Media File Could Not Be Played Error?
One of the things you need to keep in mind is that if the error is being caused by the administrator or the hosting platform itself, there isn’t much that you can do to fix this. You will have to wait for the official fix to go online, Upon which you will be able to view the videos.
Before attempting any fixes, first, check if the error is specific to the browser you are using or not. a very easy method to do this is to extract the media URL from Google Chrome and paste it in any other browser like Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
If you see the media playing there, it is most likely that Google Chrome is at fault and you need to troubleshoot the browser. Take a look at some of the solutions below for the same.
Solution 1: Update Google Chrome
One of the easiest solutions that you can try to fix the video not loading errors is to make sure that the browser is up to date. with each update, more features and support for More media formats are added. if you have an outdated browser, there is a chance that you may be missing out on the latest media format supported.
To update Google Chrome, click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner, and select Help > About Google Chrome. On this page, Chrome will automatically look for any pending updates and install the latest version of the browser on your computer.
Android and iOS users need to visit their respective stores and check for any pending updates. Update Google Chrome and then try playing the media content. Your error should now be resolved.
Solution 2: Clear Cache Data
If updating the browser did not help you play the media file you are looking for, Another simple solution you can try is too clear the cache files. Cache files are very important to decrease the loading time of your frequently visited websites. However, missing or broken cache and cookies can cause the browser to malfunction.
Follow this article to find out more about how to clear cache and cookies from your browser.
Solution 3: Check For Malfunctioning Extensions
If you saw videos not playing after you installed or updated a certain extension or updated the browser itself, there is a chance that the extension may be malfunctioning, or the browser may not support it anymore. If you suspect this is the case, check if any malfunctioning extensions are causing the videos to not load on your computer.
Follow these steps to check for broken extensions:
- Open Chrome and enter the following in the address bar of Google Chrome:
chrome://extensions
This will take you to the extensions page of the browser. - Disable all the extensions that are installed on your browser.
- Restart your browser. Now you should be able to see Chrome playing the media file without any errors.
- Start by enabling the extensions one by one and check if the error persists.
Solution 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration
In some user reports, It was seen that the hardware acceleration feature was the culprit behind videos not loading in Chrome. When enabled, the hardware of your computer is used to boost the performance of your software components. However, locked down resources can cause stutters And slow down the browser, or cause it to malfunction.
To turn off hardware acceleration, follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome and enter the following in the address bar of the browser:
chrome://settings - Scroll down to the System subsection.
- Turn off the toggle next to Use hardware acceleration when available.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. Now you know how to fix error loading media file not found Chrome error using the solutions provided above. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.
