When trying to convert a video file to our system, you might encounter the “moov atom not found” issue.
The "moov atom" is a unique part of the file that defines the timeline, duration, display properties, and sub-atoms for each track in the video. If the file didn't upload completely, you might encounter this issue because this atom is typically located at the end of the file.
Without the moov atom, a video is unplayable and, therefore, unconvertible. We'll attempt to fix this in the most hopeless of situations, but if the file is unreadable, there's nothing we can do. For example, if an MP4 video is missing its header or moov atom.
So if you're running into this problem, it's possible that your file is corrupted or didn't upload completely. If you're a Mac user and you're trying to play an MP4 on your Mac and the video isn't showing up, there's a link in the description that might help you out.
How to Fix MP4 Not Playing on Mac? 7 Ways to Repair MP4 Video on Mac
MP4 not playing on Mac is one of the common MP4 issues that Mac users often encounter, along with QuickTime player not loading MP4 and no sound in MP4 videos on Mac. You can use the provided solutions to play MP4 videos on your Mac.
The absence of the Moov atom is usually the culprit, which occurs when the recording device shuts down unexpectedly. This simply means that your video metadata is lost, leading to file incompatibility with the QuickTime Player. No need to panic, though, as this issue can be easily resolved. As you read along, you'll learn about the main causes and the most practical repair tools.
If possible, re-download the video file from its original source, whether that's the internet, a CD/DVD, Android device, or elsewhere. Get the video again and make sure the file wasn't interrupted or corrupted during transfer.
Several command-line tools (including FFmpeg and MP4box, which we'll mention later) can be used to reposition the moov atom. You can use these applications to manually fix a “moov atom not found” issue with a broken video.
However, if you are not an expert with PC prompts, the quickest and easiest way to fix the “moov atom not found” error in MP4 or any other video file format is by using a video repair tool – the Fixo Video Repair Tool.
The following tutorial is about using the Fixo repair tool to fix damaged videos.
Step 1: Open Fixo on your local PC. Click on “Video Repair,” and then add the corrupted MP4/MOV/AVI/MKV/3GP/FLV/MKV/WMV video file by clicking on “Add Video.”
Step 2. Move the pointer over the video and click the “Repair” button to start the standalone video repair process. Click “Repair All” to fix all videos.
Step 3 Wait a few minutes for the software to fix the video. Click the play icon to preview it. If you want to save just one video, click the “Save” button next to the play icon. To save all of the repaired videos, select “Save All.”
If the Quick Fix fails, you should use the Advanced Repair mode. Click on “Advanced Repair” and add a sample video. Confirm by clicking on “OK”.
Step 5: A detailed list of the corrupted and sample videos will be displayed. Click on “Repair Now” to start the advanced video repair process. Once done, you can preview the video and click on the “Save” button to save the repaired video file to an appropriate folder.
Avidemux is a free and open-source video editing program. You can use this program to edit your video and export it as an uncompressed format. You can also use this program to try and fix problems with your video.
Step 1: After installing and launching the program, drag the corrupted video file into it.
Step 2: Export the video file, but without re-encoding it.
Step 3: Check if this fix resolved the video issue.
Avidemux provides a command-line interface for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
Secondly, you can use MP4Box to prevent this from happening. MP4Box is a command-line tool used for editing and fixing MP4 files. One of its main features is fixing the “No moov atom found” issue with videos.
As we all know, the moov atom is a crucial part of an MP4 file that contains metadata about the file structure, including timing and synchronization information. If the moov atom is damaged or missing, the video may not play correctly or not play at all. To resolve your issue, please follow the steps outlined below carefully.
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt on your computer.
Step 2: Download and run MP4box.
Step 3. Add the location of the video files with the “No Moov Atom Found” issue.
Step 4. After adding the path to your video file, add this command inside the mp4 box.
Step 5: Choose your video output settings.
Select Video Output
Step 6: Check if the problem has been solved
You can fix the “moov atom not found” issue by running the FFmpeg platform from your computer's command prompt. This command moves the moov atom to the beginning of the movie file. It works with virtually any file format, including large files. As such, it's a good option for fixing large files.
Step 1: Download the FFmpeg program.
If the output is IsStreamable: No, use qt-faststart to move the Moov atom to the front.
Step 3. Open the Command Prompt and enter the location of the corrupted video file.
Step 4. To fix the "moov atom not found" error in FFmpeg, run the following command:
"ffmpeg -i input_video_file.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -movflags faststart output_video_file.mp4."
This command is used to copy the input video file.mp4 with ffmpeg, without re-encoding it, and generate a new output video file.mp4. The option -faststart is used to enable faster initial playback of the video.Step 5. Next, check if the MP4 video file's moov atom issue has been fixed.
The FFmpeg team also created a command-line tool called TFastStart, which reorders the atoms in a video file to put the moov atom at the beginning. This allows a video player to start playing the movie without having to scan the entire file to find the moov atom.
A few PC gamers have confirmed the effectiveness of these solutions. If any of these methods help fix the “No moov atom found” error, be sure to share on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Sometimes you might recover the video, but the recovered video file won't open. If the metadata is incomplete, no player – including QuickTime and VLC – will be able to read the file. A “moov atom not found” error means that your file was downloaded or uploaded incorrectly and has since become corrupted.
This often happens when a video file transfer, download, ripping, or recording operation is interrupted or stopped abruptly.
The "moov atom not found" issue is typically caused by:
In conclusion, anyone who enjoys watching videos would be annoyed by the “Moov atom not found” message. However, you can quickly resolve the issue with the solutions above and continue with your movie marathon without interruptions.
The most reliable and efficient way to fix the "Moov atom not found" error is by using the Fixo Video Repair tool. With its advanced technology and user-friendly interface, it swiftly repairs any damaged or problematic video files, ensuring you can watch your favorite videos without any delay or issues.
After learning how to fix the "Moov atom not found" error, you might have more questions. Check here to see if your answer is among them:
1. What is a Moov atom?
The "moov atom" is a unique part of the file that defines the timeline, duration, display properties, and sub-atoms that carry the data for each track in the video. If the file didn't upload completely, you might be encountering this issue because this atom can be located at the end of the file.
2. What is Moov video?
Moov (displayed in stylized MOOV letters) is a subscription service that combines lossless audio and high-definition music videos with exclusive content and unique features.
How do I fix a corrupted MP4 file on my Mac?
4. Can VLC Play MP4 on Mac?
Yes, the most efficient and open-source multimedia player is VLC, supported by VideoLAN. It plays almost all audio and video formats, including MP4, on virtually any device, including Macs.