Playback Troubleshooting (Fix Player Issues)

If videos are not playing correctly, this guide will help you identify and fix common issues quickly.

❌ Common Problems

Users may experience:

• Video not loading
• Infinite buffering
• Black screen
• Audio not working
• Subtitles not showing
• “Format not supported” error

✅ Basic Checks (First Step)

Before anything else, verify:

• Video URL is correct and accessible
• File format is supported (MP4, HLS, DASH)
• Server is online and not blocked
• No typo in video URL

🎥 Video Not Playing

Possible Causes:

• Invalid or broken video URL
• Unsupported format
• Server blocking requests

Solution:

• Test video URL directly in the browser
• Use HLS (.m3u8) for better compatibility
• Check server permissions (CORS)

⏳ Buffering Issues

Possible Causes:

• Slow hosting/server
• Large video files
• No adaptive streaming

Solution:

• Use HLS streaming instead of MP4
• Enable multiple sources (fallback)
• Use CDN for video delivery

🔇 Audio Not Working

Possible Causes:

• Audio track missing
• Browser restrictions
• Mute enabled

Solution:

• Check the audio track in the video file
• Enable audio track selection in settings
• Test in a different browser

💬 Subtitles Not Showing

Possible Causes:

• Wrong subtitle format
• Invalid subtitle URL
• Language not set

Solution:

• Use .vtt format only
• Verify subtitle URL is accessible
• Set correct language code (e.g., en)

⚠️ Format Not Supported

Possible Causes:

• Unsupported codec
• Wrong file type

Solution:

• Convert video to MP4 (H.264)
• Or use HLS / DASH streaming

🔒 Video Not Loading Due to Security

Possible Causes:

• CORS restriction
• Hotlink protection
• Expired signed URL

Solution:

• Enable proper CORS headers
• Check the server firewall
• Verify signed URL validity

📱 Mobile Playback Issues

Possible Causes:

• Autoplay restrictions
• Unsupported format

Solution:

• Enable mute autoplay
• Use HLS streaming
• Test on real device

⚡ Pro Tips

• Always use HLS for production sites
• Add multiple sources for fallback
• Use CDN for faster delivery
• Test videos before publishing