Error 80040265 Cannot Playback The File. The Format Is Not Supported

video repair

You have probably come across the "Error 80040265" while trying to play a video on Windows Media Player. This common problem is usually attributable to some sort of corruption of the video files or damage to the Media Player itself.

Fortunately for you, most of the issues can easily be resolved and that is exactly what we are going to do today.

Part 1: What Does "Not Supported" File Format Mean?

The "Not supported" file format error essentially means that some factors make it impossible for Windows Media Player to play a video file and hence Windows notifies you to take corrective measures to fix such errors.

The factors that could cause such impediments are explained below:

  • One or more windows media player files are missing or damaged.

The Error 80040265 is sometimes displayed when Windows Media Player itself has a problem that needs to be rectified.

  • You are trying to play a media file that has a file format that windows media player does not support:

Although Windows Media Player supports multiple file formats, there are some file formats that it does not support. As such, if the format of the video is not supported, even a health video file would display the error.

  • The media file uses a codec that is not installed

Codecs are programs for encoding or decoding of digital data signals. If the specified codec needed to process the video is not installed, the Error 80040265 would be displayed.

  • The codec used in the media file is not supported by the windows media player

In some cases, even though codecs are installed, they may be of different specifications and are thus unable to process and play the videos.

When a media file becomes corrupted due to file transfer errors, improper system shutdown, or even virus infections, the Error 80040265 could be displayed.

Part 2: How to Fix Video Not Playing on Windows Media Player?

It might come as a surprise to some that even the all-powerful Windows Media Player does not support all types of file formats. That is why the first step you should take in fixing the Not playing error is to confirm if windows media player supports the format of the video you are trying to play.

Solution 1. Confirm the unsupported file format

Windows Media Player only supports the following file formats:

  • Windows Media formats: (.asf), (.asx), (.avi), (.wav), (. wax), (.wma), (. wm), (.wmv)

  • Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) formats: (.m3u), (.mp2v), (.mpg), (.mpeg), (.m1v), (.mp2), (.mp3), (.mpa), (.mpe), (. mpv2)

  • Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) formats: (.mid), (. midi), (. rim)

  • UNIX formats: (.au), (.snd)

To ascertain the formats of video files, do the following:

  • Open the folder containing the files and click the View tab

  • Tick the file name extension box and check the extension that appears at the right end of the file to confirm if it is supported by the Windows Media Player.

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Solution 2. Validate the codec for the media file

If the file you are trying to play is in the list of supported formats but it refuses to play, then the codec of the file may be missing or incompatible with the file.

To install the required codec, do the following:

  • Visit the Microsoft website, download the Windows media player codec packages available, and install it on the computer.

  • Restart Windows Media Player and try playing the media file but it does not play, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 3. Use Recoverit video repair

Repairit Video Repair is an advanced video repair tool that allows for the repair of Videos due to errors such as Change in video format File, read and write errors, Playing Video errors like "video not playing or "error loading media file" issues amongst others.

Repairit can easily rectify flickering in videos, choppy videos, video playback interruptions all with a mere click of a button.

This highly efficient tool supports multiple video formats such as MOV, MP4, M2TS, MKV, MTS, 3GP, AVI, and FLV. This wide range of formats means that it almost a certainty that Repairit would be able to handle whatever you throw at it.

To ensure a very high rate of success when repairing videos, Repairit has a range of features such as:

  • Free scan for corrupt videos and preview repaired videos before saving them

  • Ability to save repaired files to specified locations

  • Repair videos from different devices, like memory card, SD card, computer hard drive, external hard disk, digital cameras, camcorders, camera drones, action cameras, USB flash drive, etc.

  • Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and Mac OS 10.9- 15

  • A highly interactive and simple user interface

  • No limitations on size and number of Video files for repair

Follow the steps below to use Recoverit in simple repair mode.

Step 1. Select your unplayable videos

Open Recoverit and drag and drop the video you want to repair into the cuboid area

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Step 2. Start the video repairing process

Click on the repair tab and wait for the repair to be completed.

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Step 3. Preview and save your videos

In the new window that opens after the repair is completed, click ok to save the repaired file.

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Step 4. Turn to Advanced Repair mode

This mode is more suited to video files that are severely corrupted. Advance Repair accordingly allows you to repair it by adding a Sample File to it.

A Sample File is a working file created from the same device and of the same format as the corrupted file.

Recorverit consequently uses the information from the working sample files and repairs the corrupted files.

Follow the steps below to repair your video in this mode:

  • Add some sample videos shot by the same device.

  • After selecting the sample video, click the save

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  • Once the repair is completed, a new window would open indicating a successful repair. Finally, click the ok tab to save and preview the repaired video.

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Related: If you just want to recover corrupted MP4 videos, you can follow the exact solutions here - How to repair MP4 videos.

Solution 4. Reinstall windows media player:

If the required codec is downloaded but the video file still refuses to play, then Windows Media Player may be damaged. You should uninstall it and install a new version by doing the following:

  • Go to Control Panel, click on

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  • Click on uninstall a program from the list of installed programs and click on Windows media player and select remove to uninstall.

  • Restart the computer

  • Go to the Microsoft website and download the latest version of Windows media player.

  • Install the new version of the Windows media player and check if the media file is playing.

Solution 5. Fix wrong audio device

You should try to and rectify the wrong audio device fix by setting the proper audio device in the media player by doing the following:

  • Open Windows Media Player and then click Tools

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  • Select the audio device dropdown, select the proper Audio device

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  • Click Apply and then click OK

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  • Close Windows Media Player and restart your PC to apply and save the videos

Solution 6. Update your sound card drivers

  • Press Windows Key + R then type "Devmgmt.msc" and type enter to open the Device Manager

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  • Click on the Sound, video and game controllers to expand it and right-click on your Audio Device then select Enable

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  • If your audio device is already enabled, you should right-click on your Audio Device then select Update Driver Software.

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  • Select "Search automatically for updated driver software" and wait for the process to complete.

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Solution 7. Check the status of your video

If Windows Media Player still refuses to play your video, you can use System File Checker to attempt and fix your video by following the instructions below:

  • Open the command prompt, type sfc /verifyonly, and press enter

  • If you find any corrupted files, then type sfc /scannow

  • Press the enter button

Related: All the methods are not working? Free download video repair software.

Solution 8. Registry fix

Sometimes, there could be a problem with the Registry of your computer

You may need to modify it to resolve the errors.

Please note that when you are dealing with the registry of your computer, you should follow the instructions given, word for word, and very carefully to avoid creating problems.

  • Press the Windows Keys + R then type regedit and click Enter to open the Registry Editor.

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  • Navigate to the Registry key detailed below:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{DA4E3DA0-D07D-11d0-BD50-00A0C911CE86} \Instance\{083863F1-70DE-11d0-BD40-00A0C911CE86}

  • Make sure the sub-key detailed below exists and their associated values are correct.

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  • If the above keys are not present, then right-click in the right-hand side window and then select String value.

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  • Type the name of the key as

Double click on it and enter the value {083863F1-70DE-11d0-BD40-00A0C911CE86} and click OK

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  • Likewise, create the key Friendly Name and enter its value as DirectShow Filters.

  • Right-click and select DWORD (32-bit) value and then enter its name as Merit. Double click on it and enter 00600000 as its value and click

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  • Close Registry Editor and reboot your PC

Part 3: How to Prevent Video Not Playing?

To ensure that that your system always plays your videos, it is important that your software and its operating environment are up-to-date.

Tip 1. Update windows media player

Your Windows Media Player should always be up to date to ensure that the latest security patches and bugs are fixed. Accordingly, you should always enable auto-updates on your player to save you the stress of manually searching for updates.

  • Launch Windows Media Player and Click on "Tools" in the top menu bar.

  • Highlight and click "Options." but if the "Tools" option is missing, click on the "Layout Options" button

  • Highlight and click "Show Classic Menus."

  • Click the "Player" tab in the "Options" application window.

  • Check the box next to "Download codecs automatically" and select the frequency of the updates.

Tip 2. Update the driver for your graphics card

It is important to ensure that your Graphics Card is up to date to prevent recurring problems with video not playing errors.

follow the steps below to update your Graphics Card:

  • Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press R.

  • Type msc in the text box and click the Enter key.

  • In Device Manager, expand the Display adapters section by clicking the + sign next to it.

  • Double-click the driver's name.

  • Click the driver tab.

Closing Words

It is hard to believe that Windows Media Player has been with us since 1991 and still going strong. While it indeed has some problems, its advantages far outweigh and imperfections it may have.

Furthermore, as shown in the article, most of the problems associated with the player are usually not directly the fault of the player itself and even at that, they can easily be resolved.

Related: Discover the complete steps on MTS video repair.