Fix Telegram Videos Not Playing Issues on Mobile & Web

You settle in to view that funny video or crucial news your friend shared on Telegram, but are met with a loading spinner. It’s irritating, particularly when you realize your internet is working well and other applications are streaming videos flawlessly. Numerous Telegram users on Android, iPhone, and desktop encounter this particular issue, which may arise from anything ranging from temporary app malfunctions to more serious file compatibility concerns.

When Telegram videos are not playing, it's not only an inconvenience but also affects conversations and causes you to miss content. This is why it is not only significant to determine the reasons why this occurs, but also to find out efficient solutions. Here, we will deconstruct the causes of this problem and take you through the solutions, with a tip on how to fix downloaded videos that refuse to open.

Part 1. Why are Telegram Videos Not Playing? 5 Potential Reasons

Before implementing solutions, it's essential to grasp the reasons why Telegram videos may not play initially. Here are 5 possible reasons why you face the “app was unable to play this video Telegram” problem:

Slow or Unstable Internet Connection: Telegram requires a stable internet connection to stream videos, and even minor drops can cause playback interruptions. If your Wi-Fi is weak, the app may fail to buffer the video properly, leaving you stuck on a loading screen.

Corrupted Video File: The video file sent through Telegram may be incomplete or corrupted due to an interrupted upload or download process. The file will never work, however many times you attempt to play it, due to the lack of or damaged information that would otherwise be used to decode it.

Obsolete Telegram App Version: Using an older version of Telegram may cause compatibility problems, in particular, when the application does not support newer video formats. Unless you update, you will face glitches wherein videos fail to play smoothly, whether you use the mobile or web versions.

Lack of Device Storage or RAM: Lack of storage space may lead your phone or computer to not handle processing and playing of Telegram videos well. This is particularly the case with high-resolution or large-sized files that need greater resources to load and be rendered without lag.

Disabled App Permissions: Telegram requires permissions like storage access to save and play downloaded videos on your device. If these permissions are restricted, the app may fail to locate or open the file, resulting in playback errors or a blank screen.

Part 2. How to Resolve the "Telegram Videos Not Playing" Issue

It is time to look at the practical solutions to the problem of Telegram videos not playing, now that you are aware of the most frequent causes. In the following section, we will show you some proven solutions for both mobile and web users:

Way 1. Restart the Telegram App

The first solution to the problem of videos not playing is restarting the Telegram application, be it Android, iOS, or PC. This minor step compels the application to close all the background functions and reconnect to the Telegram servers. More than that, it removes minor bugs that can prevent the video from playing. Using the steps provided, you can troubleshoot the smooth streaming without having to do any advanced troubleshooting:

For Android

Instructions. Open your “Apps” options from your settings and choose the “Telegram” app. Now, tap the “Force Stop” button at the top to completely close the app and then launch it again on your device.

For iOS

Instructions. To open the “App Switcher,” swipe upwards on the bottom of your screen or (if you have a home button) press twice on it. Open Telegram, swipe it up to close it, and then open your home screen or your App Library, open Telegram once again, and it will open again fresh.

For Computer

Instructions. Launch your “Task Manager” on your device and right-click on the “Telegram” app to choose the “End Task” option. This will close the app entirely and then open it from your main window again.

Way 2. Reboot Your Devices (Android, iPhone, Computer)

When Telegram shows the “app was unable to play this video” error, one of the easiest fixes is to reboot your device. A clean restart will remove temporary errors and the memory of the operating system. Additionally, it releases system resources, making Telegram have a new environment to process and play videos without any interference. The following steps can often restore smooth playback without requiring complex troubleshooting:

For Android

Instructions. To reboot your device, long-press your “Power” button and choose the “Restart” option from the screen.

For iOS

Instructions. Hold the “Power and Volume Down” button and swipe your finger on the screen to the “Slide to Power Off” option.

For Computer

Instructions. Hold the “Windows” key and choose the “Switch” option in the appeared menu. Then, click on the “Restart” option to restart your computer.

Way 3. Clear App Cache (Android, Desktop, Browser)

In case Telegram videos are not playing, you can clear the app cache on Android or your browser to solve your problem. Cached files are temporary data stored to enhance speed, but over time, they can become outdated, making playback difficult. This deletion of the saved information, by going through these steps will allow Telegram to load fresh material, and this will solve the playback problems:

For Android

Instructions. Long-press the app on your home screen and navigate to the “App Info” screen to press the “Storage” option from there. Next, tap the “Cache” option and hit the “Clear Cache” button at the bottom.

For Desktop

Step 1. Search for “%AppData%” in your Windows panel and open it on your device.

Step 2. From the next screen, find and click the “Telegram Desktop” option to open it.

Step 3. Then, choose “Cache, Code Cache, and GPU Cache” options and delete them from your device to clear the cache.

For Browser

Instructions. As you use Telegram on a browser, access the “Three Dots” menu at the top-right and choose the "Delete Browsing Data" option. There, check cached images and files, browsing history, and other options before you click the "Delete Data" button to later re-launch Telegram on the browser.

Way 4. Enable Necessary Permissions

When you see the “app was unable to play this video Telegram” issue, a common culprit is disabled permissions. Without access to storage, media files, or background data, Telegram simply can’t load videos properly. By turning on these essential permissions, you give the app the access it needs to fetch and play video. To learn how to do the necessary permissions, follow the detailed guidelines for Android and iPhone:

For Android

Instructions. Open your Settings and select the “Apps” option to choose the “Telegram” application. Next, press the “Permissions” option and give full access to your media.

For iOS

Step 1. In order to provide the required access, open Settings, go to the “Apps” tab, and select the “Telegram” application.

Step 2. Under the “Allow Telegram to Access” section, choose the “Photos” option and tap the “Full Access" option to permit all media.

Way 5. Download Telegram Videos & Play Elsewhere

For those dealing with “Telegram videos not playing" despite trying all other fixes, one effective way to download the video directly to your device. After that, play that clip with the help of a trusty third-party media player. This method prevents any playback hiccups in the app itself, so you can watch smoothly without stops. It is also useful if the problem is due to temporary app bugs or an unsupported format.

Pro Tip. How to Fix Unplayable Downloaded Telegram Videos Efficiently

In case you have downloaded something, but it still does not work, then there is a possibility that the file got corrupted. This is the reason why you are seeing “app was unable to play this video " on Telegram, and tools like Repairit can help you. It has compatibility with MP4, R3D, BRAW, and other main video formats, and therefore compatibility is guaranteed regardless of the file type.

It can retrieve files of any type, so you can watch them regardless of whether the videos are shot via a camera or a smartphone. The tool supports HD, 4K, and even 8K videos, thus you can recover and reminisce with the content without the quality being lost. Other than this, it resolves the playback issues that may be due to the error of file transfer or corruption of the format effectively.

Key Features

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• Batch Repair: You can fix multiple corrupted videos at once, saving time and effort when handling large repair tasks.

• Repair Type: It has several repair options to address different degrees of corruption to the video to provide optimal results in the recovery process.

• System Compatibility: The tool works on different operating systems, so you can repair videos whether you’re on Windows or macOS.

A Complete Guide to Repairing Damaged Telegram Videos with Repairit

After fixing the Telegram videos not playing issue and exploring Repairit’s powerful features, you might be curious about how to put it into action. The next section walks you through a detailed, step-by-step guide to restoring your corrupted videos with ease:

Step 1. Add Your Damaged Telegram Videos

Open Repairit on your device, head to the “Video Repair” module, and click the “+ Add” button to import the corrupted Telegram videos.

Step 2. Review and Start the Repair

Once Telegram videos are added, they will appear in the “Unrepaired Videos” list. Confirm them and hit the “Repair” button to begin restoring the videos.

Step 3. Preview and Save the Fixed Videos

When the repair is complete, preview the videos to ensure they are fully restored. If everything looks good, click “Save All” or “Save” to export repaired Telegram videos to your device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this guide has provided the best 5 solutions to fix Telegram videos not playing in case you have been experiencing this problem. Nevertheless, when the video does not play even after downloading, then the problem may lie in file corruption and not in another factor. Then you must use a good repair tool, Repairit, which provides an easy way to repair the corrupt video.