WebM files have become quite popular for internet video, being supported by YouTube, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and many other major websites and applications. However, not all media players and devices support playback of WebM videos out of the box.
In this article, we discuss what is a WebM player, how to open a WebM file, the top 5 media players for WebM playback, and how to fix corrupt WebM files using a video repair tool.
In this article
Part 1: What is a WebM Player?
A WebM player is a media player software that can open and play WebM video files. It supports the video and audio codecs used in the WebM container format. The player needs to have the following capabilities to support WebM:
- Support for VP8/VP9 video codecs used in WebM videos. This allows playing the video.
- Support for Vorbis/Opus audio codecs used for audio in WebM files. This provides the sound.
- Ability to decode the WebM container format and extract the audio and video streams.
- Support for WebVTT subtitle files used in WebM for captions and subtitles.
Some key advantages of WebM include:
- Lightweight and optimized for fast streaming over the web
- Open source and royalty-free - no licensing fees involved
- Efficient compression for reduced file sizes
- Support for high-quality HD videos
- Integration of metadata like subtitles and album art
By using a WebM-compatible player, you can enjoy various WebM videos downloaded from the internet or converted to this format.
Part 2: Top 5 Web Format Players to Open a WebM File
Let’s look at the 5 best media players available to play WebM videos on Windows and Mac.
#1 VLC Media Player
VLC is undoubtedly the most popular open-source media player available. It is used by millions worldwide to play all mainstream media formats.
VLC fully supports the WebM container and can play WebM videos out of the box. Just open the player, browse to the WebM file, and click to play it.
In addition to WebM playback, VLC handles virtually all video, audio, and streaming formats as well. It also provides many advanced features like audio and video effects, playback speed control, subtitles, video filters, and more.
VLC is available completely free for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile platforms. Due to its open-source nature, VLC does not contain any ads, spyware, or unexpected toolbars. This makes it a safe choice for WebM playback.
Key Features:
- Free and open-source.
- Plays all major media formats including WebM.
- Advanced features like effects, speed control, and subtitles.
- Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobiles.
#2 Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is the default media software included with Microsoft Windows. The latest versions of WMP are able to play WebM videos without needing any additional plugins or codecs.
To play WebM files, just open them from the WMP library by double-clicking. The WebM video will start playing directly. Windows Media Player allows adjusting video settings like brightness, contrast, zoom, etc. You can also stream WebM content over networks in supported formats.
A drawback of WMP is that it lacks advanced features like VLC. Also, it is only available for the Windows operating system. But on the plus side, WMP comes pre-installed and provides basic WebM playback functionality out of the box.
Key Features:
- Pre-installed on Windows.
- Plays WebM files out of the box.
- Allows adjusting brightness, contrast, and zoom.
- Can stream WebM videos over networks.
#3 Miro
Miro WebM Player is a capable open-source media player that is also a podcast client and downloader. The software is managed by a non-profit organization called the Participatory Culture Foundation.
Miro allows one-click playback of WebM videos. Just drag and drop the files into the player window and it will begin playing automatically. Miro also enables managing video collections, downloading online media, and converting between formats.
The software has over a million users worldwide. Miro is available free of cost for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. It can play WebM videos smoothly and comes without any ads or plug-ins.
Key Features:
- Open-source and free.
- One-click playback of WebM files.
- Media library management.
- Online media downloading and format conversion.
#4 5K Player
5K Player by DearMob is a modern media player designed for Windows that supports WebM playback with hardware acceleration. This allows playing WebM videos smoothly in up to 8K resolution.
The player provides a clean interface for easily accessing your media library. Just open a WebM file in 5K Player and it will begin playing with its inbuilt codecs. You also get handy options like video trimming, subtitles, AirPlay streaming, and video downloads.
5K Player is free to use and comes with no annoying ads or software bundles. It delivers great WebM file playback thanks to the built-in VP8/VP9 video decoders and Vorbis/Opus audio decoders.
Key Features:
- Smooth WebM playback with hardware acceleration
- Clean interface and easy access to the media library
- Video trimming, subtitles, AirPlay streaming
- No ads or software bundles
#5 Movavi Video Player
Movavi Video Player is a media application for Windows that can play WebM videos out of the box. It utilizes hardware acceleration for smooth video playback at up to 4K resolution.
To play WebM files, add them to the player’s media library and launch playback with a double click. Movavi allows adjusting playback speed, aspect ratio, subtitles, and audio tracks for the video. You can also improve video quality with stabilization, noise removal, and other enhancement tools.
Movavi Video Player is free to use with an option for a paid Pro version. The software does not contain any ads and comes with regular updates and improvements.
Key Features:
- Free player with Pro version available.
- Hardware accelerated 4K WebM playback.
- Tools like stabilization, noise removal, and subtitles.
- Regular app updates and improvements.
Part 3: The Best Way to Fix Corrupt WebM Files
WebM video files can sometimes get corrupted due to bad sectors, unexpected shutdowns, malware attacks, etc. This results in errors like "file is corrupt and cannot play" when you try opening such damaged WebM files.
Fixing corrupt WebM videos is easy with the help of Wondershare Repairit. It is a professional tool that can analyze videos and fix various file corruptions.
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Repair damaged videos with all levels of corruption, such as video not playing, video no sound, out-of-sync video or audio, playback errors, header corruption, flickering video, missing video codec, etc.
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Repair full HD, 4K, and 8K videos and support 18 popular formats, including WEMB, MOV, MP4, M2TS, INSV, M4V, WMV, MPEG, ASF, etc.
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Repair damaged or corrupted videos caused by video compression, system crash, video format change, etc.
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Repair critically damaged or corrupted videos available on SD cards, mobile phones, cameras, USB flash drives, etc.
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Repairit has a quick and advanced scanning mode. You can use either depending on the level of corruption the video file has undergone.
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No limit to the number and size of the repairable videos.
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Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 13.
Let's take a quick look at how to repair corrupt WebM files using Repairit in simple steps:
Step 1: Launch the Repairit application and click the ‘Add’ button to browse and select the damaged WebM files you want to fix.
Step 2: With the corrupt videos added, click on ‘Repair’. Repairit will start scanning the videos to detect file errors.
Step 3: Finally, click the ‘Save’ button to export and save the fixed WebM videos to your computer.
Repairit Video Repair uses advanced techniques to fix all kinds of corruption in WebM and other video formats. This saves you from having to re-download or re-encode damaged videos.
Part 4: How to Open a WebM File
Playing a WebM video file is quick and easy if you have the right media player on your computer.
First, you need to start by downloading and installing a VLC media player on your computer. VLC is an open-source, cross-platform player that can play WebM files out of the box. Go to Videolan.org and get the VLC installer for your Windows version. Run the installer and follow the setup to get VLC on your PC.
Here is a step-by-step guide to open and play a WebM file using the popular VLC media player on Windows:
Step 1: Launch the VLC media player on your computer. Click on Media > Open File or press Ctrl+O. Browse to the folder where your WebM file is saved and select it.
Step 2:: The WebM video should start playing automatically in the VLC window after opening it. Use the playback controls like pause, volume, and fullscreen to control the video playback.
That's it! With a VLC media player installed, you can easily open and play any WebM video file on your Windows PC. VLC will automatically detect and play the WebM file with its inbuilt WebM codecs.
Conclusion
We looked at the top 5 media players capable of smoothly opening and playing WebM video files. All these software options allow quick and convenient playback of WebM videos.
Repairing broken videos saves you the hassle of re-downloading or encoding videos again. With the right WebM player and repair software, you can resolve playback issues and enjoy this versatile internet video format.
FAQ
What codecs are used in WebM videos?
WebM videos use the VP8 or VP9 video codecs and the Vorbis or Opus audio codecs. These open-source codecs compress video and audio efficiently for web streaming.Can I play WebM videos on my mobile phone?
Most modern phones support WebM playback. You can play WebM files on iPhones, Android phones, Windows phones, and Blackberries. Just use a WebM-compatible video player app on your device.How can I convert MP4 videos to WebM?
You can use free video converter software like Handbrake or Any Video Converter to convert MP4 and other videos to the WebM format. This allows you to play the videos in WebM-supported players.