Fix: Android 13 Video Not Working

After months of anticipation, Google released the official stable version of Android 13 as the thirteenth major iteration of the Android Operating System in August 2022. Currently, this version is operating smoothly on eligible Pixel devices, while some other OEM devices are exploring its features through Android 13 Beta builds. However, reports have emerged from multiple users encountering unexpected issues with video playback on Android 13.

Android 13 comes with a plethora of features including redesigned UI elements, themed icons, an improved photo picker, expedited QR code scanning, and augmented privacy & security features, amongst others. It’s puzzling and aggravating for users as there are claims arising about the inability to play video content on devices after the upgrade to the latest Android 13 OS, considering the meticulous development and beta testing by Google.

Specifically, many Android 13 users are grappling with problems related to video playback. This is not just affecting in-device videos but also online ones, like those on YouTube, impairing smooth playbacks. From user accounts, it appears the issue is manifesting as a ‘Can’t play video’ error message whenever they attempt to view videos on their Android 13 devices, particularly impacting videos stored on the device more severely.

Now, if you’re also one of the victims of such an issue, follow this troubleshooting guide completely to resolve it. The chances are high that your on-device stored video files become corrupted unexpectedly. Additionally, issues with the media player application, outdated system software, outdated video player version, incomplete downloaded video files, etc. can be one of the possible reasons behind such an issue.

Conflicts with the microSD card, system glitches, app cache data issues, outdated app version, issues with the internet settings, malware or adware regarding issues, etc., might trouble Android device users a lot. As you know the reasons clearly, follow the workarounds below until the problem gets fixed. Sometimes, even a basic workaround can also come in handy. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

1. Reboot the Device

Restarting your handset properly is recommended after closing all running applications from the recent panel. Sometimes a simple reboot of the device might come in handy for you. It clears out temporary system glitches and sometimes fixes cache data issues. To do so:

Just press and hold the Power button on your device.
Select Restart from the power menu.

2. Check the Internet Connection

You should also cross-check the internet connection because issues with the network can cause trouble playing online videos like YouTube content. If, in case, you’re using a mobile data connection, try using the Wi-Fi connection to cross-check issues with YouTube or other online streaming services. If your mobile data or Wi-Fi network has issues, contact the service provider for technical support.

3. Re-Enable Android System WebView

Google’s Android WebView system is a pre-installed component that usually offers Android applications to display web content properly on the device. If in case, there is an issue with the Android System WebView, then you should follow the steps below to re-enable Android System WebView.

Open the Settings menu on your device > Tap on Apps.
Go to All apps > Scroll down and tap on Android System WebView.
Tap on Disable and confirm the popup.
Now, you’ll need to Enable the Android System WebView system again.

4. Uninstall Android System WebView

You can also try uninstalling the Android System WebView system on your Android 13 device to ensure the video is not playing issue. To do so:

Go to the Settings menu on your device > Tap on Apps.
Select All apps > Go to the App Info page for Android System WebView.
Now, select Uninstall and confirm the process.

5. Update the Specific App

If you’re using an outdated video player or YouTube application on your Android 13 device, then you can check for the update by following the steps below.

Open the Google Play Store app on the Android 13 device.
Tap on the hamburger menu icon > Tap on My Apps & games.
Make sure to check if the problematic app update is available or not.
If there is an update available, tap on Update.
Wait for the app update to install.
Once done, launch the app, and check for the issue again.

6. Clear Specific App Cache Data

If, in case, you’re using the problematic app on your Android device and still the video not working issue is bothering you, then it’s recommended to clear out the app cache data manually by following the steps below.

Go to the Settings menu > Tap to Apps & Notifications.
Tap on See All Apps > Tap on the problematic app under the App info section.
Choose Storage & Cache > Tap on Clear Cache.
Now, tap on Clear Storage.
Once done, reboot the device to apply changes.

7. Force Stop and Relaunch the Specific App

There may be some issues with the specific video player app or the YouTube app running in the background and refusing to start over again. It’s better to force-stop the problematic app and relaunch it by following the steps below to start the app freshly.

Go to the Settings menu > Go to Apps & Notifications.
Tap on See All Apps > Go to the specific app under the App info section.
Tap on Force Stop > If prompted, just confirm it.
Once done, launch the problematic app again to check for the issue.

8. Update the System Software

Checking for the system software update on your handset is also suggested by following the steps below. An outdated system software version can eventually trigger several possible issues with the video playing or media streaming apps. As Android 13 is new in the market, it might have some bugs or stability issues with some quite common applications.

Open the Settings menu > Tap on About Phone.
Tap on Software Update > Tap on Check for Updates.
If there is an update available, tap on Download and Install.
Wait for the software update to get completed.
Once done, reboot your device to apply changes.

9. Wipe Cache Partition

In most cases, wiping out the cache partition on your Android 13 device might fix the temporary cache data issue or system glitches. You can follow the steps below to do so:

Ensure to reboot your Android smartphone in the stock recovery mode. [You can find out the steps online for your specific device model & brand]
Once the device is booted into the stock recovery screen, you’ll see the Wipe Cache Partition option.
Now, press the Volume Up or Down button to navigate to the option.
Press the Power button to select the option > If prompted, select and confirm Yes.
Wait for the process to complete > Once done, reboot the device to apply changes.

10. Reset App Preferences

Sometimes resetting app preferences on your Android device might come in handy to remove incorrect app preferences (settings) that can affect playing videos or conflict with the background data. To reset:

Open the Settings menu > Go to Apps (Apps & notifications).
Tap on All Apps (System Apps) > Tap on the three-dots icon at the top right side.
Here choose Reset app preferences > Make sure to confirm changes if prompted.

11. Try Using VLC or MX Player

It’s also possible that you’re trying to play an incompatible video file format on your handset. Either your native video player isn’t compatible with the specific video file/format or your video player app cannot load the file unexpectedly. In that scenario, it’s always better to install a third-party video player application like VLC for Android or MX Player on your Android device and then try playing the problematic video file via the third-party app.

These two mentioned video player applications are easy to use and support almost every video file format without major issues. Worth trying out to cross-check if your Android 13 device is still unable to play videos or not.

12. Disable the Mobile Data Limit

Almost all the latest Android devices have the mobile data limit option to prevent the daily usage of mobile data. But sometimes, the aggressive limitation of the mobile data on your device might cause issues with the lack of enough data bandwidth. It affects the online video streaming experience on YouTube or any other platform. You should disable the mobile data limit on your handset by following the steps below:

Go to the Settings menu > Mobile Data. [Go to Network & Connection on some devices]
Turn Off the Mobile Data Limit option. [On some devices, it may look as Low Mobile Data Usage]
Once disabled, turn on Airplane Mode, and then turn it off.
Now, you can check whether the Android 13 device is playing videos.

13. Perform a Factory Reset

If none of the methods worked for you, then make sure to perform a factory reset on your handset to check whether the problem has been fixed. Remember that the factory reset process will completely delete the device data, such as apps, games, user-defined settings, internal storage files, call history, text messages, etc. So, it’s better to take a full data backup of your device before jumping into the steps.

Go to the Settings menu > Tap on About Phone.
Tap on the Backup & Reset option > Click on the Erase all data (Factory Reset) option.
Now, tap on the Delete all data option > Wait for the process to be completed.
Once done, your device will reboot to the system automatically.
Finally, go through the initial setup process.
You’re good to go.