Ways to fix video error “unable to play video error 5”

Anisha Rawat

Updated On - October 13, 2022

If you are an avid video user, you may have encountered this problem: “Unable to play video error 5.”

Some users face this error when they try to play a video from Google Drive, which is linked to a presentation in Google Slides. The video error “Unable to play video error 5” might occur due to the following reasons-

1. Unstable internet connection
2. Operating system and browser are not up to date
3. Huge reserve of cache data and cookies
4. Issues due to browser extensions.
5. Video files have been damaged or corrupted.

6 methods to fix the “Unable to play video error 5”

We have a few simple tips to fix the “Unable to play video error 5.” You can try them one after another.

Make sure to have a steady internet connection

One of the prime reasons for the ‘Unable to play video error 5’ problem is not having a stable internet connection. The first and foremost thing to do is to check your internet connection, speed, and bandwidth.

If it is not running smoothly, either restart the router or switch to some other available network.

Check for system and browser updates

Often the system starts showing errors or runs slowly when the updates are due for a long time. Regular updates help in resolving errors and common bugs. It can also be helpful to fix the video error “Unable to play video error 5.”

To update the Windows operating system-

• Go to ‘Settings’ on your system.
• Select ‘Update and security’.
• Now, click on ‘Windows update’ and check for updates.

To update Google Chrome browser

• Directly go to the browser’s ‘Settings.’
• Select ‘About Chrome,’ and it will automatically install if any updates are available.

Clear the browser’s cache and cookies

The purpose of cache and cookies is to store the website content and user choices, respectively. They do occupy a large space and cause the slowing of the browser and video playback issues. Deleting the cache and cookies from the browser might help to fix the “Unable to play video error 5”.

Clear cache and cookies from Google Chrome-

• Open the Google Chrome browser. Go to ‘Settings.’
• Move to ‘Privacy and Security’ under Settings.
• Select ‘Clear browsing data.’
• Set the time range as ‘All time.’ Now, click on ‘Clear data, and it will delete all the cache and cookies.
  

Switch to Incognito mode

Incognito mode is a private browsing experience that does not save any browser history or cache and cookies. Switch to Incognito mode and then try to open the video and see if the error still pertains.

Follow the steps below to switch to incognito mode in the Google Chrome browser:

• Click on the top right corner and select ‘New incognito window.’
• A new window will be launched.

Disable browser extensions

Browser extensions add to the functionality and features of the current browser. However, these can prove to be risky sometimes as they might infect the system with viruses. Disable all the extensions and plug-ins one by one to get rid of the video error ‘Unable to play video error 5’.

Use a professional video repair tool

If you are still getting the same error even after trying all the methods mentioned above, then there is a high possibility that the video files in Google Drive have gone corrupt. When dealing with an important video file, the best possible way is to opt for a professional tool. Here, the Recoveryfix Video Repair oftware ticks all the boxes with its premium approach. It even provides a free ultimate guide to repair corrupt MP4 video files.

Here is how to use the Recoveryfix Video Repair tool to repair all the corrupted video files-

• Install the Recoveryfix Video Repair tool on your system.
• Using the “+ Add files,” add all the corrupted video files.
• All the selected video files will be displayed; now click on “Repair files.”

Note: If asked, add a healthy reference file to ease the process.

• Select the location to save all the videos.
• Now, the tool will start repairing the videos. You can check the status and click on ‘Save report to CSV’ when the repairing process is done.

The Recoveryfix Video Repair tool is an ideal solution since it provides a professional approach to repairing corrupt and damaged video files in ways.

• It is capable of repairing every video format.
• It is supported by all Windows operating system versions.
• Multiple videos can be repaired at a time.
• It has a simple interface making it user-friendly.

Conclusion
While trying to play a video on Google slides an error may appear, “Unable to play video error 5”. Sometimes this error occurs when browser and operating system are not updated or when cache and cookies data has not been cleared. This can happen due to an unstable internet connection also. However, one of the major reasons for error “Unable to play video error 5” is that the video files have gone corrupt. To fix these damaged files, a professional tool like the Recoveryfix Video Repair is the finest option.