MP4 files are the most commonly used format for videos on the internet, but they are not immune to corruption. A corrupt MP4 file can be frustrating, as it can prevent you from accessing the content and cause loss of data. Corruption can occur due to various reasons, from malware to abrupt shutdown of your device. But, there is no need to lose hope, as this neat trick can help you fix corrupt MP4 files for free.

The trick involves using a tool called FFmpeg, which is a free and open-source software designed for managing multimedia files. It is available for download on various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Here are the steps to fix corrupt MP4 files with FFmpeg:

Step 1: Download FFmpeg

Visit the official website of FFmpeg to download the tool.

Step 2: Open the command prompt

Open the command prompt on your computer. On Windows, press Windows+R to open the Run dialogue box and type ‘cmd’ to access the command prompt. On macOS, open the Terminal app from the Applications folder.

Step 3: Navigate to FFmpeg directory

Once the command prompt is open, navigate to the FFmpeg directory using the CD command. For example, if you have installed FFmpeg in the Downloads folder, type ‘CD Downloads’ to navigate there.

Step 4: Run the command

Type the following command on the command prompt and press Enter:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -codec copy output.mp4

Replace ‘input.mp4’ with the name of your corrupted MP4 file and ‘output.mp4’ with any new name that you want to give to the fixed file.

Step 5: Wait for the process to complete

The command prompt should show the progress of the conversion. Depending upon the size of your file, it can take a few seconds or a few minutes to complete. Once the process is complete, you should see a new file with the name you specified in the output folder.

Step 6: Test the fixed file

Open the new file with any video player to test if it is fixed or not. If it is playing without any issues, you have successfully fixed your corrupt MP4 file.