VLC is a popular open source media player for Windows. It is known for its compatibility with various video formats and settings. However, sometimes VLC may fail to play the video and give the ‘Cannot open your input’ error.
This error usually appears when you try to stream a file or play a local media file. As such, if you also see the same error message, this is where you need to go. In this article, we will cover all the working fixes to solve VLC’s ‘Cannot open your input’ error on Windows 11.
1. Check Media Link
VLC allows you to play videos from online services like YouTube, Dailymotion and others. However, if the link of the video you’re trying to stream is broken, you may see a “Your input could not be opened” error. You can confirm this by opening the link in a web browser.
If the link opens without any problems, you will need to look at other solutions. However, if the link doesn’t open in the browser, you’ll have to find a working link to the content you want to stream using VLC.
2. Change the file name and path
Renaming the file is another quick solution that you can use to get rid of the error. Doing this will be especially helpful if the error occurs due to special characters in the filename.
To rename, right-click the file that is causing the error and click the Rename icon. Give the file a short name and make sure it has no special characters.
If renaming the file doesn’t help, move the file to another location. To do that, follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Right-click the file and select the Scissor icon from the context menu.
Step 2: Go to the location where you want to move the file.
Step 3: Right-click an empty space in that location and select Paste icon from the context menu.
After that, restart your computer and check if you still have the problem.
3. Change ownership of media files
If you get an error while playing a local file, that means you don’t have full access to that file. Such situations often arise with videos that you receive from another device.
You will need to change permissions to access the file. You can do that by changing the ownership of the file. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Right-click the file and select Properties.
Step 2: Switch to the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
Step 3: Click the Change button next to Owner.
Step 4: Enter Manager in the Enter object name to select section. Next, click the Check Names button and then OK.
Step 5: Click the Apply and OK button in the bottom right corner.
Play the video file and check if the problem persists.
4. Allow VLC Player to run through the firewall
VLC’s ‘Cannot open your input’ error can appear if VLC media player is blocked in Windows Firewall settings. To fix this, you will have to allow VLC to run through Windows Defender Firewall. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
Step 2: In the Start Menu, type Windows Security and press Enter.
Step 3: Select ‘Firewall & network protection’ from the left panel.
Step 4: Click on the ‘Allow apps through firewall’ option.
Step 5: Click the Change settings button. When you see the User Account Control prompt, click Yes.
Step 6: Check the Private and Public boxes next to VLC media player. Then, click OK.
5. Reset VLC preferences
VLC media player allows you to have personalized settings for media files. However, if certain settings don’t work together, you can run into various problems, including the current problem.
You can reset VLC preferences, which will reset VLC media player to its default settings. You can do that by following the instructions below:
Step 1: Launch VLC media player, click Tools in the top bar and select Options from the context menu.
Step 2: Click the Reset option button.
Step 3: Click OK at the crop confirmation that appears.
6. Update VLC Media Player
If resetting the preferences doesn’t help, you may need to update your VLC media player to resolve the issue. Launch VLC media player, click Help at the top and select Check for updates. If there are any updates, VLC will automatically download them without much user input.
Enjoy uninterrupted video playback
Normally, VLC player can handle most video formats easily. However, if you are facing VLC’s ‘Cannot open your input’ error, you can follow the above methods to fix the problem.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
