HEVC troubleshooting
Why is my HEVC video not playing?
An HEVC file can fail to play even when the device supports H.265 in general. Playback depends on the complete combination of browser, operating system, codec profile, container, audio format and available hardware.
Check the file in HEVC Now
Open the local file in the player first. The media inspector can help identify the container and likely codec, while the playback check shows whether this browser can handle common HEVC samples.
Codec support is not all-or-nothing
HEVC has multiple profiles, levels and bit depths. A device that handles ordinary 8-bit HEVC may not handle every 10-bit, high-resolution or unusual encode.
The container can matter
HEVC can be stored in MP4, MOV, MKV, TS and other containers. Browser support for the container and its codec signalling can affect playback even when the underlying video codec is HEVC.
Audio can also cause problems
A video may contain an audio format the browser does not support well. This can make an otherwise compatible file behave unexpectedly.
Convert when portability is more important
If broader compatibility is more important, convert the file to H.264 video and AAC audio in MP4. This format combination is broadly compatible and can be created locally with the HEVC Now converter.