To play an MP4 file on your PC, you need to have a player that supports this feature. If you are using Windows Media Player version 12 then you will be able to play MP4 Videos. If you have an earlier version you will need to install a codec or use another player, such as VLC or BS Player.
Part One – Using Default MP4 Media Player
1 – Select your video. Download the MP4 file from a trusted source, copy it from a USB or simply open it from your PC’s hard drive. It is important to know the file name, as well as the location where it is saved. Click “File” then “Open” and select the MP4 file you want.
2 – Double-click the video. Once you have located the video on your operating system, double-click on the icon to start playing the MP4 file. If you double-left-click on the video file, then playback will begin using the default media player.
3 – Install a codec or decoder pack. Install the MPEG-4 decoder packs recommended by Microsoft, which are compatible with DirectShow. You can also download codecs from the link here.
4 – Right-click on the video icon. If you are using Windows, instead of double-clicking, you can right-click on your file to select the media player of your choice.
5 – Click on “open with..” From the menu that appears, you can choose any playback media you wish.
6 – Click on Windows Media Player. If you downloaded a decoder pack or codec then your MP4 video is ready to play.
Part Two – Using Other MP4 Player Apps
1 – Download a media player from a trusted source. Using other media players can be more useful than installing codecs or decoder packs. Among the most popular media players are VLC and XBMC.
2 – Go to properties. Select another media player by going to properties.
3 – Right-click to select the media player. If you are using Windows, instead of double-clicking, you can right-click on your file to select the media player of your choice.
4 – Click on “open with..” From the menu that appears, you can choose any playback media you wish.
5 – Use an editing application to play MP4 files. More experienced users can use applications like Camtasia to edit the image and sound of a video. Professional DJs can also use Virtual DJ Pro as software that allows them to play videos.
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