Copied videos won't play from a USB drive? What to check
Find out whether a bad copy, fake USB capacity, or a playback issue made your videos unplayable, and what to check before copying them again.
A video played before you copied it, but now the file on your USB drive or SD card will not open, stops partway through, or shows an error. The copy may be incomplete, the drive may be faulty, or the playback device may not support the video format.
Check the original and the copied file first. If the drive might be counterfeit or have less storage than its label claims, the Fake USB & SD Check can test its real capacity. It writes test data to the drive, so protect your files before using it.
Check the copied video and drive
- Protect the files before testing. Copy everything you need from the USB drive or SD card to another location, then confirm the backup opens. The Fake USB & SD Check fills the selected drive with test data and reads it back, which can overwrite existing files. Do not run it on the only copy of anything important.
- Try the original video. Play the original file from the device or folder you copied it from. If it also fails, the copy may not be the cause. Check the file itself or whether your current player supports its format.
- Compare file sizes. On Windows 11, right-click each file in File Explorer and choose Properties. On macOS, select a file in Finder and choose File › Get Info. Compare the original and the copied file. A noticeably smaller copy may have stopped partway through.
- Try another copy and playback device. Copy the original again to a different USB drive or SD card, then try the video on another computer or device. Change one thing at a time so you can tell whether the problem follows the file, the drive, or the playback device.
- Check the suspected drive's capacity. Use the Fake USB & SD Check on an empty drive with your files backed up. It works in Chrome and Edge on a computer. If your browser cannot access the drive, switch to one of those browsers rather than assuming the drive passed.
What the results mean
The original plays, but the copy does not
The original video is probably usable, but the copied file or the destination drive may be the problem. If the copied file is smaller, copy it again. If the sizes match, try a second destination drive: matching sizes do not prove every part of the file was copied correctly.
The original and copy both fail on one device
The video may use a format or codec that device cannot play. A codec is the method used to encode video or audio. Try the file on a different device or in a player that supports the video's format before concluding that the copy is damaged.
The capacity check finds less space than the label promises
The drive may be counterfeit or faulty. A drive that claims more capacity than it really has can appear to accept files, then overwrite earlier data when it fills beyond its true limit. Stop using it for important files. Do not copy videos to it again.
The capacity check reads back the expected amount
The drive's capacity matched the tested amount, but that does not prove the video copy is intact or rule out an intermittent fault. A loose connector, damaged card, failing drive, or interrupted transfer can still cause problems.
How to fix the copy
- Copy the original again. Keep the source file unchanged and copy it to a drive with enough free space. Wait until the transfer finishes before opening or moving the copy.
- Try a different port, cable, or card reader. Connect the drive directly to the computer if possible, rather than through a hub. For an SD card, reseat it and try a different reader if one is available.
- Check free space and the drive format. On Windows 11, open File Explorer, choose This PC, right-click the drive and select Properties. On macOS, select the drive in Finder and choose File › Get Info. To see its format on a Mac, open Disk Utility and select the drive without choosing an erase option. Do not format the drive until your files are backed up.
- Safely eject the drive before unplugging it. Use Windows' Safely Remove Hardware option or eject the drive in Finder on a Mac. Removing storage during a write can leave a file incomplete or damage its file system.
- Use a different drive if errors return. If a video fails again after copying it to another drive, test the source and playback device separately. Repeated failures on one USB drive or card are a reason to stop trusting that storage.
When the drive may be faulty
If multiple files copied to the same drive become unreadable, or the drive disconnects, reports errors, or fails a read-back capacity test, do not store your only copies on it. Back up any files that still open. If the device is new, contact the seller or manufacturer about a return or warranty claim. If the files are valuable and no backup exists, stop writing to the drive and ask a data recovery professional about options.
What the capacity test can and cannot tell you
The Fake USB & SD Check writes data across the storage and reads it back to find whether the device can hold what it claims. It is useful for identifying fake capacity, but it does not repair corrupted videos, check whether a media player supports a format, or guarantee that a drive will remain reliable. Only run it when the drive is empty or everything on it has a verified backup.
