How to fix "This video file cannot be played" (error 0xc00d36c4)

By the FixMP4 engineering team · Updated October 9, 2026 · Tested on real H.264, HEVC and AAC recordings

Error 0xc00d36c4 means the Windows Media Player, Movies & TV (Films & TV) or Photos app could not decode the file. In most cases the file is fine and Windows lacks the codec (very often HEVC/H.265 from an iPhone, Android phone, GoPro or drone), so it plays in VLC. If the file also fails in VLC and it is a large MP4 or MOV from a recording that was cut off, the file's index is missing and needs to be rebuilt. Start with the quick test below; if VLC fails too, try the free preview in the FixMP4 repair tool.

The 30-second test

Install VLC (free) and open the file.

• VLC plays it: the file is healthy. The problem is codec support in the Windows app; see causes 1 to 4.
• VLC does not play it either: the file is damaged or incomplete; see cause 5.

Cause 1: HEVC (H.265) codec missing

Windows 10 and 11 do not always include an HEVC decoder. Videos recorded with High Efficiency on iPhone, HEVC on Android, most GoPros and many drones trigger 0xc00d36c4 or a black picture.

Fixes: play in VLC; install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store (some PCs have the manufacturer's version preinstalled); or convert the video to H.264 with HandBrake. To avoid it on iPhone, set Camera, Formats to Most Compatible.

Cause 2: unsupported format or codec

Windows' built-in players do not support every container and codec. MKV with unusual codecs, some MOV variants, ProRes, AV1 on older systems, or audio formats such as AC-3/E-AC-3 without the right extension can trigger the error.

Fixes: play in VLC, install the matching Store extension (AV1, HEIF/HEVC, Web Media extensions), or convert.

Cause 3: file location or permission problems

Files on a phone connected over MTP, on a camera over USB, on an encrypted or disconnected network share, or still downloading from OneDrive can fail with 0xc00d36c4.

Fix: copy the file to a local folder (Desktop or Videos) and open the local copy.

Cause 4: DRM-protected media

Purchased or rented videos with DRM play only in the app that sold them. 0xc00d36c4 can appear when you open them elsewhere.

Fix: use the store's app. Repair tools cannot and must not remove DRM.

Cause 5: the file is genuinely broken

If VLC also refuses the file or shows 0:00, and it is large, the MP4 or MOV probably has no index (moov atom). That happens when recording ends abruptly: a dead battery, a crash, a full card, an interrupted export or transfer.

Fix: rebuild the index.

1. Record a short reference clip on the same device with the same settings. Not needed for AAC audio such as Voice Memos.
2. Open the repair tool, add the broken file and the reference.
3. Check the free preview, then export with a subscription.

Quick reference table

Related error codes

• 0xc00d5212 ("item was encoded in a format that's not supported"): usually a codec problem, same fixes as causes 1 and 2.
• 0xc1010103: frequently seen with damaged or partially downloaded files; treat like cause 5 if VLC also fails.
• 0xc00d36b4: format not supported by the app; try VLC.

Why renaming or converting does not fix a broken file

Changing .mp4 to .mov or .avi changes only the name; the content and the missing index stay the same. Converters and editors need a readable index to start decoding, so they fail on a file without one. Online converters that upload the file fail the same way, and uploading private footage carries its own risks. Rebuilding the index from the raw frames is the step that actually makes the file readable again.

How the rebuild works

FixMP4 reads the file locally in your browser, finds each H.264 or HEVC video frame and each AAC audio frame in the raw media data, takes codec parameters from the reference, and writes a new index. Frames are not re-encoded and nothing is uploaded. After repair, the file plays in VLC; whether it plays in Windows' own apps then depends only on codec support (cause 1).

Common mistakes

• Reinstalling Windows or resetting the Films & TV app when the real issue is a missing HEVC extension.
• Running a repair tool on a file that VLC plays perfectly; nothing is wrong with the file.
• Opening videos directly from a phone connected over USB instead of copying them first.
• Uploading private footage to an online "0xc00d36c4 fixer" that simply converts the file.

Prevention

• Record in H.264 (Most Compatible) if you mainly watch on Windows and do not want to install extensions.
• Keep batteries charged and storage free during recordings to avoid cut-off files.
• Copy files to a local disk before opening them.

Related error guides

• "File is not supported"
• "Invalid data found when processing input"
• Fix "moov atom not found"
• All error guides

FixMP4 compared with other options