Fix: Cannot Play. This File Isn’t Playable. 0xc10100bf Error In Windows 11/10

While playing MP4 video files on your system, you may sometimes come across the “Can’t play. This file isn’t playable. 0xc10100bf” error in your Windows 10 PC. This prevents you from playing the MP4 video files on your PC, especially using WMP (Windows Media Player) or the Movies & TV program. This error usually occurs when the video is corrupt, has the wrong file extension or your media player does not support its format.



While there can be different reasons why you may encounter the “Can’t play. This file isn’t playable. 0xc10100bf” error on your PC, some of the major reasons include:

  • When the video file is corrupted;
  • When the file format of the video is not compatible with the media player (Windows Media Player/Movies & TV app);
  • When the video file is using the incorrect file extension;
  • When the video file somehow gets damaged during the transfer;
  • When the video file is downloaded from an unverified source or if it’s infected by a malware. This ends up corrupting the video file.

This error mostly occurs with different video formats like MP4, AVI, MKV and MOV.

How to Prevent the 0xc10100bf  Error

Here are some tips to prevent the 0xc10100bf video error on your Windows 10 PC.

  • If the error occurs because you are playing the files using an external driver, transfer the files to your PC’s local drive.
  • Make sure that you have installed all the pending Windows Update to ensure that video plays uninterrupted.
  • Download the video files from a trusted website, preferably from of the official website of the video maker or a trusted video software.
  • Moreover, using a good quality and reliable anti-virus software is also important to keep your system protected from virus and malware.

Fortunately, there are a few solutions available that may help fix the issue. Let’s see how:

 

Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting

 

  • When you come across the “Can’t play. This file isn’t playable. 0xc10100bf” error, the first thing you must try is to play the MP4 video on another computer and see if it’s playing on that. A lot of times, this method helps fix the damaged file issue and then you can continue to play your video files as usual on all devices.
  • However, if this does not help, you can also try playing the MP4 files using a different drive than what you are using now. For example, if you are using an USB drive, you can replace it with another external drive. It may be possible that the USB drive is corrupted and hence, unable to play your files.
  • If that doesn’t work, then you can copy the video file individually from the USB device. This is because, sometimes, when you try to copy all the files together from the device to your PC, chances are, that the files may get damaged during the transfer. Hence, transferring the files one by one may help fix the issue.
  • Additionally, you must also check if the video file format is supported by your media player, such as with WMP, Movies and TV applications, etc. If the file format is not compatible then try converting it to a supported format and for this, you may try using any trusted free video converter software.
  • Check if the video file ahs the correct extension because if it’s an incorrect extension it may generate the 0xc10100bf error. This usually happens if you have renamed the file without using a reliable video converter.
  • Alternatively, you may also try downloading the same MP4 file again because sometimes the download may get aborted before the download is complete. Simply return to the source website and click on the download link again to re-download the MP4 file.
  • You can also try uninstalling and re-installing the program that’s throwing the error and this may fix the issue sometimes.
  • Make sure that you also run a scan using a 3rd party antivirus software or the Windows Defender (built-in Windows security) to remove any malware or virus.

 

However, if none of the above basic steps help, you may proceed with the below methods.

Method 2: Run the Windows Media Player Troubleshoot Settings

 



Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Run to open the Run command window.

 

Start Right Click Run

 

Step 2: In the Run command search field, type control.exe and hit Enter to open the Control Panel window.

 

Run Command Control.exe Enter

 

Step 3: In the Control Panel window, go to View by and select Large icons from the drop-down next to it.

Now, select Troubleshooting from the list.

 

Control Panel View By Large Icons Troubleshooting

 

Step 4: Next, on the left side of the window, click on View all.

 

Control Panel Troubleshooting View All

 

Step 5: It will tale you to the All Categories window.

Now, under the Troubleshoot computer problems, select Windows Media Player Settings from the list.

 

All Categories Troubleshoot Windows Media Player Settings

 

Step 6: In the Windows Media Player Settings wizard, click on Advanced.

 

Windows Media Player Settings Advanced

 

Step 7: Check the box next to Apply repairs automatically.

Click on Next.

 

Windows Media Player Settings Apply Repairs Automatically Next

 

Step 8: The troubleshooter will now start detecting any issues.

If any found, it will prompt you to choose from Apply this fix and Skip this fix.

 

Windows Media Player Settings Choose From Apply This Fix Or Skip This Fix

 

Step 9: If you select Apply this fix, the fix will be applied and it will display the results.

 

Once done, restart your PC and you should be able to play the MP4 file without seeing  the “Can’t play. This file isn’t playable. 0xc10100bf” error anymore.

 

Method 3: Update Codecs

 

There is a possibility that the codecs of the video file has expired and hence, causing the issue. This method is specially for those who are using the Windows Media Player to play their video files. Here’s how you to update the codecs:

 

Step 1: Open the Windows Media Player app and click on Tools in the menu bar.

 

*Note – If you do not find the menu bar with File, View, Play, Tools and the Help options, then go to Organize, select Layout and then select Show menu bar.

 

Windows Media Player Organise Layout Show Menu Bar Min

 

Step 2: Now, go to the Tools tab above and click on Options.

 

Windows Media Player Tools Options

 

Step 3: In the Options window, select the Player tab.

Here, check the box next to Automatically load codecs /Download codecs automatically option.

Press OK to save changes and exit.

 

Method 4: Repair Using the VLC Player

 

If the video file codec or the format is not compatible with the media player, you may end up seeing the “Can’t play. This file isn’t playable. 0xc10100bf” error on your Windows 10 PC. While you may try using any other program to play the file (for example KM Player, Winamp, etc.) and see if it works, VLC Media Player can be a great alternative of all. VLC Media Player is known to support a wide range of video formats and codecs. Therefore, you can try fixing the error using the VLC Media Player:

 

Step 1: Launch the VLC Media Player app.

Now, click on Tools in its menu bar and select Preferences.

 

Vlc Media Player Tools Preferences

 

Step 2: It will open the Simple Preferences window.

Here, click on the Input/Codecs option.

 

Simple Preferences Input & Codec Settings

 



Step 3: In the Input & Codecs Settings section, go to the Damaged or incomplete AVI file field and set it to Always fix.

Click on Save.

 

Simple Preferences Input & Codec Settings Damaged Or Incomplete Avi File Always Fix Min

 

Now, try playing the MP4 file using the VLC Media Player and it should play smoothly.

Method 5: Reinstall the Media Player

 

When none of the above methods work, you can try uninstalling the media payer and reinstall it. Here’s how:

 

Step 1: Press the Win + R keys together on your keyboard to open Run command.

Step 2: In the Run command window, type appwiz.cpl in the search field and press OK to open the Programs and Features window.

 

Run Command Appwiz.cpl Enter

 

Step 3: In the Programs and Features window in the Control Panel, go to the right side and under the Uninstall or change a program, find media player, right-click on it and select Uninstall.

 

Programs And Features Uninstall Or Change A Program Find Wacom Application Right Click Uninstall

 

Now, wait till the media player is uninstalled completely, restart your PC and re-install the player. Your MP4 file should play now without any issues.