Problems
The recording will not play
A downloaded recording that will not play is usually a container problem rather than a damaged file.
Try VLC first
Windows Media Player and QuickTime do not handle WebM. VLC plays it on every platform and is the quickest way to confirm the file is intact.
The duration shows as zero or unknown
Files produced by MediaRecorder have no duration written into the header. Most players work it out anyway; some show 0:00 until you seek. Re-encoding the file with any converter writes a proper header.
Your editor rejects WebM
Several editors will not import WebM. Convert to MP4 first — see converting WebM to MP4.
Premiere Pro and Final Cut both fall into this category. DaVinci Resolve and Shotcut accept WebM directly, as does anything built on ffmpeg.
Read next
- How to convert a WebM recording to MP4
Three ways to convert a screen recording to MP4, including one that does not re-encode.
- WebM or MP4: which you get and why
The difference between the two formats browsers produce, and which one you want.
- Screen recording has no sound
The four reasons a screen recording comes out silent, in the order worth checking.