# The recording will not play

> What to do when a downloaded recording refuses to open, or shows the wrong length.

Source: https://www.screen-recording-software.com/guides/screen-recording-wont-play
Category: Problems

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.