5 Ways to Fix Can’t Play MPG Files on Windows 11

Quick Tips

• Instead of converting or using a codec, use VLC media player to play any format.
• Most online converters have limits on the size or number of times you can convert a video.
• A video without a preview is most likely corrupted.

Method 1: Redownload the MPG File

If you have downloaded a corrupt MPG file from the web, you can’t play it using Windows Media Player or any third-party software. Such files won’t show thumbnails in the File Explorer app. This usually happens because of an extremely slow internet connection or when the download gets interrupted.

You’ll need to delete and download the existing file from the web again.

Method 2: Download MPEG-2 Video Extension

MPG files are mostly incorporated with MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 extensions. MPEG-2 is an upgraded version of MPEG-1 that offers better features. Microsoft doesn’t pack the required MPEG-2 video extension with the Windows Media Player in Windows 11, so you must download it from the Microsoft Store.

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Search for the MPEG-2 video extension and open it.

Step 3: Click on Get to start the installation.

Once done, Windows Media Player should be able to play MPG videos on your Windows PC without issues. If it still doesn’t work, it could be a player issue. Follow our guide to fix the Windows Media Player issue.

Method 3: Convert to MP4 Using Microsoft Clipchamp

Clipchamp in Windows is a video editor that can convert any MPG file to MP4. It also accepts OV, WEBM, AVI, DIVX, FLV, 3GP, WMV, VOB, DCM, and MKV video formats.

Step 1: Right-click on the MPG file and choose to open with Clipchamp.

Step 2: Once the initial processing is complete, drag the video and drop it into the timeline.

Step 3: Click on the Export button, select the quality, and it will instantly start converting the video.

Step 4: During the conversion, you can set the name of the file and location. Alternatively, you can upload it to the cloud or social media.

Method 4: Convert MPG Using Online Converter

If you do not want a codec, convert the video file into a widely used format, such as MP4. Many online converters can do that, but we suggest not uploading any video that contains personal or sensitive data.

Step 1: Open your preferred web browser and head to Cloudconvert.

Step 2: Select MPG in the first menu and MP4 in the second.

Step 3: Click Select File > From my computer, browse to select the MPG video file from the File Explorer, and press Open to upload.

Note: You can also click the down arrow button to upload a file from URL, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

Step 4: You can add more files (if you want) and then click the Convert button to start the process.

Step 5: After the conversion completes, click the Download button to save the converted video file on your computer.

You can use the default Media Player to play the video file without breaking a sweat.

Method 5: Use a Third-Party Video Player

If you frequently play MPG files on Windows, you shouldn’t go through the steps above to convert video files every time. It’s time-consuming and not productive at all. Instead, you can use a third-party video player such as VLC.

Step 1: Download and install VLC Media Player from the official website.

Step 2: Open the VLC media player and click Media at the top. Then select Open File (or use Ctrl + O keys shortcut).

Step 3: Select your MPG file from the File Explorer menu and click Open to start playing the video instantly.