In this article, we'll explain why a video may not play, or play slowly, on your screen, and show how to fix it by switching video players or re-encoding the video.
Videos are compressed with a codec, such as H.264, HEVC (H.265), VP9, MPEG-4 or AV1. Whether a device can play a codec depends on its hardware. When your device can't decode a video, OptiSigns shows this message instead of the video:
You may also see a video that plays slowly or drops frames. That happens when the device falls back to software decoding, or when the video's resolution or bit rate is too high for the hardware.
There are two ways to fix this: try a different video player, or re-encode the video into a format your device supports.
What You'll Need
- Access to the screen in the OptiSigns portal, to change its video player
- To re-encode: a Windows, Mac or Linux computer and the free HandBrake app
Try a Different Video Player
Some OptiSigns players let you choose which video player plays your videos. A different player may support more codecs or play more smoothly on your hardware.
Linux Players, Including the OptiSigns Pro Player and Raspberry Pi
In the OptiSigns portal, edit the screen and open the Advanced section. Under Video Player, choose HTML5 Video Player or MPV Player with hardware acceleration, then save.
| NOTE |
| Video Player appears only for screens running the OptiSigns Linux player, and only on plans that include advanced device management. |
Android Devices
On the screen, open the OptiSigns app's side menu and go to Video Player Settings. Under Render Type, switch from the default Texture View to Surface View. Some hardware is optimized only for Surface View, so this can improve playback.
Re-Encode the Video
H.264 is the most widely supported codec, and VP9 and HEVC (H.265) are supported by most hardware too. Even so, a device may not support a particular video file. Amazon Fire TV, Android and Roku devices rely on hardware decoding, so they're the most likely to have trouble. Check the supported formats for Amazon Fire TV or Roku.
To fix it, re-encode the video into a format your device supports. HandBrake is a free, popular app that does this on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Download HandBrake and open it. Drag your video file onto the Or drop a file or folder here area.
Open Presets, then Devices, and choose a preset for your device, such as Amazon Fire, Android or Roku. Pick the resolution you want, for example 1080p30. The General presets work for most devices too.
Next to Save As, click Browse and choose where to save the new file. Then click Start Encode.
Encoding can take a while, depending on the video's length and quality and how fast your computer is.
When it's done, upload the new file to OptiSigns and add it to your playlists or screens. See How to Upload & Manage Your Files and Assets.
That’s all!
OptiSigns is the leader in digital signage software. If you have any additional questions, concerns or any feedback about OptiSigns, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@optisigns.com.