Q: Unsupported Video Format iOS 9

same issue here. I found an app called VConverter, which converts the mov 4k videos to MP4 format, so they can play on my iPhone 6s Plus.The problem is: the app does not "see" all the videos, only ones in camera roll folder. Other videos can be synched via iTunes file sharing in the App..  Another app allowing me to play the mov videos is Dropbox app(which can be seen by VConverter App.). And, of course , we can upload the videos to vimeo or Youtube and watch them from their respective apps as well.

Hello,

we got same issue with video from a go pro, only possible to view on iMovie, but on iMovie we can't see the video full screen so it is a little bit od.

We also trying to downgrade iOS 9 to iOS 8.4.1 but the firmware is no longer signed by Apple. So we are ****** up with all my holidays movies and to recode all my movies on a new codecs will take me age.

What I can't understand is, if Apple for some hardware reason blocked these video on Photo to play why with same hardware we can read on iMovie, only maybe possible because isn't on fullscreen !!?

And why Apple don't tell us just why or if it's a bug or if it's a new restriction, we are looking to find a solution from days. It's a waste of time and money.

I am having the same issue. My videos were playing and at times saying "downloading" (so I figured it was the import from iPhoto to "photos"). I updated with the latest iOS 9, and now it won't play any of my go pro videos. This is a HUGE HUGE problem apple. As someone who has been using my iPad as a storage device and an editor for my videos, this is a major letdown. This NEEDS to be fixed asap.

I am using my iPad Pro for 4K videos and yes the same problem. Until Apple can fix it I downloaded a free app called iConv. You can reformat or just play them directly in the app. At least I can see them for now.

Well here's the official response I got from Apple after several hours on the phone and video samples sent.  It turns out that our problem is "unexpected behavior" from our pre-IOS 9 3rd gen iPads:

--------------

I was able to find the answer to your question! Thanks for your patience while I researched the information.

Information regarding your iPad’s video playback technical specifications can be found here: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp647?locale=en_US

According to this official Apple documentation, videos in 1080p 60fps are not supported. If you were able to play videos in 1080p 60fps high-resolution (non-LRV) in the past, then this would have been considered unexpected behavior - if strictly using the iOS’s native built-in app to play video that was imported to the device from the GoPro camera. The expected behavior for your iPad on iOS 8 should have been that the iPad would not have supported any video playback of a video in 1080p 60fps.

The technical specifications for the hardware of your iPad have not changed - even with iOS 9.

There are numerous 3rd party apps available on the App Store that are capable of broad video playback capabilites - however the native Apple video formats have not changed for the iPad 3rd generation.

You have confirmed during our previous conversation that you already understand what video formats from the GoPro camera will play on the iPad currently. For information about your GoPro camera settings, please refer to the GoPro documenation/user manual, or GoPro’s support website.

Respectfully,

AppleCare
iOS Senior Advisor

Where you can submit feedback on policies or products: www.apple.com/feedback

Where you can schedule a callback at your convenience: expresslane.apple.com

Our Product support page, which has tutorials and troubleshooting articles: www.apple.com/support/ipad

*** Apple. This is truely unacceptable. Im having the same problem with the videos from my dji Phantom 3 drone.

when os this going to get solved?

Apple won't fix it.

Apple won't admit that it's a problem. 

Apple thinks that you should be happy that your device still plays 1080p @ 30fps videos taken with your GoPro.

Apple thinks that you should contact GoPro with your iPad problems.

The whole "unecxpected behaviour" excuse is hilarious to me-

I can't for the life of me remember buying a non hi-def LCD TV, bringing it home and it magically plays hi-def programming.

I can't for the life of me remember buying a video camera that was only rated for low-def magically record hi-def.

i can't for the life of me remember buying a simple point-and-shoot camera and it "unexpectedly" taking 16 megapixel pictures.

Apple is a joke...  Myself; I will never purchase another Apple product again... I'd hate to be happy with a product only to have it stop working and then be told "hey, it was working better than expected and we accidently broke it with a software update."

My Apple "advisor" should have been able to answer this question in the first call, but it took HOURS on the phone trying to even get them to understand the issues we're having.

They kindly sent me a cross reference sheet showing what devices would perform playback in 1080p @ 60fps... 

I will kindly use that sheet to choose my next tablet.

Guess who's not getting any more of my money?

Cheers ~

Jaserx

I am having the exact same problem with my drone footage as well. This is a huge let down apple!!

Do you still have this problem?

I went to the apple store yesterday and my 4K video uploaded and played without a hitch making me look a lil crazy. Then I came home and shot some more with my Osmo, it worked again without a problem. Flew my drone and got the same unsuppported video message. So through a few hours of trial and error I have figured this much out, on my Dji drone and Osmo I have to record 4K footage in this setting; MP4 in JPEG+raw 24fps. That footage uploads and plays to my iPad Pro without a problem. I have not tried another PFS setting yet but this is what I've discovered so far. Hope this helps!

i am on iOS 9.3.1 and last night I could view all my videos new and old.  I decided to send a couple of movies from my iPad through text to my daughter.  Now the movies will no longer play.  All the ones I sent now say....Unsupported Video Format.  Every movie I sent will no longer play!  Help!

A previous post said that the video played in iMovie so I tried that. The sound plays but the video images are gone.  Looks like just white smeared light while its playing. How can fix these precious baby memories??!!

Updates just came out night before last for iOS 9.3.4 & now my iPhone 6 is giving me the error "this movie cannot be played because the video format is not supported" but here's the best part.....

this video was recorded on my iPhone 6!!! Really?!?!? I was trying to record whats wrong with my lawnmower so the repair guy would know & see what's up - my luck is this... when I take anything to be fixed .. I get there & get asked the infamous "so what's happening w fill in the blank?" I tell them & they can't find anything wrong at all or get whatever it is to mimic what I've said - anyway sorry i got carried away lol - I went searching for my issue with this video thing to see if anyone else had the same issue THAT way when I end up at the Genius Bar I'll have some back up & not look like a total moron .... did you ever figure out what the cause was for this nonsense or how to fix it?