Just purchased the Pro 3 kit. Video does not play on my Android version 9 phone

[Mark_B]

Does anyone know how to playback the Arlo video's on an Android 9 smartphone? The recorded video's don't seem comatible with the Android 9 system.  Thanks for any help.

[jguerdat]

Do you mean usinmg the app to view the videos or are you downloading them and then trying to view them? It's been a while since I had an Android 9 device but they used to play fine in the app and I believe they still should. Downloading may need you to install the free VLC viewer app to view them since some/many viewers have issues playing these videos.

[Mark_B]

Yes I mean "using the Arlo app". Videos are not playing within the Arlo app.

[jguerdat]

Have you tried rebooting the phone and reinstalling the app?

[JamesC]

Mark_B,

What are you seeing when you try to play a video? Do you see an error message?

JamesC

[Mark_B]

I have removed and re-installed the app. All I get when I play recordings is a black screen (no error mesage).

The phone does show live footage without a problem.

[JamesC]

Mark_B,

Are you able to download the video clips and play them? Do you experience the same behavior if you test on another device?

JamesC

[Mark_B]

I can download them and play them on VLC media player - extremely inconvenient though. I got my old Andriod 7 phone out and it played the files as you would expect –straight from the Arlo app.. Any ideas – seems like a codec problem to me!

[Mark_B]

I have looked into this heavily and it appears that the Arlo App does not have its own video codec - but uses the one provided on the Android phone.

That being the case - could someone please advise me the actual Codec needed by the Arlo recorded video app play back - so I can change it on my phone?

Cheers, Mark

[jguerdat]

I don't know of any codec needed to be added. My Lenovo Chromebook uses an implied Android 9 for Android apps and videos are viewed in the app with no problems. I would suspect either an issue with the Android version provided by the manufacturer (what phone is it?) and/or the need to reset the phone.