You can see error code 23404 while watching videos on your browser. Although the exact words of the error might be different, the troubleshooting is the same.
Some people might get video-related errors in the following formats:
- Error loading media file could not be played.
- This video file cannot be played.
- Error code: 23404
This error can be caused due to a variety of factors like a faulty internet connection, server issues on the company’s side or issues with your browser. Whatever the case, fixing error code 23404 is easy and in this article, we have mentioned 8 ways by which you can do exactly that.
Check internet connection
You will get this error if your internet connection is disrupted or slow. Check with your Internet Service Provider for further updates and to confirm whether there is any outage in your area. Also, you can check your internet speed on any third-party websites like fast.com or speedtest.net.
Furthermore, check the router and cables for any damages. If you notice any visible damages, then change the device asap.
If everything is fine with the router and you are still unable to play the video, then power cycle the router. Unplug the router from the main socket and then wait for a few minutes before plugging it back again. Wait for the router to stabilise and then try the video again. This time it should work.
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Use a VPN
Sometimes the video that you are trying to run is geo-blocked and is not available in your country. Therefore, you need a VPN to bypass the geo-blocking.
There are many VPNs in the market. Here, we have curated a list of the top 10 VPNs that you can use. Do check out our VPN section for more information and explainers.
Clear cache, history and cookies
A cache is a storage tool that temporarily stores data. Storing data in a cache makes it readily available for the client to access and saves time. For this purpose, web browsers use the cache functionality for faster and more seamless browsing. However, it also causes some problems. So, you should clear the browser’s cache once in a while.
Here are the steps to clear the cache on Google Chrome:
Step 1: Open Chrome and then click on the three-dot button > More tools > Clear browsing data.
Step 2: Check on Browsing history, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Also, select the time range to All time. You can also select a particular time range, but we advise you to clear all your data. Next, click on Clear Data to finalise the process.
You can visit this article to find out another, more direct method to clear the cache on Chrome.
We have also covered how to clear the cache on Edge and Firefox.
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Update browser
If your browser has not been updated in a while, then you might get this error. Updates patch various security and other loopholes in the applications.
Check whether you have updated the browser or not. If not, then you should go for it now. If you are using Chrome, click on the three-dot button at the top right and then go to Help > About Google Chrome. You will see updating Chrome tab on your screen.
Use Incognito mode
Try to run the video in incognito mode of the browser. This option is also available as private browsing in some browsers.
For Chrome, click the three-dot button and select New Incognito Window. The browser will open a new private window.
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Disable extensions on the browser
Extensions are a great way to boost our productivity. You can have extensions for almost every task that you normally do, like checking grammar with Grammarly or using Google Docs in an offline mode. Check out our list of the top 10 Chrome extensions that you cannot do without.
But there are some extensions that can cause problems with your browser. Usually, such extensions are malicious in nature and it is imperative that you remove or at least disable such extensions.
To disable extensions in Chrome, go to the three-dot menu and then click on More tools > Extensions. Next, turn off the toggle in front of the extension.
Reset browser
When you reset the browser, you are diverting it back to the default setting. It is akin to the factory setting on your mobile. All the data, saved settings and bookmarks will be erased from your browser.
To reset Chrome, go to Settings > Reset and cleanup > Restore Settings to their original default. Then confirm the process by clicking on Reset Settings.
Use a different video player
Maybe your current video player isn’t supporting the video format. In this case, try to use another video player. There are many free video players in the market. You can choose any one of them as per your video format.
You can also search for suitable plugins for your video player. Plugins and extensions can patch existing incapabilities on your video player.
You can also lower the video quality to around 360p. If your computer is old or there is some problem with the graphics card, then it cannot play high-quality videos. Lowering the video quality might help.
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