Embedded video in a PDF file won’t play in adobe reader.

[Sérgio Luís da Silva]

When I embed a MP4 video in a PDF file, it plays nicely on Adobe Acrobat Pro, but not on Adobe Reader. (Both are the most recent edition, and run on Windows 10 Pro.) On reader, just the audio of the MP4 plays, but the image doesn’t show.

(I really don’t understand how Adobe add a feature to it’s PDF format that would be great if it worked, but turns out completely worthless since its own viewer can’t handle it.)

Does anyone know a solution or workaround?

[Amal.]

Hi Sérgio

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble.  As described you are unable to play the video in Acrobat Reader DC application but the same video plays well in Acrobat DC.

Do you get any error message when you try to open the video in Acrobat Reader DC application? If yes, please share the screenshot of the same for a better understanding.

Please try to turn off the protected mode for testing (Win Only) and see if that helps. Go to Edit > Preference> Enhanced Security > uncheck 'Enable protected mode at startup' Turn off the protected mode and uncheck 'Enhanced Security' > Click OK and reboot the computer

Note: Please turn on the security after testing to avoid security risks.

Also, please check out the troubleshooting steps provided in the help page: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/playing-video-audio-multimedia-formats.html and see if that works

Regards

Amal

[Sérgio Luís da Silva]

Hi, Amal.

There’s no error message at all. Adobe Reader simply treats the video file as an audio file.

I did what you suggested. It was worse: Reader just crashed when I tried to play the video.

[Amal.]

Hi there

We are sorry to hear that. Please try to repair the installation and reboot the computer once. Go to Help > Repair Installation. 

Also make sure you have the latest version 21.01.20145 installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer. 

Also, please share the pdf file with us so that we can check it at our end.

Upload the file to document cloud, generate the link and share that link with us. 

Regards

Amal

[Sérgio Luís da Silva]

We are sorry to hear that. Please try to repair the installation and reboot the computer once.

I did it, to no avail.

Also make sure you have the latest version 21.01.20145 installed.

Yes, that’s the version.

Also, please share the pdf file with us so that we can check it at our end.

Upload the file to document cloud, generate the link and share that link with us. 

Here it is:

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:5f69c807-33c5-4e8c-9b10-f6501838a2f...

Thanks for your attention.

[Amal.]

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing the PDF file. I have tried to reproduce the issue on my end and opened the PDF file with Acrobat Reader DC and the video is playing fine.

Please try the following preference settings and see if that help:

Go to Edit (Windows), Adobe Acrobat (Mac) > Preferences > 3D and Multimedia Select 'Enable playing of 3D and multimedia content.' Also , go to Trust Manager under preferences and select Allow opening of non PDF file attachments with external applications > Click OK and reboot the application and check.

Regards

Amal

[Sérgio Luís da Silva]

Please try the following preference settings and see if that help:

Go to Edit (Windows), Adobe Acrobat (Mac) > Preferences > 3D and Multimedia Select 'Enable playing of 3D and multimedia content.' Also , go to Trust Manager under preferences and select Allow opening of non PDF file attachments with external applications > Click OK and reboot the application and check.

I was using this exact settings already.

[Manon D]

Hello, 

I have the same issue. The exported videos (embedded in powerpoint) play on my computer because I have Acrobat Pro. However, I've received reports that computers with Adobe Reader don't play the videos (retested today). 

Has it been solved? Or is there a workaround?

Thanks

[lukak93800728]

Same issue here and I am sending the files to clients and I can't mess with their settings. Trying to link video from YouTube, but that doesn't work either. So eventually I have placed link on the page that should be video and it has opened in YT... pretty lame 😞

[Amal.]

Hi Lukak,

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble. Would you mind sharing the version of the Acrobat Reader DC You are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 21.11.20039. Go to help > Check for updates and reboot the computer.

You may also try to create a new test user profile with full admin rights in Windows or enable the root account in Mac and try using the application there and check.

Regards

Amal

[jasonf84231135]

Has there been a work-around yet? Having the same issue, running version 2021.011.20039.  Added mp4 video to PDF using "Rich Media" Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on my Mac.  Then installed a clean version of Reader on a Windows 10 VM to test. When I first open the pdf with the embedded video it prompts me to allow 3D content. Once allowed nothing happens, all that is displayed is one frame from the video and no video controls. I close the PDF and re-open it, all that auto-plays is the sound and the video portion is black (still no video controlls).  Note, when I embedded the video I set it to play when in view and to stop when out of view. Any help on this is greatly apretiated. This process used to work a year or so ago, but ever since I noticed it asking to allow 3D content it has not worked for me...

Thank you

[Amal.]

Hio there

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that.

Would you mind sharing the workflow/steps you did to create this PDF file with video? A small video recording of the same would be very helpful?

Also please share the version of the OS and the application and the PDF file in question with us so that we can check it at our end. https://helpx.adobe.com/document-cloud/help/sharing-pdfs.html

Regards

Amal

[Manon D · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I don't if that helps as I'm using Windows but I might be able to help you with the sound only/black sceen video. 

You need to change the graphic settings used by Adobe Acrobat Reader/Pro. I don't know where it is on Mac, but on Windows, you change it to power saving/integrated graphics instead of Nvidia for instance.

[jan-frederikn1434018]

Thank you Manon, that really worked!!!

[Thomas2381056881yv]

I am having the same issue (vidoe clips playing as audio only).
Where can one find the "power saving/integrated graphics" option?
I assume it is under Edit > Preferences > ?

[Manon D · Accepted solution]

Hi Thomas,

It's in your OS/graphic card settings.

Here's the way to change it in Windows: 

1. Search for Graphic Settings.
2. In Choose an app to set preference, select Classic app, browse to your acrobat.exe file and click Add.
3. In the Settings window, click Adobe then Options, and select Power Saving.

If you have NVIDIA, you can also do it from the Control Panel, in Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.

I hope this helps!

[leonard22692381dvnd]

I am not seeing classic app. I am using a dell latitude e6540 and am attaching the pdf I am trying to review.

[scoots015732]

I am having the same issue. Including Acrobat crashing and closing after changing the security settings and trying again. What did work for me was to go in and change the video settings to Intel instead of Nvidia (I am not on a Mac). But I am not about to email everyone I send a PDF to that they need to go in the adjust their settings in order to see my PDF properly. Adobe, please figure out a way to make this work by default, even going in and fiddling with security settings violates my company's IT rules. I'm sure some of my customers IT departments are the same.

[leonard22692381dvnd]

MY laptop is already setup as Intel. I am attaching one of the PDF's to see if it works for you. It works great on my Windows XP Pro SP3 laptop.

[volkan22085194rlhf]

Hi Amal, I have the same issue and I tried whole suggestion that you told. However, I still have the problem which is like black screen (you can see it on the file) and I dont know how to fix it. Please help me.

[Amal.]

Hi there,

Sorry to keep you waiting. What is the workflow/steps you did to embedd the video into the PDF file? Have you added the video into the file from Indesign and then exported it as PDF? If yes, please chck the expoert settings in Indesign.

Regards

Amal

[Sérgio Luís da Silva]

I tried everything Amal suggested, and nothing worked for me. I just gave up.

[Balking]

Same issue here, and after reading the whole thread I came to the same conclusion concerning embedding video in a pdf. -It's just not a robust product..

[Bernard5ED8]

Adobe are being blatantly economical with the truth about this function in their software. It's about time Adobe told us plainly what's going on. I know for a fact that it's something to do with the Security settings in Acrobat Reader. But they insist on leaving the audio and video functionality in Acrobat knowing that no one can use it! How pathetic. Audio and Video in PDFs is so nice. So exciting to be able to share a PDF document with a video, or an ebook with a narration.My God, we should not be forced to go down the .epub route, and having to do it in InDesign. We lost Flash abilities in PDFs, now video and audio. Come on Adobe, make PDFs great again!

[geraldl2945901]

Dear Sergio,

I am facing exactly the same issue as you are: embedded videos in interactive .pdf and I get no images, just sound.

Did you eventually find a solution for this?

Many thansk,

Gerald