No picture on video preview screen

[Rick0195]

I have tried to load multiple mp4 videos from various sources into Premiere Elements.  When I try to play them back, the preview screen either is black with random numbers in a large size font in white displayed or the screen is totally blank (white).  When I play the video, the sound track plays but no image.  What gives??

[Bill Sprague]

You have left out any information about your computer, operating system, Premiere Elements version and source of video clips.   So, this is a guess.  You issue can be caused by changes in the video driver.  It may need to be updated or rolled back to an earlier one. 

[John T Smith]

Do not count on Windows to be fully up to date when it comes to device drivers
Go to the vendor site to be sure you have an updated driver for your graphic adapter
nVidia Driver Downloads http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
-for Premiere Pro (and MAYBE Premiere Elements) use the STUDIO driver, not the GAMING driver
-such as (this MAY not be the latest) https://www.nvidia.in/Download/driverResults.aspx/177929/en-in
If you have a laptop you MAY also need to check for a laptop specific nVidia driver
ATI Driver https://www.amd.com/en/support
Intel https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/211969/Intel-HD-Graphics-Family
There are also intermittent reports that the newest driver is not always the best driver due to driver bugs or compatibility issues, so you MAY need to try an earlier driver version

[Rick0195]

Thanks for the above help.  I have a Dell XPS 8920 desktop computer with an Intel i7-7700 3.6 Ghz processor & 24 GB RAM running Windows 10.  It has an AMD Radeon Rx 480 graphics processor.  I updated everything through the Dell Support app and still trouble.  Then I went to the AMD website and updated the graphics card to the recommended driver.  I still have the same problem--no video playback at all on Adobe Premier Elements 2021. 

    I have tried MP4 videos I have made with Power Point, videos that I made with a GoPro 8 and videos that I downloaded as an MP4 sample from the internet.  I don't know if it is a clue, but none of these play in Microsoft "Movies and TV" but play easily in Windows Media Player.

   Appreciate any help..

[Bill Sprague]

Rick,

Thanks for the clue!   Premiere Elements is good for common video from common cameras.   It is not universal.   It can't edit every available format.  

"MP4" is one of a few common file "container" formats.  Inside will be a collection of codecs and other specifications.   The most common video codec is called "H.264" and the most common frame rate is fixed (vs variable).    Typical consumer cameras use these common contents in their recording container files.  

Screen recorders and perhaps Powerpoint will use less common components.  They may play well in "video players" but may not be editable in video editing software.   Video editing software has to be more complex than a simple player.  

Regarding the downloaded MP4 files, there is no way to guess what their components are.   

For the GoPro, it has a variety of recording settings.  One is use dto make the smallest of files.  It is called "HEVC" or "H.265".   Premiere Elements does not come with that codec, but it can be purchased from Microsoft for $.99.   Other GoPro settings are more "compatible" with video editors.  

When video files don't edit well they can be converted.  The (free) program called Handbrake is very good at converting difficult codecs to common codecs.   Better is to ensure your camera and other sources use the univeral H.264 codec at a fixed frame rate.  

[Rick0195]

Bill--
Thanks for getting back to me. I am having to learn more about MP4 files that I had wanted! In fact, I did convert one of my GoPro videos using Handbrake and it still did not play back video. Today, I installed Premiere Elements 2021 onto my laptop computer and lo and behold--it played back all the MP4 video files that won't play on my desktop!! Thus, I have concluded it must be my Radeon Rx 480 graphics card/drivers on my desktop computer. I have tried uninstalling the drivers in the most complete way possible and then re-installing them per AMD website--still no video playback. So, likely either the graphics card itself is kaput or perhaps Windows 10 is somehow corrupted. My son has a spare similar graphics card that I am going to try to install--hopefully, it will fit and be compatible power wise. I am reluctant to try to reinstall Windows 10 unless absolutely necessary. So, the bottom line as I see it--the problem is with my graphics card and not Premiere Elements 2021.

Thanks again for your help!