How to Fix Clipchamp Media Import Not Working

Clipchamp lists MPEG as a supported format, but it only handles some versions of it, so an MPEG file can fail to import even when it looks like it should work. Convert the file to MP4 and import that instead.

If the file is damaged, no format change will fix it. So check that it plays first, then convert it.

How to get a file into Clipchamp when the import fails

These steps use VLC, a free player that can also convert video. Any converter that saves MP4 files works the same way.

1. Play the file in another player. Open the video in a player outside Clipchamp, like VLC or the Windows Media Player app. Watch it all the way through. If it won't play or cuts out partway, the file is corrupted. Export or download it again before you go further.
2. Open the converter. In VLC, go to Media > Convert / Save.
3. Add your video. Click Add, pick the file that won't import, then click Convert / Save at the bottom of the window.
4. Pick the MP4 profile. In the Profile dropdown, choose Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
5. Save it as an MP4. Click Browse, choose where to save the file and give it a name that ends in .mp4. Click Start and wait for the progress bar in VLC to finish.
6. Import the MP4 into Clipchamp. In Clipchamp, click Import media and pick the new MP4 file. You can also drag it from your folder straight into the Your media tab.

Why a supported format still fails

MPEG covers a lot of different file types, and the supported formats list doesn't tell you which ones Clipchamp actually reads. MP4, MOV and WEBM import more reliably than the rest, and MP4 gives the fewest problems of all.

If you keep running into this, save or export your clips as MP4 from the start. That way they go into Clipchamp the first time.

FAQ

Does Clipchamp support MPEG files? Some of them. MPEG is a family of formats, and Clipchamp only reads some versions of it. MP4 is the one that imports without problems.

Which video format works best in Clipchamp? MP4. MOV and WEBM also work better than other formats, but MP4 is the safest choice when a file won't import.