Seeing a black video screen in Unreal Engine can be confusing. You import a video, apply it to a mesh, press Play—and nothing appears. Most of the time, this is not a bug but a setup issue in the media pipeline.
How Video Playback Works in Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine uses a specific pipeline to display videos:
Video File → Media Player → Media Texture → Material → Mesh
If any part of this chain is missing or misconfigured, the video will appear as a black screen.
Common Reasons Your Video Screen Was Black
1. Media Player Not Connected
The Media Player must output to a Media Texture, and that texture must be used inside a material. If this connection is missing, Unreal Engine has nothing to render.
2. Unsupported Video Format or Codec
Unreal Engine does not support all video formats. Use MP4 files encoded with the H.264 codec and AAC audio (or no audio) for best results.
3. Material Depends on Lighting
Default materials react to lighting. In dark scenes or environments without lights, the video may play but still appear black. Use an Unlit material to fix this.
4. Video Playback Never Starts
Media Players do not always play automatically. Enable “Play on Open” or trigger playback via Blueprints.
5. Video File Is in the Wrong Folder
Videos should be placed inside the Content/Movies folder. Files stored elsewhere may fail to load, especially in packaged builds.
Step-by-Step Fix
Step 1: Move the Video to the Movies Folder
Place your video inside Content/Movies so Unreal Engine can load it properly.
Step 2: Create a Media Player
Create a Media Player asset and allow Unreal Engine to automatically generate a Media Texture.
Step 3: Create an Unlit Material
Set up a material with:
- Material Domain: Surface
- Shading Model: Unlit
- Media Texture connected to Emissive Color
Step 4: Apply the Material
Apply the material to the mesh or UI element where the video should appear.
Step 5: Start Playback
Enable “Play on Open” or trigger playback in Blueprints at Begin Play.
Quick Checklist
- Video is in Content/Movies
- Media Player is linked to Media Texture
- Material is set to Unlit
- Playback is enabled
- Video format is MP4 (H.264)
Conclusion
Black video screens in Unreal Engine are almost always caused by setup mistakes, not engine limitations. Following the correct media workflow ensures reliable video playback across levels, UI, and cinematic sequences.
For readers: If this guide helped you, leave a comment and share it with others facing the same issue.
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