[Bug]: PlatformException(VideoError, Video player had error androidx.media3.exoplayer.ExoPlaybackException: Source error, null, null)

[Keyur078]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Bug Description

Package: cached_video_player_plus: ^4.0.0
Platform: Android (tested on Samsung SM-F127G, Android 13)

🐞 Problem
When attempting to play a video from a local file path using:

_player = CachedVideoPlayerPlus.file(File(videoPath));
The player throws this error:

PlatformException(VideoError, Video player had error androidx.media3.exoplayer.ExoPlaybackException: Source error, null, null)
However, videos from network URLs work perfectly.

Steps to Reproduce

use _player = CachedVideoPlayerPlus.file(File(videoPath));
await _player?.initialize();

Package Version

4.0.0

Platform(s)

Android, iOS

Flutter Channel

stable

Flutter Doctor Output

[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.5, on macOS 15.4 24E248 darwin-x64, locale en-IN) [1,918ms]
    • Flutter version 3.32.5 on channel stable at /Users/dreamworld/fvm/versions/3.32.5
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision fcf2c11572 (3 weeks ago), 2025-06-24 11:44:07 -0700
    • Engine revision dd93de6fb1
    • Dart version 3.8.1
    • DevTools version 2.45.1

[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 35.0.0) [5.3s]
    • Android SDK at /Users/dreamworld/Library/Android/sdk
    • Platform android-35, build-tools 35.0.0
    • Java binary at: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-17.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java
      This JDK is specified in your Flutter configuration.
      To change the current JDK, run: `flutter config --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
    • Java version Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 17.0.1+12-LTS-39)
    • All Android licenses accepted.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 16.0) [4.9s]
    • Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
    • Build 16A242d
    • CocoaPods version 1.16.2

[✓] Chrome - develop for the web [28ms]
    • Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome

[✓] Android Studio (version 2024.2) [27ms]
    • Android Studio at /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
    • Flutter plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
    • Dart plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.3+-79915915-b509.11)

[✓] Connected device (3 available) [7.3s]
    • SM F127G (mobile) • RZ8T306NGZW • android-arm64  • Android 13 (API 33)
    • macOS (desktop)   • macos       • darwin-x64     • macOS 15.4 24E248 darwin-x64
    • Chrome (web)      • chrome      • web-javascript • Google Chrome 138.0.7204.101
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for Ankit’s iPhone. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
      The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for iPhone XR White. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
      The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)

[✓] Network resources [1,487ms]
    • All expected network resources are available.

Minimal Reproduction Code

_player = widget.isFile
        ? CachedVideoPlayerPlus.file(
            File(widget.videoUrl),
          )
        : CachedVideoPlayerPlus.networkUrl(
            Uri.parse(widget.videoUrl),
            invalidateCacheIfOlderThan: const Duration(days: 2),
          );

    await _player?.initialize().then(
      (value) {
        _chewieController = ChewieController(
          videoPlayerController: _player!.controller,
          aspectRatio: _player!.controller.value.aspectRatio,
          allowMuting: true,
          looping: true,
          useRootNavigator: true,
          autoInitialize: true,
          showOptions: false,
          deviceOrientationsAfterFullScreen: [
            DeviceOrientation.portraitUp,
          ],
          deviceOrientationsOnEnterFullScreen: [
            DeviceOrientation.landscapeLeft,
            DeviceOrientation.landscapeRight,
          ],
          cupertinoProgressColors: ChewieProgressColors(
            playedColor: AppColor.colorFFFFFF,
            handleColor: AppColor.colorFFFFFF,
            bufferedColor: AppColor.color3B3B3B,
          ),
          materialProgressColors: ChewieProgressColors(
            playedColor: AppColor.colorFFFFFF,
            handleColor: AppColor.colorFFFFFF,
            bufferedColor: AppColor.color3B3B3B,
          ),
        );
      },
    );

Relevant Log Output

PlatformException(VideoError, Video player had error androidx.media3.exoplayer.ExoPlaybackException: Source error, null, null)

Device Information

Android (tested on Samsung SM-F127G, Android 13)

Additional Context

No response

Would you like to work on this issue?

• I'm interested in working on this issue

[OutdatedGuy]

Hi @Keyur078, can you try using the video_player instead to check if the underlying problem is caused by the video_player plugin itself?

i.e. CachedVideoPlayerPlus.file --> VideoPlayerController.file

[Gedesutrisna]

I have same issue. I've tried all ways to solve it. But, until right now I can't solve it. Anyone have same problem?
My device Samsung Galaxy A05s (SM-A057F)

[OutdatedGuy]

@Gedesutrisna can you try using video_player plugin instead as mentioned in this comment and tell us what's the result.

[wlodzix]

I have also encountered this issue recently. It seems to be related to the path to the local file. I have just opened a pull request with a potential fix [PR].

[OutdatedGuy]

@Keyur078 @Gedesutrisna @wlodzix fixed in v4.0.3