Connected an H.265 (HEVC) camera to Angelcam, but the video won't play — a black screen, or an error instead of the picture? The camera is connected and recording fine — the problem is almost always that your browser or device can't decode the H.265 stream. Here's how to confirm that and fix it.
The usual cause: your device can't decode H.265
H.265 decoding is demanding, so outside of Safari, browsers rely on a dedicated hardware H.265 decoder in your computer or phone. Many devices have one, but plenty don't — especially older or low-powered machines. If the decoder isn't there, the stream simply won't play: you'll typically get a black screen or an error message instead of video.
Check your browser against this table:
Browser | H.265 playback |
Safari (Mac, iPhone, iPad) | Works — built in |
Chrome / Edge on macOS or Android | Works |
Chrome / Edge on Windows or Linux | Works only if the device has an H.265 hardware decoder. On Windows, Edge may also need the free "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Microsoft Store. |
Firefox | Limited — only recent versions, and only on devices with a hardware decoder. The least reliable option for H.265. |
If you're on Firefox, or on Chrome/Edge on an older Windows or Linux machine, that's the most likely reason the stream won't play.
Why live works but a recording doesn't (or vice versa)
Live viewing and recordings behave a little differently, so it's normal for one to work and the other not:
Live viewing — Angelcam automatically delivers the live stream in a format your browser can handle, so live H.265 generally works as long as your device can decode H.265.
Recordings (playback) — recorded H.265 video is more sensitive to your browser's H.265 support. If live viewing works but recordings won't play, this is why.
How to fix it
Try a different browser or device — Safari on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, or Chrome/Edge on a modern computer, give the most reliable H.265 playback. If the stream plays there, the original device simply couldn't decode H.265.
Check the device's age — on an older or low-powered machine, hardware H.265 decoding may not be available at all, and there's no software workaround.
Switch the camera to H.264 — the reliable, permanent fix. H.264 plays in every browser on every device, for both live and recordings. See H.264 vs H.265 cameras with Angelcam: which to choose for how to switch.
Contact support — if the stream won't play even on a device that should support H.265, or you're seeing a specific error, let us know and we'll take a look.