How I Get the VHS Out: Tips for Stuck Tapes and Old VCRs

Video Cassette Recorder Player Troubles: Why Tapes Get Stuck

If you've ever asked, "How do I get the VHS out?"—you’re not alone. VHS tapes were once the heart of home entertainment, but today they’re more likely stuck in a dusty video cassette recorder player than playing home movies.

Tapes get stuck for a few common reasons:

• The tape isn’t rewound and the reels are tight
  
  
• Mechanical failure in the VCR eject mechanism
  
  
• Dirty or damaged tape housing
  
  
• Humidity or debris buildup
  
  

Whether it’s an old wedding video or your child’s first birthday, it can feel like a small crisis when your memories are stuck inside a machine you barely remember how to use.

Video Tips: How I Got My VHS Out Without Breaking It

Here's what works—and what doesn’t.

✅ Try this first:

• Gently press eject on the VCR or camcorder, holding it for 10–15 seconds
  
  
• If no luck, unplug the device and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in
  
  
• Press eject again; a power reset often solves it
  
  

🧰 Still stuck? Try this:

• Turn the device upside down and tap it gently—yes, really. Dust or misaligned gears may be the issue.
  
  
• If you hear the motor spin but no eject, the rubber drive belt may have disintegrated. You can open the unit, but be cautious and unplug it first.
  
  
• In desperate moments, remove the VHS tape manually by lifting the VCR lid and gently rotating the spools to release tension—just don’t force it.
  
  

For fragile or cherished tapes, we recommend avoiding DIY disassembly.

VHS Tapes and Old Players Don’t Last Forever

It’s not just the player that might be failing—the VHS tape inside is made of magnetic tape that degrades over time. Heat, humidity, and even the friction from replaying can damage it permanently.

If your tape is jammed, it may be a sign that it’s time to convert your VHS to digital.

With professionals like Heirloom’s VHS to digital conversion service, you can:

• Clean moldy VHS tapes
  
  
• Repair cassettes at no extra charge
  
  
• Store everything securely in the cloud—no DVDs required
  
  

We’ve helped thousands of families rescue their home movies from broken players, moldy tapes, or poorly labeled collections. You can learn more about America’s best video tape conversion service here.

What If It's a VHS-C or Mini Tape?

Not all tapes are standard VHS. If you're struggling with a compact VHS cassette, you may need a VHS-C adapter to play it. These were used in camcorders but require a full-size VHS shell to play in a VCR.

If this sounds like your situation, read our guide on VHS-C adapters.

Don’t Let a Stuck Tape Be the End of the Story

We’ve all had those “I’ll deal with it later” boxes—usually filled with tangled cords, outdated tech, and mystery tapes. But behind one of those unlabeled VHS tapes could be your grandparents dancing at their anniversary, or your child’s first steps.

Don't let a jammed VCR or broken tape be the reason those memories fade.

You can start with a single tape or digitize an entire shoebox. Just don’t wait until it’s too late.

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