diff --git a/desktop/app/src/chrome/ScreenCaptureButtons.tsx b/desktop/app/src/chrome/ScreenCaptureButtons.tsx
index 76b61076b..6c169dbf3 100644
--- a/desktop/app/src/chrome/ScreenCaptureButtons.tsx
+++ b/desktop/app/src/chrome/ScreenCaptureButtons.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import {Button as AntButton, message} from 'antd';
 import React, {useState, useEffect, useCallback} from 'react';
 import path from 'path';
+import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import open from 'open';
 import {capture, CAPTURE_LOCATION, getFileName} from '../utils/screenshot';
 import {CameraOutlined, VideoCameraOutlined} from '@ant-design/icons';
@@ -20,10 +21,27 @@ async function openFile(path: string | null) {
     return;
   }
 
+  let fileStat;
+  try {
+    fileStat = await fs.stat(path);
+  } catch (err) {
+    message.error(`Couldn't open captured file: ${path}: ${err}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Rather randomly chosen. Some FSs still reserve 8 bytes for empty files.
+  // If this doesn't reliably catch "corrupt" files, you might want to increase this.
+  if (fileStat.size <= 8) {
+    message.error(
+      'Screencap file retrieved from device appears to be corrupt. Your device may not support screen recording. Sometimes restarting your device can help.',
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
   try {
     await open(path);
   } catch (e) {
-    console.error(`Opening ${path} failed with error ${e}.`);
+    console.warn(`Opening ${path} failed with error ${e}.`);
   }
 }