VLC lagging or stuttering refers to interruptions and delays. Or a lack of smooth video playback when streaming video files. This article helps you understand the issue and provides you with the right solution to help you fix it as effectively and quickly as possible.
Fix VLC Lagging or Stuttering Videos
Use Remo Video Repair to resolve corruption and restore smooth playback for MP4, MOV, and other formats.
This issue can manifest in numerous ways, including:
Freezing Frames: The video you are trying to play freezes, but the audio part continues to play effortlessly.
Choppy Video Playback: Instead of playing smoothly, the video plays in a jerky or fragmented, or skippy manner.
Delayed Response: Delay between the audio and the video.
Skipping Frames: Some frames or parts are skipped, making the video jump forward.
Causes of VLC Stuttering or Video Skipping
Your VLC player may lag due to insufficient hardware resources, outdated software or drivers, incorrect VLC settings, or video file corruption. Closing background apps, updating VLC and your system, adjusting cache or hardware acceleration settings, or repairing corrupted videos can fix the stutter.
For severe cases, use a video repair tool like Remo Video Repair to restore smooth playback.
1. Insufficient Hardware Resources: Limited RAM, CPU, or GPU power hinders smooth video playback.
2. Software Issues: Conflicts, outdated VLC, or corrupted files disrupt video performance.
3. Incorrect Configuration Settings: Misconfigured VLC or hardware acceleration settings cause playback issues.
4. Video File Issues: High-resolution corrupted videos overwhelm system capabilities. Or fail to play properly.
Identifying the cause of the lag, jerk, or stutter while playing videos on VLC can be helpful in fixing the issue.
Table of Contents:
- How to Fix VLC Lagging on Windows or Mac?
- Pro Tips to Avoid HD Videos Lagging on VLC:
- Frequently Asked Questions?
How to Fix VLC Lagging on Windows or Mac?
- Close Background Applications
- Try Reducing the Video Quality or Resolution
- Converting the Video File format to a VLC compatible File Format
- Upgrade VLC Media Player, Codecs, Drivers, and the Operating System
- Repair Corrupt Video Files Using the Remo Video Repair Tool
- Increasing File Cache Values
- Disabling Hardware Decoding
Method 1: Close Applications Running in the Background
Closing unnecessary background applications will help you free up valuable CPU and RAM. This allows your system to dedicate more resources to decoding and buffering the video files more efficiently. Eliminating the issues of lag, jerkiness, and stuttering.
Method 2: Reduce the Video Quality/Resolution to Fix the VLC Laggy Playback Issue
You can try reducing the quality of the VLC media player’s high-definition videos using these steps:
1. Launch the VLC Media Player. In the top menu bar. Click on the Tools option and then on Adjustments and Effects.
2. The Adjustments and Effects window will be displayed. In this window, you can try adjusting various options like Hue, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Gamma, and many more.
3. Once you make changes, click the Save button. Restart the VLC Media Player and try playing the same video files.
If reducing the video resolution in VLC was unhelpful. The issue might be due to an incompatibility between the VLC Video Player and the Video File Format.
Method 3: Convert the Problematic Video Format To Resolve the VLC Playback Stutter
This solution is extremely helpful if you are trying to play videos of WMV, RM, RMVB, HEVC, H.265, etc, formats. Smooth playback of these formats requires the installation of newer codec packs.
However, you can also convert the problematic video file format to a different and highly compatible video file format.
Steps To Convert Videos to Another Format Using VLC Media Player
1. Launch VLC and click Media > Select Convert / Save option.
2. In the Open Media window, Go to File > Click Add button to select the video file you want to convert. Hit the Convert/Save button.
3. Now, click the Browse button to select the destination folder and hit the Start button. Wait until VLC converts your video file so that you can play your video without any lag or stutter.
Once the file is converted, restart your media player and try to play the video files.
To fix choppy video issues, you can try any reliable and authentic video converter tool, in addition to the VLC Media Player.
The VLC Media Player lagging issue still persists, then, move to next solution.
So, in that case, to answer one of the most commonly asked questions, “How to fix the VLC Media Player Video lagging issue”? The answer is to update it.
Method 4: Upgrade the VLC Media Players, Drivers, Codecs, and Operating System to Fix the VLC Laggy Playback Issue
Updating your VLC Media Player, Display Drivers, Codecs, and Operating System to the latest version is essential.
Updating VLC Media Player:
1. Launch the VLC Media Player.
2. Click the “Help” option at the top menu bar. Select the “Check for Updates” from the dropdown menu.
3. VLC Media Player will try to find any pending updates.
Suppose any pending updates are available. VLC Media Player will prompt you to download and install it on your system.
Suppose no updates are available, or your media player is up to date. Then, the VLC Media Player will display a message stating you’re using the latest version of the VLC.
Updating Drivers:
1. Press the Windows button and R at once. Type devmgmt.msc in the Open box and then click OK. This will open the Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters. Right-click on the display hardware and click the Update driver option.
3. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will then search for the latest driver version online.
4. Follow the self-explanatory instructions to update the graphic or display driver.
Updating OS:
There are some cases where VLC users complain of “VLC audio stutter in Windows 10” or “VLC player hangs in Windows 10.” The issue might be due to using an old operating system. In such cases, upgrading to a newer or latest one can be a good option when it comes to solving various problems.
This article explains how to upgrade to Windows 11. If you are a Mac user, it explains how to upgrade to Mac Ventura.
If you are still facing the issue of VLC video not playing, then there might be some serious issues with the videos.
Method 5: Repair Laggy, Skippy, Jerky, and Choppy Video Files Using Remo Video Repair
Apart from seeing stuttery, freeze, skippy, jerky, choppy, and blurry. If you are also seeing issues like the “Black Screen,” “audio and video out of sync,” “distorted images or playback,” or “blocked pixels.” One might also encounter error messages while playing the video file(s).
All of these can signal trouble with your videos, where the main problem is corruption.
Regardless of the reason why your video files have gotten corrupted. Specialized tools like Remo Video Repair is here to help you fix and repair even the most severely corrupt video files with absolute ease.
The tool works seamlessly with all video file formats and Windows and Mac OS versions.
Steps To Repair Videos Using Remo Video Repair
1. Download, install, and launch Remo Video Repair software on your computer.
2. Click on the Select File to choose the corrupt video. Click the Repair button.
3. Once the repair process is completed, you can preview the video for free. If you are satisfied with the result, you can click the Save button to restore it to any desired location.
In case the VLC player stuttering playback issue is not yet resolved, you can try increasing the VLC buffer or the VLC caching size. This will, in turn, increase the VLC buffer time.
Method 6: Increase VLC File Caching Values To Fix VLC Lagging Issue
The file caching option or parameters in the VLC Media Player refer to the amount of time VLC takes to preload data before playing it. Preloading a part of the video ensures a super smooth video playback to avoid or handle any delays in data streaming or reading.
You can modify the file caching parameters to fix the VLC choppy playback issue.
1. Go to the VLC media player.
2. Select Tools and Click the Preferences option.
3. Then, go to Input / Codecs.
4. Under Show Settings, select All and click on Input / Codecs.
5. Here, you need to change the File caching (ms) value (the default value is 300). Possibly, it is set to a higher value, which might lead to HD videos lagging or stuttering. So, change the File caching value to a smaller value (Setting the value to 1000 will buffer for 1 second) and click Save.
[Note: If the stuttering video file is located on a network share, you can change the caching value for Network caching (ms)].
The last solution in this list involves disabling the hardware acceleration option to fix the issue.
Method 7: Disable Hardware Acceleration Decoding
Enabling hardware decoding might cause choppy video playback issues. To resolve this, you need to disable it. Hardware encoding is required for the decoding process, but sometimes it creates playback issues. Hence, disabling it to fix VLC lag or stutter is better.
1. Open VLC and navigate to Tools > Preferences.
2. When you see the settings window, click on Input and Codecs on the left sidebar.
3. Disable the Hardware-accelerated decoding option and click Save to update the changes.
The next section discusses tips for avoiding stuttering or jerky videos in the future.
Tips to Avoid HD Videos Lagging on VLC
- 📺Reduce Video Resolution: Ultra HD or 4K videos can cause stuttering or lag due to their large size and format. Try reducing the video resolution or size to improve playback performance on VLC.
- ⬆️Update Windows OS: Updating your Windows OS to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues. Also enhances system performance, ultimately fixing video lag on VLC.
- 📂Clear Cookies and Temporary Files: Deleting cookies and temporary files can free up system resources.
- ▶️Update VLC Media Player: Always keep your VLC media player updated with the latest version. Updating VLC can fix stuttering video issues and ensure optimal playback performance.
- 🌐Improve Internet Connection: Ensure a stable and fast internet connection if you are streaming videos. Slow internet speeds can lead to video lag. Closing unused web windows or applications can help allocate more resources to VLC for smoother playback.
- 👩💻Update Web Browser: If using VLC for online streaming, ensure your web browser is updated to its latest version. Browser updates include performance enhancements that can contribute to a better video playback.
Frequently Asked Questions on VLC Lagging Issue
The video gets stuck or freezes in VLC because of the bad frames in VLC. You can resolve this issue with videos stuck in vlc by doing multiple things. Like updating the media player, increasing cache value, disabling hardware decoding, etc.
Choppy videos vlc happen because of multiple issues. Like corrupt video files and outdated media player. It can be fixed by updating VLC, changing output settings, enabling GPU acceleration, etc.
If the video has an incompatible codec, you will face the issue of playing MP4 videos. Refer to this article to fix MP4 not playing on VLC.
