How to Fix VLC and Video Lagging or Stuttering?

Video lagging is the delay in response or decreases in frame rate while playing a video saved on the hard drive due to issues related to video, network, media player, or laptop. Due to video stuttering, your video continuously stops and plays on VLC or Windows media player over and over. The problem of video or VLC lagging is not restricted to the offline videos saved on your laptop or external drives. But it also happens while playing online videos on YouTube or Google chrome. 

                               source: Reddit

How to Fix VLC and Video lagging?

1. Fix VLC lagging while playing the Video (Recommended to fix VLC lagging)

2. Fix video lag using Windows Troubleshooting (Recommended to fix Windows issues causing video lag)

3. Fix corrupt video (Recommended to fix corrupted or damaged videos)

Tips to avoid VLC or Video lagging

Fix VLC lagging or stuttering while Playing the Video

The VLC media player supports almost all audio and video formats. Irrespective of its compatibility, sometimes you might see VLC lagging or stuttering while playing HD videos.

If you are frustrated due to the VLC media player lagging while playing your videos on the computer, then this section with reliable tricks is for you. But make sure you restart the VLC media player after completing the method to play videos without any stutter or lag.

1. Modify File Caching Parameter
2. Disable Hardware Decoding
3. Convert HD Video

1. Modify File Caching Parameter to Deal with the Issue of Video Lagging

In case, the lagging HD video is stored on your local hard drive. Then follow the below steps to alter the file caching value to fix video lag and stutter.

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).
   
   

[Note: If the stuttering video file is located on a network share, then you can change the caching value for Network caching (ms)]

2. Disable Hardware Decoding to Fix the Video lag issue

Enabling hardware decoding might cause choppy video playback issues. To resolve this, you need to disable hardware encoding. Even though hardware encoding is required for the decoding process, sometimes it creates playback issues. Hence, it is better to disable it to fix VLC lag or stutter.

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. Now, Disable the Hardware-accelerated decoding option.
   
   

By utilizing the above method in the VLC media player, you can fix video lagging or stuttering issues. However, if you cannot fix video lag, then this could be due to compatibility issues. Move down to find other reliable methods to fix video lag and stuttering.

3. Convert HD Video Using a Video Converter

If you are still facing VLC lagging and stuttering issues while playing HD videos. Then convert your videos to VLC-compatible format with the help of the following steps.

• Launch VLC and go to Media > Select Convert / Save option.
• 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.
  
  
• Now, select the destination folder and filename and hit the Start button.
• Wait until VLC converts your video file.

If your VLC media player is faulty, then the above methods will easily fix it to play your videos without any lag or glitch. But, in case, if VLC is still lagging, then the problem can be due to your computer or video.

Follow the below section, to fix video stuttering due to your computer or video corruption.

Troubleshooting methods to fix video lagging on Windows 10

Video stuttering or lagging is not only due to the VLC media player but can also be due to issues related to your Windows computer or video itself. There are multiple ways on Windows through which you can fix video stuttering. Some of the most reliable methods are as follows:

1. Scan for hardware change 
2. Upgrade Graphic/ Display Drivers
3. Reinstall Device Drivers
4. Install Windows update

1. Scan for Hardware changes to Resolve Video Lag Glitch

Hardware changes in the Windows computer can lead to video lag. Therefore, make use of this method to scan for hardware changes to fix any issue related to it.

1. Press the Windows key + x at once.
2. Open Device Manager and click on the Action tab and select Scan for hardware change. Alternatively, you can also click on any particular driver and Scan for hardware change.
3. After its completion, you can try playing your video with no glitches.

2. Upgrade Display Drivers to Repair issues with Video 

Graphic or Display drivers are essential to play any video without any glitches. By updating the display drivers to the latest version, you can easily solve multiple video errors including video lagging.

1. Press Windows key + R and type devmgmt. msc and then click OK.
   
2. Expand Display adapters and right-click on the display hardware and click the Update driver option.
   
3. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software and then, follow the self-explanatory instructions to update the display driver.
   
   

3. Reinstall the Device Drivers to Solve the VLC stuttering Problem

Reinstalling the device drivers not only repairs the video lagging. But also resolves various errors including Windows Media Player encountered a problem while the video. The following are the reliable steps to fix HD video lag and stuttering on Windows for free.

1. Go to Control Panel > Choose View by as Large icons.
2. Select Device Manager > Click on Sound, video, and game controllers.
   
3. Right-click on every option available in that Sound, video, and game controller's driver to reinstall.
   
   
4. Now, install the latest available updates for these drivers.

4. Install Windows Update to get Rid of the Video Lagging Problem

Video lagging can be due to pending Windows updates. Regularly installing Windows updates can fix many errors including video lag. Below are the steps to install the Windows updates.

1. Click on the Windows search box and type Check for updates.
   
   
2. Now double-click on Check for updates from the displayed list.
3. Click on the Check for updates button to find any new updates to be installed or if you find any available Windows updates, then click on Download and install.
   

Once installing Windows updates completes, restart your Windows computer. And check whether you can play videos with no stutter or not.

Note: Check this article, if you encounter a Windows update error fix it for free on any version of the Windows operating system including Windows 10.

Is your video still lagging or stuttering?

If you are unable to fix video lagging or stuttering even after performing the above solutions related to the VLC media player and Windows computer, then this can be due to video corruption. 

During video corruption, the only way to fix VLC or video lagging is by making use of video repair software. MOV and MP4 video stuttering can be fixed easily using Remo Video Repair with simple clicks.

Use the Remo Video Repair tool to Easily Fix Video Lagging or Stuttering issues

Utilize Remo Video Repair software to fix video lagging or stuttering easily. This tool works with a read-only mode interface to repair severely corrupt or damaged videos without altering the original video. With this tool, you can fix various formats of damaged videos such as MOV, MP4, AVI, MPEG, MPG, M4V, and WMV.

Steps to fix video lag or stutter using Remo Video Repair software:

• Download and install Remo Video Repair software.
  
  
• Select the corrupt video on which you are encountering stutter, lag, or any glitch.
• Click the Repair option.
  
  
• Preview and Save the repaired video.
  
  

Tips to Overcome HD Videos Stuttering or Lagging Issues:

1. Ultra HD or 4K Videos stutter or lag because of their size and format. Playing 4K videos is difficult due to compatibility issues with media players and computer resources like RAM, GPU, and many more. Hence, reducing the video resolution and size might fix video lag and stutter.
2. You can fix video lagging by updating the Windows operating system to its latest version. Updating Windows OS fixes compatibility and system performance issues.  
3. Deleting cookies and temporary files can fix the video lag or buffer issue.
4. Always update the VLC media player to its latest version to fix video stuttering.
5. Fix slow internet connection and close unused web windows.
6. Update your browser to its latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions