How to Fix Choppy Video Playback? [8 Solutions]

8 minutes read

Experiencing choppy video playback? You’re not alone. Jerky or stuttering videos can occur due to issues like a faulty storage drive, missing or outdated codecs, unsupported file formats, or even corrupted video files.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz
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What is a Choppy Video Playback?

A video is choppy when it doesn’t play smoothly, showing issues like audio-video sync problems, choppy or jerky visuals, no sound, or dropped frames. This ruins the viewing experience. Let’s dive into solutions to fix choppy video playback.

This would completely ruin the viewing experience, Without spending any more time, let us explore the solutions to fix the choppy video playback issue.

How to Fix Choppy, Jerky, or Broken Videos?

The DIY methods below will help you in fixing choppy videos. All you need to do is follow the processes listed below one by one and check if the video skipping issue is gone.

1: Redownload or Copy the Video Again

Improper downloads or interruptions while transferring the video (including the cut and paste method) from one folder or device to another cause choppy or broken video.

If your video is not properly transferred or downloaded from the source, redownload or copy the video from its source before it is removed.

2: Play Choppy Video using Another Media Player

The choppy video playback could be due to incompatibility or the faulty video settings of your media player. Try streaming the video in a different media player. Opt for a media player that has wide codec support. Such as:

  • VLC media player
  • KMPlayer
  • MX player

Also Read: How to Fix VLC Lagging or Stuttering Issue?

3: Verify your Computer meets the Minimum System Requirement

This is an important part you should look for on your computer. The computer requires a 2.4 GHz processor with a minimum of 4 GB RAM to play videos of high resolution. Hence if you are trying to play an HD video or a 4k video make sure your system meets the minimum system requirements.

If you are facing the choppy video playback issue in spite of having your computer meeting the above specifications, then the problem is not with your computer or the media player. The issue can be because of a broken or damaged video file.

4: Clear Web Browser’s Cache

Clear your web browser’s cache files if you’re experiencing choppy video while streaming. Follow the steps below to clear the web browser’s cache.

  • Open web browser > Settings
  • Click on Advance > Privacy and Security 
Clear browsing data
  • Click on Clear Browsing Data.

5: Convert Choppy Video to Another Video File Format

If the video format is incompatible with your device or media player you may see a video play blurry or choppy visuals.

However, converting the video file to another format like MP4 can help you effortlessly watch the video without any issues.

There are several online video converters like CloudConvert, FreeConvert, etc to convert video files but they have file size limitations and leave watermarks on the videos.

You can convert the video using VLC Media Player, here is how it’s done:

  • Launch VLC, Click on Media, and choose Convert/Save.
In VLC Media Player, choose convert/save option to convert and fix the choppy video playback
  • Click on Add to upload the choppy video file, expand the convert/save option, and choose Convert.
choose the convert option to fix the choppy video
  • In the convert window, Expand the drop-down next to the profile to choose the video file format and browse the destination for the converted video file.
Choose the video file format with mp4 profile and save the video files
  • Click on Start.

Once the video conversion process is completed now open and play the converted video to check and check if the choppy video playback is fixed.

6: Update Device Driver

Outdated device drivers can be one of the reasons behind choppy video playback. Sometimes, outdated device drivers cannot play videos.

In such cases, all you have to do is update the Device Drivers to fix choppy video playback issues on your videos.

  • Go to Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
Expand the display adapters option to check and fix any graphics driver issue
  • Select the device you want to update and click on Update Driver Software
Update the display adapter to fix choppy video playback

Once the updating is completed, restart the device and try playing the video.

7: Reduce the Video Resolution

Playing high-quality videos can also make your video-watching experience choppy or blurry. Try to reduce the video resolution from 1080p to 720p or even 480p.

If you have a large video file that is having trouble playing, you can compress the video using any third-party tools. You can use a VLC player to compress it easily. Doing this can help you fix choppy video playback issues on your computer.

8: Repair the Corrupt / Damaged Video using Video Repair Software

If the solutions above didn’t fix the choppy video playback issue, your video file might be corrupted. You can repair the corrupted video file using Remo Video Repair.

This tool can fix choppy video files in popular formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, etc., caused by bad sectors, read/write errors, compression issues, and others in a few simple clicks.

Steps To Fix Choppy Video Playback:

Download and Install the Remo Video Repair tool on your computer and follow the steps below:

  1. Launch Remo Video Repair, click “Select File” to add the choppy video.
    Note: For severely corrupted MP4/MOV files, the tool uses a reference video for advanced repair.

    launch-remo-video-repair and select the video file

  2. Click “Repair” to fix the choppy video playback.

    repairing the corrupt video file

  3. Preview the repaired video, then click “Save” to store it.

    preview the repaired video

Note: Watch how to repair videos with choppy video playback issues with Remo Video Repair Software.

Watch the video on how to repair choppy video using Remo Video Repair

Tips to Prevent Choppy Video Playback Issues

  • Keep your OS, media players, and device drivers updated.
  • Regularly scan your device using an updated antivirus tool.
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection while viewing videos online.
  • Make sure the videos are completely downloaded or transferred to avoid video playback issues.

BONUS: How to Prevent Choppy Video Playback While Editing?

Facing choppy video playback during video editing? here are some solutions to fix it:

Optimize Editing Software Settings: Enable GPU acceleration and reduce the preview resolution to improve the video playback smoothness.

System Hardware: Ensure the device meets system requirements for your video editing software.

Update the video editing Software: Ensure you are using updated video editing software as it has all bug fixes and improvements.

Clear background process: Clear all the unused or heavy applications running in the background.

Conclusion

Nobody enjoys a jittery or choppy video. We get lots of questions about choppy video playback issues. Check out the simple solutions in this article to fix them easily and discover tips to prevent these problems in the future. Enjoy smooth viewing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my video keep stuttering?

Video stuttering is often caused by a slow internet connection, outdated hardware, or software issues. Insufficient bandwidth, background apps consuming resources, or an outdated media player can also contribute.

How to stop video stream stuttering?

Ensure a stable, high-speed internet connection.
Close unnecessary apps to free up system resources.
Update your media player, browser, or streaming app.
Lower the video quality to reduce buffering.
Clear browser cache or restart your device.

Why is my video freezing at a specific time?

Freezing at a specific time may indicate a corrupted video file, a glitch in the streaming service, or a local storage issue. Try re-downloading the file, using a different player, or checking for service outages.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz

About the Author: Hamid Imtiaz

Hamid Imtiaz is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Remo Software, where he leads the charge in developing cutting-edge solutions in the fields of data recovery, data security, and data forensics. With a strong engineering background, Hamid has a keen eye for detail and a meticulous approach to his work. His expertise spans a wide…