VLC Media Player is one of the most popular Windows media players out there. The program is trusted by millions of users around the world. VLC offers support for a wide range of video formats that allow users to use VLC to run videos in different formats. Many users, however, come across lagging and scattering issues when they try to play high-definition or 1080p-quality videos. If you have experienced the same issue and are wondering why is my PC VLC player lagging, we have the perfect guide for you. In this guide, we will discuss the reasons for this issue and also discuss how to fix video lag in the VLC media player on Windows 10.
How to Fix Video Lag in VLC Media Player on Windows
In this article, you will get to know about the solutions to fix VLC player lagging on PC in detail.
Why is my PC VLC Player Lagging?
There can be various reasons for this issue with the VLC program. Some of the more common reasons are listed here.
- An improper video file format can be a common reason for VLC lagging issues.
- Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers can also cause this issue.
- Outdated or corrupt Windows updates may also cause this issue with the VLC media player.
- Sometimes, high-definition videos may lag due to improper loading in the VLC player.
- A hardware change for the VLC player can also cause this issue.
- This problem can also be caused by enabled hardware acceleration settings.
- If you have a restricted computer power plan, it can cause various issues, including video lags in the VLC player.
- An improper caching value with VLC is also a common reason for video lagging issues.
- If you have enabled an in-loop deblocking filter, it can cause videos to stutter on the VLC player.
- This error can also be caused by an incompatible video output module.
- This problem could be caused by a variety of incorrect settings changes in the VLC preferences.
- Various other underlying issues with the VLC application can also cause this issue.
Solutions to Fix Video Lag in VLC Media Player on Windows PC
In this guide, we will discuss how do I stop VLC from lagging in 1080p.
Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting Methods
If you can’t figure out why is my PC VLC player lagging, the following are some basic troubleshooting methods that you can use to easily fix this issue.
1A. Check Video File Format
One of the most common causes of VLC stuttering playback issue is an incorrect video file format. VLC is one of the most popular video players. The software supports almost all the major video formats. However, it does not support a few formats, you can check out the VLC features page to know all the formats that are supported by the VLC player. If your video file is in a different file format consider changing it to one that supports the VLC player.
1B. Update Graphics Drivers
A common reason for video lagging or stuttering issues can be caused by an outdated display driver on your computer. If this is the case, you can consider updating the display driver on your computer. Check out our guide on 4 Ways to Update Graphics Drivers in Windows 10 to find steps to update drivers on your computer.
Also Read: Fix NVIDIA OpenGL Driver Error Code 8
1C. Reinstall Graphics Drivers
If updating the graphics driver does not help and the stuttering issue is not resolved yet, the issue can be caused by a corrupt graphics driver on your computer. You can try reinstalling the graphics driver on your computer. If you are not sure, check out the How to Uninstall and Reinstall Drivers on Windows 10 guide to safely reinstall the drivers on your system. If this does not help and you don’t know why is my PC VLC player lagging, try the next method to figure out how do I stop VLC from lagging in 1080p.
1D. Install Windows Update
The issue may be caused by an outdated Windows update on your computer. Generally, Windows gets updates automatically. But if you have stopped auto-updates on your computer, you should try manually installing the updates. Check out the How to Download and Install Windows 10 Latest Update guide to safely install Windows updates on your computer to resolve VLC stuttering playback issue.
Method 2: Convert HD Video with VLC
It is common for HD videos to lag when you run them on the VLC media player. If this issue persists, you can try to convert HD video into a lower resolution to resolve the lagging issues. You can follow these simple steps to perform this method.
1. Press the Windows key, type VLC, and click on Open.
2. Now, click on the Media tab, and then click Convert/Save….
3. In the File tab, click on Add… icon.
4. Select the video file that you want to convert.
5. Click on Convert/Save.
6. Now, select the destination for the file, and then click the Start icon.
If this does not help, try the next method to figure out how to fix video lag in VLC media player on Windows.
Also Read: Fix VLC Subtitles Not Working in Windows 10
Method 3: Scan for Hardware Changes
A hardware change on your Windows computer can cause various issues, including video lagging on the VLC player. To resolve this issue, you can scan your computer for any recent hardware changes. Follow these simple steps to resolve this issue.
1. Hit the Windows key and type Device Manager, then click on Open.
2. Here, navigate and click on the Action tab.
3. Now, click on Scan for hardware changes.
If this does not help, try the next method to figure out how do I stop VLC from lagging in 1080p.
Method 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration
The hardware acceleration feature allows VLC to use graphics cards to increase the decoding process for smooth playback. However, this feature can occasionally fail and cause lags while playing videos. You can consider disabling hardware acceleration on your computer to figure out how to fix video lag in VLC media player on Windows.
1. Open VLC from the start menu.
2. Now, navigate to the Tools tab, and then click on Preferences.
3. Here, navigate to the Input/Codecs options.
4. Now, select hardware-accelerated decoding drop-down options, and then select Disable.
5. Finally, click Save.
Also Read: How to Cut Video in Windows 10 using VLC
Method 5: Change Power Plan to High Performance
If you have set a strict power profile on your computer, you may encounter lagging issues with various programs. This can also be one of the reasons videos lag on your computer. You should consider changing the power plan to a higher performance level for the VLC program to resolve this issue.
1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and click on Open.
2. Click on the View by drop-down and select Large icons.
3. Now, locate and click Power Options.
4. Here, click on High Performance.
Method 6: Disable In-Loop Deblocking Filter
If you have enabled the in-loop deblocking filter on your VLC player, you may come across lagging during playback. To resolve this issue, it is recommended to disable this feature in the VLC program.
1. Open VLC from the start menu.
2. Now, press the Ctrl + P keys together to open Preferences.
3. Here, navigate to the Input/Codecs tab.
4. Now, click on the Skip H.264 in-loop deblocking filter drop-down menu.
5. Here, select All.
6. Finally, click Save.
Also Read: How to Convert MP4 to MP3 Using VLC, Windows Media Player, iTunes
Method 7: Change Caching Value
If you are using the VLC media player to play a video from the internet, the media player can cache some of the content to provide smoother playback. However, if you experience video lags, you should consider changing the caching value for the VLC player.
1. Launch VLC from the start menu.
2. Press Ctrl + P keys simultaneously to open Preferences.
3. Locate the Show settings at the bottom-left side of the screen, and select All.
4. From the left-side panel, click on Input/Codecs.
5. Scroll down to the Advanced section and increase the values for File caching (ms) and Network caching (ms).
6. Finally, click on Save.
Method 8: Change Video Output Module
One of the most effective methods to fix the VLC lagging issue on your computer is to change the video output mode in the VLC preferences. You can use the following steps to make these changes to your VLC program to figure out how to fix video lag in VLC media player on Windows.
1. Open VLC Media Player from the start menu.
2. Press Ctrl + P keys together to open Preferences.
3. Locate the Show settings at the bottom-left side of the screen, and select All.
4. From the left-side panel, click on Output modules under Video.
5. One by one, select each option from the video output module drop-down and click Save to see which setting works for you.
Method 9: Reset VLC Preferences
If the previous methods don’t work and you continue to have the issue, this can be due to changes made to VLC’s preferences. If you can’t figure out the correct settings to fix the issue, try resetting the VLC preferences.
1. Open VLC Media Player from the start menu.
2. Press Ctrl + P keys simultaneously to open Preferences.
3. Locate the Show settings at the bottom-left side of the screen, and select All.
4. Now, click on Reset Preferences.
5. Finally, click OK to confirm the action.
If none of the previous methods work out and you can’t resolve this issue, you can try reinstalling the VLC program to fix the issue.
Also Read: How to Fix VLC does not support UNDF Format
Method 10: Reinstall VLC Player
1. Press Windows + I keys together to open settings and go to Apps.
2. Locate and select VLC from the apps.
3. Click Uninstall.
4. Again, click Uninstall to confirm the action.
5. Open the web browser and visit the official VLC for Windows page.
6. Click on Download VLC to download the program setup.
7. Open the downloaded file to install VLC on your computer.
8. Check the Delete preferences and cache option in the Choose Components section,
9. Click on the Next > option.
10. Then, choose the Destination Folder and click on Install to install the VLC media player
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We hope this guide was helpful to you and you were able to figure out how to fix video lag in VLC media player on Windows. Let us know which method worked for you. If you have any suggestions or queries for us, please let us know in the comment section.
