Outdated video and audio: causes, solutions, and definitive tricks

You're watching a series, a movie, or the gameplay you just recorded, and suddenly you realize that The sound is separate from the image.The lips move before or after you hear the voices, the gunshots sound late, or the audio is ahead of the video. Few things are more annoying than a video that's out of sync when all you want to do is relax and enjoy yourself.

The good news is that this problem has a solution in most cases. With the right methods, you can permanently correct audio and video desynchronizationWhether it happens when playing a downloaded file or with Netflix, with your recordings of Nvidia or with videos you've edited yourself on Windows, macOS, Android o iOS.

Why do the audio and video go out of sync?

Before we get into the solutions, it's helpful to understand exactly what's happening when you notice that The audio is ahead or behind the image.There are usually two very clear scenarios:

On the one hand, it may happen that The audio should precede the video.You hear the voice or gunshot before you see the movement on screen. This indicates that the sound track is playing too early in the frame sequence.

Otherwise, what you notice is that The picture is ahead and the audio arrives late.You see someone open their mouth or perform an action, and the associated sound appears seconds later. In both cases, the problem is that the player, the file, or the system isn't respecting the timestamps that should keep everything in sync.

This flaw usually becomes more evident when You play old DVDs, videos downloaded from unreliable websites or files that have undergone several poorly executed conversion and editing processes. The type of player you use and whether or not it can correctly handle the file's codec also has a significant impact.

Among the most common causes of audio and video being out of sync are very varied factorsFrom software errors to network problems:

• Inappropriate playerSome players do not decode certain formats or codecs well, and end up playing the tracks out of time.
• Format not fully supportedEven if the file opens, the player may not be 100% compatible with the specific audio/video container or codec.
• Corrupt files or damagedAn interrupted download, a faulty USB drive, or a power outage while copying a video can leave the file with broken metadata or inconsistent timestamps.
• Malware or problematic softwareDownloading content from "dubious" websites or installing strange browser extensions can cause video files to become corrupted or the system to start behaving unstably.
• Incorrect device settingsAdvanced audio settings, enhancements enabled in Windows, or incorrectly installed sound card drivers can cause delays or early starts.
• Outdated driversOld graphics or audio card drivers can cause problems with certain media players, especially on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• Network problems: when viewing content in streaming (YouTube, Netflix, similar platforms), an unstable or overloaded connection can cause the audio and video buffer misalignment.
• Editing errorsIf someone has edited the video in an editor (MP4, MOV, MKV…) and has not respected the frame rate, has incorrectly trimmed the sound track or has touched the timestamps, it is easy for everything to become out of sync.
• Recording device failuresCameras, mobile phones, or screen capture software may record audio and video with slight delays if the equipment is underpowered or if the configuration is not adequate.
• Timestamp differencesWhen the audio and video tracks have different timestamps, each one "thinks" it should start at a different time, and that's where the trouble begins.

In summary, the mismatch can come from how the video was recorded, how it was encoded, or how it is being played backFortunately, we have room to act on almost all of those points.

Quick solutions when audio and video are out of sync

Before you start repairing files or doing in-depth editing, it's worth trying a few things. quick solutions that often fix the problem on the flyespecially if the problem only occurs on some players, browsers, or online platforms.

The first is switch media playerIf you're using the system's default player and noticing lag, try more comprehensive options like VLC Media PlayerThird-party players on Windows, or dedicated apps on Android and iOS, can sometimes restore synchronization. Sometimes, simply using a player that better decodes the codec (HEVC, H.264, etc.) is enough to fix the issue.

If the lag appears when watching streaming videos, you should check your Internet connection and network environmentMake sure your Wi-Fi isn't congested; move your device closer to the router or, if possible, connect via Ethernet cable. An unstable network can cause interruptions, buffering, and potential mismatches between audio downloads and video uploads.

Another simple trick is Try using a different browser or clearing your cache.If the problem only occurs in Chrome, for example, clear your cache and cookies, disable any suspicious extensions, and if the problem persists, try playing the same content in Firefox, Edge, or another browser. In some cases, extension conflicts or a corrupted cache are enough to break playback.

It is also important to keep Audio and video drivers updated On Windows, an outdated GPU or sound card driver can cause incompatibilities with modern media players or certain codecs. Windows UpdateThe Nvidia/AMD app or your motherboard manufacturer's utility helps to avoid many of these problems.

Repair desynchronization with specific software on Windows and Mac

If quick fixes don't work for you and you have one or more files with the problem already "burned in," what you need is permanently adjust the synchronization with a repair or editing programThis is where several specialized tools come into play.

Synchronize audio and video using tools like UniConverter

A very direct way to correct the lag is to use applications designed for edit and recombine the audio and video tracksPrograms like Wondershare UniConverter allow you to load a problematic file, move the sound track forward or backward, and regenerate a new video with everything square.

With this type of software you can choose if you want adjust the original audio of the video or replace it with an external track.This is useful if, for example, you've recorded the sound separately (with a dedicated microphone, a mixing console, etc.) and need to align it with the footage. The interface of these tools is usually quite intuitive, with sliders to advance or delay the audio and previews to check the result.

Furthermore, they have very fast conversion motors, capable of reprocess the file at high speed even at high resolutions. The usual workflow involves importing the video, adjusting the sync with short tests, and, once it's perfect, exporting a new file without the problem.

Repair corrupt and outdated videos with EaseUS Fixo

When the problem is accompanied by other symptoms (video that won't play, blurry image, sound issues, etc.), the file may be corrupted. In that scenario, a very useful option is to use a Dedicated video repair software, such as EaseUS Fixo Video Repair.

This type of tool is designed to fix common problems in MP4, MOV, MKV, M2TS, 3GP, FLV, and other common file formats. Among the problems it can address are: videos that won't start, those that appear with an image full of artifacts, those that look blurry, or those that have simply lost their audio.

EaseUS Fixo allows both basic repairs as well as advanced repairsIn advanced mode, you can upload a sample video recorded with the same camera or device, and the program uses it as a reference to reconstruct the internal structure of the damaged file. This is especially useful when the damage is severe and affects timestamps.

The general process for using this type of tool is usually simple: you open the program, choose the video repair function, add the faulty files (MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, 3GP, FLV, WMV…), you start the repair and, once finished, you check a preview to see if the audio is in place. If everything is correct, you export the repaired version to your hard drive.

Other advanced repair tools: 4DDiG Video Repair

Another very powerful alternative to make your videos look like new is to use repair solutions based on Artificial Intelligence, such as 4DDiG Video RepairThis type of program stands out for its ability to work in batches, improving and repairing a large number of files at once.

4DDiG is capable of working with a wide variety of formats (MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, M4V, 3G2, 3GP, SWF, among others) and not only corrects synchronization, but can also Fix choppy, distorted, grainy, or blurry videosIt can even improve quality up to very high resolutions (including 8K) thanks to its enhancement algorithms.

The typical flow is very convenient: first you Add the damaged videos using the "Add video" option.Then, the automatic repair is launched, which fixes both audio and image problems without you having to adjust complicated parameters; finally, the results are previewed to check that the synchronization is correct.

Once you have reviewed the material, you can export the repaired videos and save them to your computer. If any part still has errors, you can repeat the process or, if necessary, use the advanced mode if the tool offers it.

Synchronize audio and video with common players and editors

If you don't want to install additional tools or prefer to use software you already have, there are also ways to Correcting audio delay using widely used players and editorsboth on Windows and on Mac.

Adjust synchronization with Windows Media Player

In some cases, the very Windows Media Player It can handle timestamps better than other apps, so the same file that looks out of sync in a third-party player plays fine in the native player.

Windows also includes built-in utilities to try to detect and correct reproduction problemsOne example is the "Video Playback" troubleshooter, accessible from the settings:

• Open the app Configuration in Windows.
• Go to section Update and security.
• Enter the section Solve problems.
• Select the option Video playback and run the solver.

This assistant checks the settings, codecs, and some system elements that may affect playback. If it detects anything unusual, it attempts to correct it automatically so that the videos will play smoothly and in sync again.

System File Checker (SFC and DISM) in Windows

When audio problems are accompanied by strange system behavior (crashes, apps crashing, etc.), it's possible that There are corrupted system filesIn these cases, it's worth running the SFC and DISM tools from the symbol of the system with administrator permissions.

The standard procedure involves opening the Command Prompt as administratorRun the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and wait (it may take a while), then run sfc /scannow. Together, these commands check and restore critical Windows files, which may resolve the issue. reproduction errors resulting from internal damage.

Disable audio enhancements in Windows

Another source of conflicts is so-called "audio enhancements" or effects applied at the system level. Sometimes these functions cause delays, distortion, or even outright problems. audio and video timing discrepanciesTo test if this applies to you:

• Seeks "Sound" in the taskbar and open the Sound Control Panel.
• In the ReproductionSelect your default device (speakers or headphones) and go to Properties.
• Go to the tab Improvements or “Enhancements”.
• Check the box “Disable all enhancements” and apply the changes.

After this, try your videos again to see if the Synchronization has improvedIf you notice a difference, it's likely that one of those improvements was introducing audio delay.

Use iMovie on Mac to correct the timing

On macOS, a very accessible option for fixing a specific video is to use iMoviewhich comes included with many Macs and is powerful enough for simple sync adjustments.

The typical process would be to import the video into a project, separate the audio track from the video track On the timeline, shift the audio slightly to the left or right until it matches the image. You can use clear references, such as applause, a gunshot, or a specific word, to get the timing right.

When you are satisfied with the result, you just have to export the project as a new fileThis way, the setting is saved permanently and you don't depend on temporary player adjustments.

Sync with VLC Media Player

VLC is one of the most used media players precisely because, in addition to opening almost any file, it includes advanced functions for handling audio and video tracksFor a quick fix while watching a video, you can adjust the audio delay in real time with hotkeys, but you also have options to convert and correct files.

A common method for attempting to reconstruct a file is to use the function of “Convert/Save” From the Media menu. There you can add your video, choose a suitable output profile, configure the audio codec tab to include sound in the desired format, and generate a new file, sometimes with the timestamps corrected.

It's not as powerful as a dedicated repair tool, but it can get you out of a bind in certain cases, especially when the problem stems from minor errors in the container or in the encoding.

Fix the audio of an online video

If you don't want to install anything and the file isn't very large, there are also options. online editors that allow you to manipulate the audio of a videoTools like video2edit include normalization and conversion functions that, in some cases, help to stabilize the sound track.

The flow is usually: you enter the website, select the audio normalization tool, You upload your file from the deviceYou choose the output format and launch the process. When it finishes, downloads the resulting video. Although these types of services are primarily designed to adjust volume or format, sometimes, by repackaging the file, they manage to make the timestamps are regenerated consistently.

Real example: gameplay recorded with outdated Nvidia graphics cards

A very common case nowadays is that of Players who record their gameplay using the Nvidia app (ShadowPlay or other capture utilities) and upon reviewing the footage, they notice that the audio doesn't match the video. These are usually MP4 files with HEVC or H.264 codecs, high bitrates, and high resolutions.

Even if the computer is very powerful (for example, a PC with an AMD Ryzen 7950X3D CPU and an RTX 4090 GPU) or you also have a MacBook Pro with an i9, small bottlenecks, frame rate changes, or other issues may occur. configuration problems in the capture software that end up creating a lag.

In these cases, the first thing to do is check the recording program settingsConstant frame rate instead of variable, codec used, audio quality, etc. Some users have already tried solutions like re-encoding with HandBrake at a constant frame rate, without success, indicating that the problem is already "written" into the tracks.

If you use editors like Filmora, CapCut or iMovie, you can import the gameplay, separate the audio from the video track and Move it along the timeline until it fits.From there, you export a new file with the corrected synchronization. If the timing changes throughout the video (it's not constant), you may need to make cuts periodically and readjust sections.

When the file is severely damaged or the editor cannot stabilize it, it's a good idea to try something else. professional repair software such as those mentioned before (EaseUS Fixo, 4DDiG, etc.), which can detect and fix internal problems in a more profound way.