VLC Not Working. Causes, Solutions and Alternatives

¿Your VLC player is not working? Are you having problems reading some files? Stay with us, we will explain some actions you can take to solve this problem and be able to enjoy your favorite player.

Although VLC is one of the best media players available for any platform, the user may encounter some issues while playing videos on it.

These problems can range from audio sync failures, inability to read CDs, to video stuttering issues. If you are facing any of them, you should not worry. There are usually very simple solutions available to resolve it, and we will look at them here.

What is VLC?

The VLC media player VLC is a go-to application for opening and playing any video file formats including MKV, MP4, MOV, etc. VLC offers a simple and easy-to-use interface that provides users with a seamless video viewing experience.

It supports all major platforms, from Windows and MacOS up to Android e iOSMost app stores also recommend VLC as a perfect media player for video and audio files.

To watch movies or listen to music with VLC, you first need to download the media player and install it on your system. But even after performing the correct download and installation, you may face some glitches with some videos.

VLC Not Working. Causes and Solutions

There may be many reasons for this, but the best thing is that you can overcome these problems through a few easy steps to follow.

Let us share the most common causes of unexpected vision and hearing problems in the vlc media player and present you with some easy solutions.

Here is a quick look at some of the most common problems you may encounter when using the VLC media player. Solutions are also given with each problem.

1. Video stuttering or lagging

If your video file is constantly stuttering or lagging (The audio is playing, but the video is stuck), you can do the following to fix this problem.

Change cache values

Incorrect cache values ​​may cause stuttering or lagging issues in VLC media player. To overcome this, follow these steps:

• In VLC, press “Ctrl + P” to open “Preferences”, or navigate to Tools > Preferences from the menu bar.
• In the pop-up window that opens, by default, the option “Show settings” at the bottom will be set to “Simple".
• Select the option “All” for advanced settings.
• In advanced settings, go to “Input / Codecs” and select the option “Storage in file cache".
• Here, set the value from 300 to 1000 and click “Save".

We recommend that you restart VLC media player now and reload the video file to see if the stuttering or lag is fixed. If not, head over to try the next solution.

Change the video output module

If you are having severe video lag issues in VLC, changing the video output module settings may fix it. Here are the steps to do this:

• In VLC, press “Ctrl + P” to open “Preferences”, or navigate to Tools > Preferences from the menu bar.
• In the pop-up window that opens, by default, the option “Show settings” at the bottom will be set to “Simple".
• Select the option “All” for advanced settings.
• Navigate to the option "Video output module” and select a different output module from the drop-down list to see if it works with your video file.
• If the lag and stuttering stop, then the video is being processed using the correct video output module. If the problem persists, you can try another module or take a look at the next solution.

Disable hardware accelerated decoding

Among the users facing this issue, those who disabled the decoding option hardware reported to fix stuttering issues. Here's how you can do this:

• In VLC, press “Ctrl + P” to open “Preferences”, or navigate to Tools > Preferences from the menu bar.
• In the pop-up window that opens, by default, the option “Show settings” at the bottom will be set to “Simple".
• Select the option “All” for advanced settings.
• In the search bar, type “Hardware decoding".
• This will take you to the video codecs section, where you need to access the “ffmpeg".
• Then disable the hardware decoding option.

This should fix any stuttering or lag in the video file. If not, you can be sure there is a problem with the video file.

You may also like Windows Media Player cannot record some of the files. Solutions

2. VLC player crashes

Si your VLC player fails every time you load a particular video, there are several reasons for this problem. Some problems include corrupt files, pre-loaded MKV files and outdated VLC media player.

Let's take a look at how to fix these problems.

Repair corrupt files

If VLC keeps crashing or causing massive stutters and lags for a particular video file, then most likely the video file is corrupted.

You can use free software to repair your corrupted video files of any format including MP4, MKV, MOV, etc. There are many really good ones on the market.

These types of software can repair video files of any size with just a few clicks. And most of them are compatible with both Windows and MacOS. Some are paid, but there are some free ones that are worth trying.

After repairing the video file, try opening it in VLC. If it runs without any issues, then you have successfully repaired the corrupted video file.

Disable MKV file preloading option

Some users have reported that disabling this option has helped with the VLC crashing issue. Follow these steps:

• In VLC, press “Ctrl + P” to open “Preferences”, or navigate to Tools > Preferences from the menu bar.
• In the pop-up window that opens, by default, the option “Show settings” at the bottom will be set to “Simple".
• Select the option “All” for advanced settings.
• Then select "Input / Codecs".
• Then select “Demuxers"
• And then "Sailor"
• In "Sailor”, uncheck the option “Preload MKV files".
• Click on the option "Save".

Now try VLC player again. If that doesn't work, move on to the next solution.

Uninstall and reinstall VLC player

If your VLC player is crashing or stuttering even after trying all the solutions listed above, maybe the problem is with the app itself. Follow these steps to uninstall and reinstall VLC on Windows:

• Press the “ keysWindows + X".
• Then select "Applications and features".
• The list of applications installed on your computer will appear. Select the VLC media player.
• The option “ is displayeduninstall”, click the button.
• After uninstalling, restart your computer.
• Now, visit VLC's official website: VideoLAN, to perform a new download of the player.
• Once the download is complete, perform the installation.
• Run the installer setup and install VLC.
• Then check that it works correctly.

3. VLC player does not open MRL files on Windows

One of the most common mistakes for users of VLC Media Player is the inability to open the MRL file. This error occurs when your computer cannot find the target media file on the local drives.

Occasionally, VLC Media Player no longer reads DVDs, especially if you are using an external DVD or CD player. You will receive an error message informing you that VLC cannot open the MRL file.

Disable your PC's firewall

In this case, the culprit is an overzealous firewall. If your computer has third-party antivirus software installed, it will flag the external drive as dangerous. Therefore, VLC Media Player cannot read the disk.

The solution is to turn off your antivirus firewall as it tends to remove this error on external DVD/CD drives. Each antivirus program has its methods to disable firewalls and we recommend you follow the proper techniques.

If disabling the firewall doesn't work, you may need to uninstall your antivirus completely. Sometimes reinstalling VLC Media Player also works.

While Windows Defender is probably not the cause of this error, you can also choose to disable your firewall. Doing this may fix the problem, but it is not guaranteed.

Claim ownership of the file

If you claim ownership of the offending media file, your computer will no longer see it as a potential threat. You will fix the problem immediately after following these steps:

• Right-click the file you want to claim ownership of.
• Choose "Properties»From the drop-down menu.
• Go to the «Security«.
• Select the button «Advanced» to open a new menu.
• Click on «Change» near the top.
• In the box that says "Enter the name of the object", writes "Administrator«.
• Then select «Accept«.
• You will see a box at the bottom of the window that says “Replace all permission entries on child objects with inheritable permission entries from this object”, check the box.
• Now click on “Apply".
• Then click on “Accept".

Try opening the media file again. If everything works, you can open the file on your external drive with the benefit of keeping your firewall intact.

4. VLC player does not open MRL files on MacOS

The inability to open media files can also occur in MacAlthough MacOS and Windows are very different, the error occurs in both for the same reason, an overprotective firewall.

The best solution is to disable your Mac's firewall or even uninstall your antivirus software. Here's how to do the former:

Disable your Mac's firewall

• Click on Apple's menu. The apple symbol at the top of the screen
• Go to «System preferences«.
• Then click on «View«
• Then select «Security and Privacy«.
• A new screen will open, select the “Firewall".
• Now click on the button “Stop Firewall"
• Your Mac will inform you that the firewall is now disabled.
• Save the changes and try to open the file again.

You can also configure your firewall to ignore VLC Media Player specifically.

VLC Does Not Work. Alternatives to VLC Media Player

VLC media player is undoubtedly one of the best free media players compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, IOS and more. But if it has presented you with many problems and you have not been able to solve them, you can opt for one of the similar softwares in the market.

Here we bring you a list of media players that you can download and try on your PC.

1. Kodi

Have you ever tried Kodi? Experience a whole new world of video and audio quality with an impressive player like no other. Kodi is the new sensation among media players. It is a free and open source media player created by the XBMC / Kodi Foundation.

Kodi player supports all music formats, playlists, and even party mixes. Enjoying music is never so good. What about movies? This is the ultimate platform for watching movies.

It's so much better than your stack of DVDs on a shelf. It adds a unique touch of creativity, art, and cast genres to your favorite movies.

If you want to organize your TV shows and even your photo collection, Kodi has your back. You never get such a nice-looking user interface in any other player, not even VLC.

And it is compatible with multiple OS and hardware platforms. Its attractive user interface ensures ease of use while providing an unparalleled entertainment experience.

2.KM Player

Are you looking for a media player that supports high-quality video formats like 4K, 8K, UHD and even 60FPS? It must be KMPlayerIf you have an older PC model and are not sure about the best video and audio player for your PC, look no further.

This player is compatible with almost any PC model, old and new. It comes with a built-in high-quality video renderer. The hardware acceleration feature allows for easy optimization to fit any PC model.

You'll also appreciate the video downloader feature that even supports videos from popular sites like YouTube, Instagram, Daily Motion, etc.

Apart from videos, this player also supports audios. Therefore, it supports a wide range of file formats including MP3, MWV, RM, OGM, FLV, 3G2, 3GP, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MPEG, MP4 and TS. Also, KMPlayer supports URL transmission function and subtitles Of video.

3. Real Player

Do you want to watch and manage your videos, movies, audios and more on the most trusted media player? Try Real PlayerThis free software guarantees a superior visual and auditory experience.

It even supports converting video to different formats like MWV and MP3. Another thing that is very popular about this platform is the simple and attractive user interface. The user interface has several subtitles for easy access to your favorite videos, podcasts, and even music.

And unlike other conventional players, Real Player helps you lock sensitive videos with a PIN, thereby restricting access. To enjoy using this player, all you need to do is download and install RealPlayer and then create a free account.

With your account up and running, you're ready to get started. You can use the download tools to grab your favorite videos and start playing and customizing your media.

4.GOM Player

Looking for a player that supports YouTube VR videos? It must be the world's #1 free video player, GOM Player. Supports a wide range of file formats including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, MWV, MOV, DVD and MP3.

In addition to playing corrupted or downloaded files, this player also scans for codecs. GOM Player has a large subtitle library with data collected over many years.

This feature supports automatic subtitle synchronization for all your favorite movies. Its subtitle library consists of both classics and recent releases.

Has an experience of virtual reality very immersive. You will be able to enjoy online searches for YouTube VR videos as well as 360 videos.

5.ACG Player

This is one of the few media players that are designed to work only on Windows 10 devices. Some of these include tablets, PCs, and smartphones.

ACG Player It is super responsive, thanks to pure native high-performance C++ design code. Customizing UI gestures and buttons is a breeze on the ACG player platform.

The user interface features very attractive font subtitles and artistic display effects that appear in the form of musical fireworks.

This is an open source player that also includes an IAP to block ads on demand. All videos come with free background music and subtitles.

6. DivX Player

This is more than just a video player. DivX player supports high-quality videos like 4K and UHD. You will also enjoy a variety of video formats like AVI, DivX, MKV, and MP4.

In addition to this, DivX player It also has chapter points and soft FF/RW which greatly improve the video quality.

This free software is an integration of 3 main components that supports creating, playing and streaming your favorite videos to other devices.

This player works best on Windows and Mac OSX. The free version has limited features. The pro version comes with advanced playback and audio features.

You'll appreciate using the FF/RW function to quickly navigate through scenes. Alternatively, you can search for different scenes using chapter points. The multi-audio support option allows for seamless switching between soundtracks.

7. Media Monkey Player

Having trouble organizing media files? Media Monkey Player is all you need. It allows you to manage over 100 thousand music and video files without getting stuck.

Its attractive interface allows you to automatically search and intuitively tag lyrics and other metadata of the video file. In addition to playing your favorite videos and audios, Media Monkey It also supports CD burning, downloading music, movies and podcasts.

This player is compatible with multiple operating systems including Android, Mac OSX, iOS, and Windows. This makes it much easier to convert and even level your favorite tracks on the fly.

You can also share content via the DLNA function. In addition, it also supports Wi-Fi synchronization. Media Monkey supports various file formats including MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC, MP4, AVI and WMV.

8.SMPlayer

This is a sleekly designed video player loaded with some very interesting features. It has a simple layout with a menu and some other basic tabs for smooth video and audio playback.

Because it doesn't have many playlist features, this player is best suited for playing videos. SMPlayer It has a number of playback support features that make it perfect for playing videos.

It supports internet streams and is powered by the MPlayer engine that supports many audio and video formats without the need for external codecs. Some of the supported file formats include OGG, MP3, AVI, MKV, MPEG, VOB, 3GP, ASF, WMV, etc.

It should also be noted that SMPlayer supports video subtitles, including subtitles embedded in Matroska files, DVD subtitles, SRT, SUB, and SSA. For a better view of the subtitles, you have the option to choose alternative colors, size, and font types.

It is free and open source distributed under the GPL license. It has an ad-free viewing experience and is available in up to 30 languages.

To close

You may also like Solution: Server Execution Error in Windows Media Player

If you encounter problems even after trying all these solutions, check the compatibility of VLC and the current operating system that is running on your computer.

These were some of the most common problems you might encounter while using VLC and how to fix them. In most situations, VLC is not configured properly, so you get trivial issues.

We hope these fixes were effective in getting rid of the issues posed by the player and the video file itself. In case you are unable to fix it, we have provided an alternative list of players for you.

These are some of the best VLC alternative media players. Most of them are not ad-supported and as such, they ensure a very impressive viewing experience.

They also support a variety of audio and video file formats. In a way, these media players will support and play any video or audio file of your choice.

We provide you with a link to download the latest version of each of these media players.