View source for WindowsFAQ-0.8.x

This page contains list of common questions and problems that Windows users have about VLC.

==Video output related questions and problems==
===Why does VLC only give black, white or garbled video output?===
Usually the problem lies in display adapter drivers. If you are too scared to update your display adapter drivers you can change VLC settings to make video work. If you are using Windows XP or older the easiest fix is usually to disable '''Overlay video output''' which can be found first opening '''Settings -> Preferences...''' and then choosing '''Video'''. After you have unticked the Overlay video output, press '''Save''' to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.
[http://koti.mbnet.fi/raiska/tutorials/vlc/11a.png Image about Overlay video output setting]

If disabling Overlay video output doesn't help the next step is to change video output module. Open '''Settings -> Preferences...''' and then choosing '''Video -> Output module''' (remember to tick '''Advanced options''' box). There are multiple output modules you can use. For Windows XP and younger you can try '''DirectX 3D''', '''DirectX''', '''OpenGL''' and '''Windows GDI''' video output modules. With Windows Vista DirectX and Windows GDI output modules will disable Aero so if you want to use Aero, please use DirectX 3D (should be default). Remember to press '''Save''' to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.
[http://koti.mbnet.fi/raiska/tutorials/vlc/11b.png Image about video output modules setting]

===Direct3D video output is a bit blurry===
This is known issue that has been fixed in latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds].

===Video shows green, blue or red lines===
See [http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ#Why_does_VLC_only_give_black.2C_white_or_garbled_video_output.3F Why does VLC only give black, white or garbled video output?]
==Audio output related questions and problems==
===Crackles, pops, hizzes and other audio anomalies===
If you hear some unwanted audio problems you can try another audio output module to see if that solves the issue. Open '''Settings -> Preferences...''' and then choosing '''Audio -> Output module''' (remember to tick '''Advanced options''' box). There are multiple output modules you can use for audio. '''DirectX''' and '''Win32 waveOut''' should work in most cases. With ASIO only cards, you should try '''PORTAUDIO'''.
===Crackles, pops, hizzes and other audio anomalies with SPDIF passthrough===
SPDIF passthrough of Dolby Digital (AC3) and DTS audiotracks don't work with all soundcards. '''Win32 waveOut''' output module should work better with SPDIF and you can also try latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds] with Win32 waveOut.
===I don't hear dialog, conversations etc. while playing 5.1 audio===
Make sure you have select proper speaker setup from Windows audio settings or from soundcard control panel. If you have done so, make sure VLC also has right settings. '''Audio -> Audio Device''' to select proper speaker settings.

==(Graphical) user interface related questions and problems==
===How can I separate playback controls from playback window?===
Go to '''Settings -> Preferences''' and '''Interface -> Main interface -> wxWidgets''' and untick '''Embed video in interface''' selection. Remember to press '''Save''' to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

===My remote control, media keys or special input device can't control VLC===
Current VLC Hotkeys feature doesn't support special mediakeys so you have to bind keys to regular keyboard keys. Latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds] support mediakeys.
====My remote control, media keys or special input device can't control VLC (nightlies)====
Make sure you have disabled other software that might capture those keys (for example Winamp).

==Codec compatibility related questions and problems==
===How can I identify what codecs the file uses===
With VLC, Open the file you want and open '''View -> Stream and Media Info''' and go to '''Advanced information''' tab.
===VLC doesn't identify used codecs correctly or gives "undf" as codec or I want more information about specs===
There are multiple video and audio identification tools, but one very useful is tool called [http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/ Mediainfo].
===H.264/MPEG-4 AVC playback is too slow===
You can speed up the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC playback by disabling loop filter for H.264 decoding. To do this go to '''Settings -> Preferences''' and '''Input / Codecs -> Other codecs -> FFmpeg''' (remember to tick '''Advanced options''' box) and in the drop-down box for '''Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding''' change it to '''All'''. Remember to press '''Save''' to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.
===Why can't VLC use CoreAVC, FFDshow, AC3filter codecs?===
VLC only uses build in codecs so it doesn't support VfW or DirectShow APIs for codecs.
====But you support [[DMO]] (Direct Media Object) module for WMV video and WMA audio====
WMV and WMA are exceptions to this external codec support.
==File format compatibility related questions and problems==
===FLV (Flash Video) rewind doesn't work===
This is known issue. It should be fixed in latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds].
===Some MP4 or 3GP files don't have audio at all===
If those files have AMR audio they won't work with current stable VLC versios. You can try latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds] to see if they work better with AMR audio.
===MP4 and MKV rewind time is equal to system uptime===
This is known issue. It should be fixed in latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds].

==Subtitles related questions and problems==
===Dragging and dropping the subtitles to VLC disables pause===
This is known issue. It will be hopefully fixed in upcoming releases. Only solution is to either open subtitles from '''Use a subtitles file''' when you open file you want to watch or trust to '''Autodetect subtitle files''' and name the subtitles in same as the movie (for example, '''my_movie.avi''' and '''my_movie.srt''').
===SSA and ASS subtitles look horrible and don't support all styles===
This is known issue. Support should be better in latest [http://nightlies.videolan.org/ Nightly builds].

==General problems==
===VLC crashes/freezes/BSODs my computer===
VLC doesn't do that. Normal apps shouldn't be able to cause issues like these to operating systems. Culprit is usually bad device driver (for example display adapter driver, soundcard driver, chipset driver, network adapter driver etc.) or broken hardware.
===I messed up my file associations or I want to modify them===
Check [http://wiki.videolan.org/Windows#How_to_associate_media_files_to_VLC this].