WindowsFAQ-1.1.x

This page contains list of common questions and problems (FAQ aka Frequently asked questions) that Windows users have about VLC media player 1.1.x For 0.8.6 check WindowsFAQ-0.8.x, for 0.9.x check WindowsFAQ-0.9.x and for 1.0.x check WindowsFAQ-1.0.x.

Video output related questions and problems

Why does VLC only give black, white or garbled (or other visual erros) 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 Accelerated video output/Overlay video output which can be found first opening Tools -> Preferences and then choosing Video. After you have unticked the Accelerated video output, press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled. Image about Overlay video output setting

If disabling Overlay video output doesn't help, then the next step is to change video output module. Open Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and then choosing Video -> Output module. 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. Image about video output modules setting

Video shows green, blue or red lines

See above.

How can I adjust brightness or contrast?

You can adjust brightness, contrast and other settings via Extended settings. Open Tools -> Effects and Filter to adjust these settings (Video Effects -> Basic and tick Image adjust). Changes should show up realtime.

How can I keep the brightness and contrast adjustments in memory forever?

Open Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and then choosing Video -> Filters -> Image Adjust and set values you want to use (trial and error).

Can I set file specific brightness or contrast?

Yes, but it isn't that easy. You have to create VLC shortcut or bat file with proper settings. More info can be found from this thread

How do I set the default deinterlace method?

Tools -> Preferences (Show settings: All) Video -> Filters and tick Deinterlacing video filter from under Video output filter module (NOT FROM UNDER Video filter module!). Then Video -> Filters -> Deinterlace and choose the default mode. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled. [1] image showing the Video output filter module part

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 (Save and restart VLC after changes). Open Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and then choosing Audio -> Output module. There are multiple output modules you can use for audio. DirectX, Win32 waveOut and Simple DirectMedia Layer should work in most cases. Unfortunately there isn't an ASIO support in VLC. Image about audio output modules setting

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.

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 during playback.

How do I adjust audio delay?

During playback you can press k or j to adjust audio delay (adjust step is 50 ms).

How can I play external audio track with video?

Media -> Advanced Open File... and select the video file and after that tick Show more options and then Play another media synchronously... and select the audio file you want to use. Then when playing the video go to Audio -> Audio Track -> Track 2 to select the second (or whichever it is) audio track (this so called Slave-mode doesn't work correctly).

How do I change my output device in case I have multiple audio devices connected to my PC?

Open Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and if you use DirectX, then Audio -> Output modules -> DirectX and Output device number. If you use Waveout, then Audio -> Output modules -> WaveOut and Select Audio Device.

(Graphical) user interface related questions and problems

How can I separate playback controls from playback window?

Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Video and untick Embedded video selection. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

How can I make skinned interface my default interface?

Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Interface -> Main interfaces and from Interface module dropdown box select Skinnable Interface. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled. Image about Skinnable Interface setting

Can I jump to certain time?

You can use --start-time from command line when you start VLC. There is also Playback -> Jump to Specific Time option in GUI.

How can I change UI language?

You can use Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Interface and select correct language from Language drop down list. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

Also you can use --language= from command line if you can't navigate with current language or you want to use batch files/scripts. for example: vlc --language=en to get English. Other options are auto, en, ar, pt_BR, en_GB, ca, zh_TW, cs, da, nl, fi, fr, gl, ka, de, he, hu, it, ja, ko, ms, oc, fa, pl, pt_PT, ro, ru, zh_CN, sr, sk, sl, es, sv, tr

How can I disable fullscreen controller?

You can use Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Interface -> Main interfaces -> Qt and untick Show a controller in fullscreen mode option. Image about fullscreen controller setting

Why doesn't the time slider show up?

If you use WindowBlinds or similar custom skin engine, it usually breaks QT4 interface in VLC. So either disable that engine with VLC or change VLCs GUI to something else (like skins2).

How can I disable showing of the filename when video starts?

Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Video and untick Show media title on video. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

How do I disable showing of the Privacy and Network Policies dialog during first VLC startup?

Launch VLC with --no-qt-privacy-ask command-line option.

How do I disable pop up track notification shown in system tray (systray)?

Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Interface -> Main interfaces -> Qt then untick Show notification popup on track change. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

Codec compatibility related questions and problems

How can I identify what codecs the file uses

With VLC, Open the file you want and open Tools -> Codec Information.

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 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 Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Input / Codecs -> Other codecs -> FFmpeg 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.

You can also try GPU based video decoding (works on NVIDIA 9xx0 and newer cards). You can enable it from Tools -> Preferences and Input & Codecs and tick Use GPU acceleration. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

Problem with Real audio or Real video support

Most Real audio or Real video should work with VLC 1.0.0, but if you have file that doesn't work then post thread to forums.

Why can't VLC use CoreAVC, FFDshow, AC3filter, etc. 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 and media format compatibility related questions and problems

Some DVD movies don't work at all or they crash/freeze to menu or playback

If you open DVD with DVD selection, try with No DVD menus option (aka dvdsimple).

Some new DVD movies use copy protection mechanisms that VLC doesn't support. It might help if you rip that movie to hard drive using tools like DVDFab Decrypter or AnyDVD and use VLC to playback these files from hard drive.

DVD movies don't playback smooth (they stutter, lag, etc.)

One thing that might help is increasing the VLC DVD cache. This can be done from Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Input / Codecs -> Access Modules -> DVD with menus (or DVD without menus if you use dvdsimple method for playback) and increase Caching value in MS value to for example to 5000 or to 20000. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

If DVD files from hard drive work better, then check that your DVD drive has DMA enabled (if it is a IDE/ATAPI DVD drive).

Can I play DVD files (VOB+IFO) from hard drive?

Yes you can. Use Media -> Open Disc... and instead of DVD drive, point the location to correct folder by using either Browse... button or customize field . For example: dvd://"c:\movies\BLOOD DIAMOND\VIDEO_TS"

How do I handle the broken AVI files?

Some AVI files may give The AVI file is broken. Seeking not work correctly.Do you want to try to repair(this might take a long time) dialog. Those AVI files have some issues and you can try to fix those file temporarily with VLC or permanently with other tools. If you don't fix those files, seeking won't work correctly and those files may also crash players.

Can I always perform same repair action?

Yes you can. This can be done from Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Input / Codecs -> Demuxers -> AVI and select the wanted action from Force index creation dropdown box. Ask is default (it will always ask what you want to do). Always fix tries to always fix AVI files and Never fix always starts the playback without fixing. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

Can I fix those broken AVI files permanently?

Yes. You can try for example DivFix++ or Virtualdub for fixing. Virtualdub help.

Can I fix those broken or partially downloaded Matroska/MKV files too?

Yes. You can try Meteorite for fixing.

Some MP4 or 3GP files don't have audio at all

If those files have AMR audio (usually ones from mobile phones) they won't work with current stable VLC versions.

Subtitles related questions and problems

How do I adjust subtitle delay?

During playback you can press h or g to adjust subtitle delay (adjust step is 50 ms).

How can I select right subtitle track?

If your video has multiple subtitle tracks, you can select the one you would like to see from Video -> Subtitles Track.

Can I disable hardcoded or "burned" subtitles with VLC?

No.

Can I change font, font size, style or color?

You can with text-based subtitle formats (Subtitles codecs). Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Video -> Subtitles/OSD -> Text renderer and adjust anything you want. Font size in pixels overrides Relative font size selection. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

How can I change subtitles text encoding?

If you see wrong characters on screen or failed to convert subtitle encoding error message you should try to change Subtitles text encoding option which can be found from Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Input / Codecs -> Other codecs -> Subtitles. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

How can I select a Unicode font, so I can watch e.g. Chinese subtitles?

Go to Tools -> Preferences (set Show Settings to All) and Video -> Subtitles/OSD, then change the Text Rendering Module from Default to Freetype2 font renderer. After that go to Video -> Subtitles/OSD -> Text renderer and choose Unicode font (like Arial) to Font. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

General problems and issues

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.

How do I reset VLC settings?

If you can start VLC, go to Tools -> Preferences and then press Reset Preferences and Save to reset and save VLC settings. Remember to restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

If you can't start VLC, go to %appdata% folder and delete vlc folder from there.

VLC crashes on startup

This usually happens because VLC setting files have been corrupted. Resetting VLC settings should fix this.

I messed up my file associations or I want to modify them

Please read this documentation.

Can VLC burn CD, DVD, HD DVD or Blu-ray discs?

No.

Is VLC legal in all countries?

Probably not. Specially DeCSS module might violate DMCA (and similar laws) and some codecs would require licenses for personal/commercial use. There haven't been any court cases related to VLC but specially companies should make sure they pay license fees to license holders if they use VLC commercially and use patented formats or codecs.

Can I run multiple VLC instances?

Yes you can. Read this documentation.

Latest VLC (1.0.0) doesn't work with Windows Me/98/98se/95/NT

This is by design. You need at least Windows 2000 to run latest VLC. For earlier Windows release, use VLC 0.8.6i or check out this forum post for tips running latest VLC under Windows 98 or Windows Me.

How can I make VLC to preview my eMule downloads?

Check out this forum post .

How do I specify the folder where the recorded files (via red rec button) will be stored?

Tools -> Preferences and Input&codecs and Record directory or filename. Remember to press Save to save VLC settings and restart VLC after that to make sure changes are enabled.

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