VLC is a widely used media player that supports numerous audio and video file types. However, it occasionally experiences unforeseen problems, such as the inability to play videos.
Fixing this issue is preferable to installing a new media player, despite the fact that it may take some time. If you’re experiencing issues with the VLC media player in Windows 11, continue reading to learn how to resolve VLC Player Fixes Broken Windows Automatic issue.
Method 1: Verify the File Type
Many video formats can be played with VLC media player, but not all. VLC will display a blank screen or an error message if you try to play an unsupported video format. To get a full list of the file types that VLC can play, visit its features page.
To play videos that VLC doesn’t natively support, you can use a video converter service.
Method 2: You can Disable VLC’s Hardware Acceleration
By going to Preferences > Advanced > Hardware Acceleration. There is hardware acceleration in VLC, which speeds up the encoding and decoding of specific video formats. However, it may not work properly with some systems, especially those with outdated or flawed hardware drivers.
This suggests that disabling hardware acceleration in VLC could be helpful if you’re experiencing issues playing videos. Read on for instructions on turning off this function:
Step 1. Start up the VLC player.
Step 2. In the menu that appears, choose Preferences from the Tools drop-down. The VLC Preferences window can also be accessed via the shortcut keys (Ctrl + P).
Step 3. Navigate to the tab labelled “Input / Codes.”
Step 4. Select Disable from the drop-down menu next to Hardware-accelerated decoding in the Codecs section.
Step 5. Select “Save” from the menu.
Now try starting up VLC again and seeing if you can play a video. In that case, move on to the next option.
Method 3: Alter the Network and File Catching Settings
VLC caches a tiny amount of content on the system while streaming over the internet, allowing for uninterrupted viewing even if the connection is lost. VLC could report that the network cache size is insufficient for the video if it is unable to play a video from the internet. If you’re trying to stream a lengthy video, you can run into this problem.
Extending the capacity of the network’s memory cache is the answer. See below for details on how to expand VLC’s network cache.
Step 1. Launch the VLC media player and go to the Preferences menu.
Step 2. You should now be in the Input / Codecs tab.
Step 3. Select All from the drop-down menu labelled Show settings.
Step 4. In the left nav, select Input / Codecs.
Step 5. Network caching can be found in the window’s right-hand panel (ms). You can find it in the more advanced sections.
Step 6. Set the network caching size to 1500.
Step 7. Select “Save” from the menu.
Videos saved to a local hard disc are likewise susceptible to the same problem. You may be seeing this issue because the video you are attempting to play is particularly large (above 15 GB), and VLC is having trouble loading it. This problem typically occurs when some other programme or operating system is hogging much of the available hard drive space.
Method 4: Default your video output to DirectX (DirectDraw)
VLC always retains the OpenGL video output mode selected on Windows by default. On the other hand, there are some video formats that may not work in this output mode. When this occurs, switching to DirectX as the output mode is the best option (DirectDraw). Specifically, do what’s outlined below.
Step 1. Locate the Preferences menu and then the Video tab.
Step 2. Select DirectX (DirectDraw) Video Output Mode from the context menu by clicking the arrow adjacent to the Output icon.
Step 3. Make sure that Accelerated video output (Overlay) and Use hardware YUV -> RGB conversions are both checked.
Step 4. Select “Save” from the menu.
Method 5: Clear Your VLC’s Settings.
All of VLC’s critical preferences may be found in its preferences file. VLC’s strange behaviour can be a sign that it has become corrupted. Videos might not load, and some functions might not perform as expected.
Thanks to a resettable preferences file, VLC may be restored to its default settings in no time. To do this, bring up the preferences window and hit the Reset Preferences button at the bottom of the screen. Click the OK button on the resulting question to confirm your option.
The next step is to relaunch VLC and see if you can now play videos.
Method 6: Take Advantage of VLC’s Newest Update Right Now
Updates to VLC are consistently released to address bugs, expand functionality, and more. You can fix VLC’s video-playing problems caused by an internal bug by installing the most recent update.
Follow these steps to upgrade your VLC player:
Step 1. Launch VLC and select the menu item “Help” from the menu bar.
Step 2. On the right-click menu, select Check for Updates.
Step 3. Updates for VLC will now be checked for and downloaded automatically.
Method 4: VLC Media Player should be reinstalled.
If none of those work, there’s obviously a problem with the setup files. The only way to fix this is to reinstall the VLC media player. Click “Uninstall a programme” in the Control Panel to get started. Locate the VLC player, right-click it, and select “Uninstall” from the option that appears.
Conclusion
VLC is one of the best media players for Windows and can play virtually any video format. It supports about every video format out there, lets you crank up the volume to well over 100 percent, and comes with a plethora of graphical editing tools and filters for your material.
However, it is subject to occasional problems just like any other software. If you’re having problems VLC Player Fixes Broken Windows Automatic, you can easily diagnose and fix the issue by implementing one of the methods described above.
