How to Fix Video Problems on Windows

Video problems on Windows can be frustrating and annoying, especially if you are trying to watch your favorite movie, play a game, or attend a video call. Video problems can manifest in different ways, such as poor video playback, video stuttering and lagging, video corruption, video not playing at all, or video not showing on the screen.

Fortunately, there are some common solutions that you can try to fix video problems on Windows. In this blog post, I will show you how to troubleshoot and resolve some of the most common video issues on Windows.

Update Windows

One of the first things you should do when you encounter video problems on Windows is to check for Windows updates. Windows updates can fix bugs, improve performance, and enhance compatibility with various devices and applications. Updating Windows can also install the latest drivers for your graphics card, which is essential for video playback.

To check for Windows updates, follow these steps:

Select the Start button, then enter Settings.
Select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Click Check for updates and wait for Windows to scan for available updates.
If there are any updates available, click Download and install and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.
Restart your computer if prompted.

Update Display Drivers

Another common cause of video problems on Windows is outdated or corrupted display drivers. Display drivers are software components that allow your graphics card to communicate with your monitor and other devices. If your display drivers are not working properly, you may experience video glitches, errors, or crashes.

To update your display drivers, follow these steps:

Right-click the Start button and click Device Manager.
Select the graphics driver from the list by expanding the display adapters category.
Right-click the graphics driver and click Update Driver Software.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for Windows to find and install the best driver for your device.
Restart your computer if prompted.

Alternatively, you can also download the latest display drivers from the manufacturer’s website and install them manually.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a feature that allows your graphics card to process some tasks faster and more efficiently than your CPU. However, hardware acceleration can also cause video problems on Windows if it is not compatible with your hardware or software configuration. Hardware acceleration can interfere with video playback, cause screen flickering, or reduce battery life.

To disable hardware acceleration, follow these steps:

Right-click an empty area on your desktop and click Display settings.
Scroll down and click Graphics settings.
Under Choose an app to set preference, select Desktop app from the drop-down menu and click Browse.
Locate and select the executable file of the app that you are having video problems with (for example, VLC.exe for VLC media player) and click Add.
Click the app name that appears under Graphics performance preference and click Options.
Select Power saving mode and click Save.

You can also disable hardware acceleration in some apps from their settings menu. For example, in Google Chrome, you can go to Settings > Advanced > System and toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.

Convert Video Format

Sometimes, video problems on Windows can be caused by incompatible or corrupted video formats. Video formats are different ways of encoding and compressing video data. Some video formats may not be supported by your media player app or your graphics card. Some video formats may also get corrupted due to improper downloading or transferring.

To fix this issue, you can try converting your video files to a different format that is more compatible with your device and app. There are many free online tools that you can use to convert video files, such as Online Video Converter or CloudConvert. You can also use a desktop software such as VLC media player or HandBrake to convert video files.

To convert video files using VLC media player, follow these steps:

Open VLC media player and click Media > Convert / Save.
Click Add and select the video file that you want to convert.
Click Convert / Save and choose a destination folder and a file name for the converted file.
Under Profile, select a desired output format from the drop-down menu (for example, MP4).
Click Start and wait for VLC to convert your file.

Adjust Audio Playback

Sometimes, video problems on Windows can be related to audio playback. Audio playback can affect video playback in various ways, such as causing video to lag behind audio, causing audio to be out of sync with video, or causing audio to be distorted or muted. Audio playback can also consume a lot of system resources and battery power.

To adjust audio playback, follow these steps:

Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and click Sounds.
Click the Playback tab and select your default audio device (for example, Speakers).
Click Properties and go to the Enhancements tab.
Check or uncheck the options that you want to enable or disable (for example, Loudness Equalization, Bass Boost, or Virtual Surround).
Click Apply and OK.

You can also adjust audio playback in some apps from their settings menu. For example, in VLC media player, you can go to Tools > Preferences > Audio and change the settings according to your preference.

Download Media Codecs Pack

Media codecs are software components that allow your computer to encode and decode different types of video and audio data. Media codecs are essential for video playback, as they determine how your computer can read and play different video formats. However, some media codecs may not be installed or updated on your computer by default, which can cause video problems on Windows.

To fix this issue, you can try downloading and installing a media codecs pack that contains a collection of popular and useful media codecs for Windows. There are many free media codecs packs that you can download from the internet, such as K-Lite Codec Pack or Media Player Codec Pack. You can also use a media player app that comes with its own built-in codecs, such as VLC media player or PotPlayer.

To install a media codecs pack, follow these steps:

Download the media codecs pack from the official website and save it on your computer.
Run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Restart your computer if prompted.

Conclusion

Video problems on Windows can be annoying and frustrating, but they are not impossible to fix. By following the steps above, you can troubleshoot and resolve some of the most common video issues on Windows.
I hope this blog post has helped you learn how to fix video problems on Windows. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!