Efficient Methods on How to Fix AVI Not Playing in VLC
VLC Media Player is a widely popular, free, open-source media player. The media player is praised for its versatility and support for considerable audio and video formats. Plus, VLC has become a top choice for seamless media playback across devices because of its cross-platform compatibility. Among the formats it supports is AVI (Audio Video Interleave), a multimedia container designed by Microsoft. AVI is frequently used to store video and audio data due to its high quality and compatibility with various codecs. These features establish it as an essential tool for video editing, sharing, and storage. Despite VLC’s reliable performance, users sometimes encounter issues when playing AVI files, such as low video quality, distorted sound, or even failure to open. Fortunately, this article will help you understand the cause of AVI not playing in VLC issue and how you can efficiently resolve it.
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Why AVI File Won't Play on VLC?
While VLC Media Player supports AVI files, various factors can prevent smooth playback. Below are some common reasons for this VLC AVI problem:
- A corrupt or incomplete AVI file will likely lead to playback errors or glitches in VLC.
- VLC supports many codecs, but it won't play correctly if the AVI file uses an uncommon or unsupported codec.
- An older version of VLC can lack support for recent codecs or AVI format updates.
- Certain VLC configurations, such as hardware acceleration or output settings, can interfere with AVI playback.
- Depending on system resources, large AVI files can cause VLC to lag, buffer, or fail to load altogether.
Solutions to Fix AVI File Not Playing in VLC
1. Update VLC to the Latest Version
| Technical Knowledge: | Beginner |
| Time Required: | 3-5 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 4/5 |
As said above, the VLC not playing AVI issue can be caused by older versions of VLC. So, let's start by ensuring you're using the most recent VLC version. Updates not only improve the overall stability and performance of the VLC media player but also expand codec support. This codec support is crucial for proper AVI file playback. Besides, newer versions often fix previously encountered bugs and glitches related to AVI files. These updates can also fix other issues with VLC, such as VLC not playing MKV or MP4, subtitles not showing up, freezing issues, and more. To access its update feature, click the "Help" menu and select "Check for Updates." VLC will show any available updates for you to install.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
| Technical Knowledge: | Intermediate |
| Time Required: | 5-7 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 4/5 |
The VLC media player relies on the system's graphics hardware and drivers to play videos smoothly. That said, in some cases, issues with the graphics drivers can prevent VLC from playing AVI files correctly. Outdated and incompatible can display issues, screen tearing, video glitches, or VLC not playing YouTube videos. To address this problem, updating your system graphic drivers is essential. Here are the steps you can follow to update your graphic drivers to solve the AVI file won't play on VLC issue:
- The first step to updating your graphic drivers is to access your Device Manager. Right-click on your computer's "Start" menu and select "Device Manager" from the options. Then, a menu window will appear on your computer's screen.
- On the new menu window, expand "Display Adaptors" by clicking it. After that, right-click the displayed graphic card entry under it and click "Update driver" from the context menu. A new prompt will display on your screen.
- On the new prompt, select "Search automatically for drivers." This will let Windows locate and download the latest driver for your graphics card. When the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect. Then, try playing the AVI file on VLC again to see if the VLC AVI problem is fixed.
3. Convert AVI File to a VLC-Compatible Format
| Technical Knowledge: | Beginner |
| Time Required: | 3-5 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 5/5 |
If updating your VLC media player and graphics driver didn't solve the issue of the AVI file not playing in VLC, then the problem can lie with the AVI file itself. The AVI codec being used in the video file can not be compatible with the VLC player. You can employ a third-party video converter to convert the AVI file to a VLC-compatible format. You can use a tool like AceThinker VidElement to transform the AVI file to MP4. The video converter also supports MKV, FLV, MOV, and more formats. Besides, you can customize the video settings like resolution, bitrate, codec, and frame rate according to your needs. You can also utilize this video converter to convert videos into different audio files such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and more. Simply follow the steps below to convert your AVI file to a VLC-friendly format:
Step 1: Download the AVI Converter
The AceThinker VidElement is available for Windows and Mac operating systems. Click on the "Download" button that is a compatible version for your computer. Then, install the AVI video converter by following the prompts provided.
Step 2: Import the AVI File
After the installation process, the video converter will automatically launch. Click the "Add File" on the tool's interface and select the AVI file you want to convert. Make sure that you are on the tool's "Converters" tab.
Step 3: Convert AVI to MP4
Once the AVI video file is uploaded, click the "Output Format" drop-down menu. From here, select "MP4" as the output file format. Then, on the lower right corner of the tool, click the "Convert All" option to commence the conversion process.
Step 4: Play the AVI on VLC
After the conversion is done, you'll be able to find the exported MP4 file in the output folder specified. Right-click on the file, select "Open with," and then choose "VLC Media Player." Now, you can enjoy watching the video without any complications.
4. Adjust VLC's Video Settings
| Technical Knowledge: | Intermediate |
| Time Required: | 5-7 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 3/5 |
Another solution to get AVI files to play in VLC is to adjust the VLC media player settings. This method can help resolve VLC compatibility issues with certain AVI codecs. Adjusting the VLC video settings can also improve the quality and performance of the AVI video. Apart from that, it also enables you to access additional features and tools, such as video filters and equalizers, that can improve your viewing experience. To adjust VLC's video settings and avoid AVI not playing in VLC issue, you can observe the following steps:
- Open the VLC media player on your device. After that, click on the "Tools" menu at the toolbar of the media player. Then, navigate to the "Preferences" option and a new window option will display on your computer's screen.
- From the Preferences window, you need to locate the "Video" tab. Under this tab, you will find various settings related to video playback. From here you can tweak some of the settings available for your video playback.
- For instance, switch the "Automatic" to set the "Output module" as "DirectX video output" or "OpenGL video output" depending on your computer's hardware and graphics. After that, hit the "Save" button at the bottom of the settings. Then, relaunch VLC and try playing the AVI file again.
5. Download AVI Codec for VLC Player
| Technical Knowledge: | Intermediate |
| Time Required: | 5-10 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 4/5 |
The VLC media player generally supports a wide range of video formats, including AVI video file format. However, there may be instances where the VLC player is unable to play certain AVI files due to codec incompatibility. In that line, you can download and install the required codec for VLC to fix the AVI video playback problem. There are several free codec packs available online that can help resolve VLC’s inability to play AVI files. For instance, you can download the K-Lite Codec Pack, which is a collection of codecs and related tools. Once you have installed this codec pack, you can try playing your AVI file on the VLC media player again.
"VLC supports AVI video codecs."
VLC supports multiple widely used audio/video codecs
6. Disable Hardware-Accelerated Decoding
| Technical Knowledge: | Intermediate |
| Time Required: | 3-5 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 3/5 |
In some cases, the AVI file can not play properly in a VLC media player due to issues with hardware acceleration. Hardware acceleration is a feature that enables VLC to offload video decoding tasks to the computer's graphics processing unit. This can improve video playback performance but also cause compatibility issues with certain video codecs. Aside from that, older or lower-powered hardware can struggle with hardware acceleration. So, disabling hardware acceleration in VLC can help you resolve the VLC AVI problem or fix any VLC video stuttering. Here is a simple instruction to turn off the hardware acceleration of your VLC media player:
- First, ensure that VLC Media Player is open on your device. Next, click on the "Tools" menu in the VLC interface. From the options that appear, select "Preferences."
- In the "Preferences" window, click "Input/Codecs" from the left panel. Then, look for the "Hardware-accelerated decoding" setting on the right side. Click the dropdown menu next to it and choose the "Disable" option.
- Finally, hit the "Save" button at the lowermost right of the window. This action will turn off VLC's hardware acceleration feature. Now, try playing the AVI file again to see if the playback issue is resolved.
7. Clear Cache Value of VLC
| Technical Knowledge: | Beginner |
| Time Required: | 2-4 minutes |
| Effectiveness: | 3/5 |
Clearing the cache can be effective if you're experiencing issues with an AVI file not playing in VLC or encountering problems when trying to skip forward or backward. VLC stores temporary video data, known as the cache, to load files more efficiently. However, sometimes this cache can become corrupted or outdated, leading to playback issues such as the AVI file not playing properly. By adjusting the cache settings, you can improve how VLC processes your AVI files, leading to smoother playback and a better overall experience. Here's how to clear the cache in VLC Media Player:
- Start by opening your VLC media player. Then, proceed by clicking the "Tools" menu at the top of the VLC window. From the drop-down menu that appears, select "Preferences." At the bottommost left corner of the Preferences window, locate the Show Settings option. By default, this may be set to "Simple." Click "All" to enable advanced settings, giving you full access to all available VLC configuration options.
- Afterward, on the left panel, scroll down and click "Input / Codecs" to reveal all related settings. In the "Input / Codecs" section, scroll down until you reach the "Advanced" area. Here, locate the "File caching (ms)" fields. Set both of these values to "1000."
- These changes help VLC manage data buffering more effectively, particularly for AVI files, reducing playback interruptions and improving overall video performance. After adjusting the cache values, click "Save" at the bottom right of the Preferences window. Close VLC completely, then relaunch the player to ensure the new settings take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
To play the VLC file on your VLC media player, right-click on it. A dialog box will then appear. Choose "Open with" and hit the VLC media player. The AVI video file will then play on your VLC media player.
Some videos can not play on a VLC Media Player for several reasons, including an outdated VLC version, insufficient system resources, or corrupted media files. Always ensure that VLC is up-to-date and that your system meets the recommended hardware requirements.
The main difference between MP4 and AVI files is the underlying video codec technology and file container format. MP4 files use the MPEG-4 codec, while AVI files use an older codec like MPEG-2 or DivX. MP4 files are generally more efficient in terms of file size and playback quality compared to the older AVI format.
Conclusion
While AVI files can sometimes pose challenges in VLC, many of these issues can be resolved with straightforward adjustments or minor troubleshooting. Whether caused by codec limitations, configuration settings, or file corruption, understanding the root cause can guide users to effective solutions. By applying these tips, users can enjoy smooth playback in VLC. If necessary, you can explore alternative solutions, like converting files using tools such as AceThinker VidElement.
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