In this write-up, we will deal with the possible reasons behind the crashing of VLC on Windows 11 and will also unravel the potential solutions to get the media experience back on track.
The VLC media player offers features like sound quality video, control over subtitles, and cross-functionality with other devices. A few users have recently complained about the VLC Media Player not working on Windows 11.
Keep reading to know how to fix the VLC crashing issue.
What Are The Indications Of VLC Crashing?
Observing these signs or symptoms carefully lets you understand the implications behind the VLC crashing.
- Usually, it takes a longer time and multiple attempts to open the VLC player.
- Fails to load the video.
- The screen pops up with multiple logical errors.
- Encounter blue, grey, or black screen instead of the video.
- VLC media stops responding in between
Why Is VLC Crashing On Windows 11?
If VLC keeps crashing on Windows 11, then there are a few reasons that can be held responsible for that.
Those are:
- Damaged or deleted registry files
- Outdated version
- Improper or misconfigured VLC settings
- Corrupted VLC cache
- VLC player not installed correctly on your system
- The system doesn’t have enough free space to run an HD video
- Corrupt or outdated drivers
- Issue with VLC’s coding, output scheme, or any other playback setting
- Video can have picture/sound issues
- Obsolete GPU drivers
- Corrupted VLC installation files
- Outdated Windows 11 version
What Can I Do If The VLC Media Player Keeps Crashing On Windows 11?
Even if VLC Media Player is reliable in the market, it can still run into several issues.
Here are some troubleshooting steps to help you get your VLC working again.
1) Restart Your PC Or Laptop
The VLC Media Player can sometimes crash due to a temporary bug or glitch. Restarting the PC or laptop can clear out the issue that is known to cause the problem.
A quick PC restart is an effective fix for most Windows 11 issues. Doing it essentially means force closing every running application and background process on the device.
So, navigate to the Start menu on your Windows 11 device and then hit the Restart button.
- If restarting the laptop didn’t help, go to the next troubleshooting step.
2) Clear The VLC Cache
A corrupted or overloaded VLC cache can cause problems and result in the app crashing. Therefore, deleting the accumulated cache on the VLC is a good idea to eliminate this issue.
Follow these steps to delete the VLC Cache:
- Shut the VLC Media Player app and press “Ctrl+R” to open the Run.
- Type %AppData%\VLC and then hit “Enter.”
- Doing this will open up the cache folder for VLC.
- Right-click on each folder and delete them one by one.
If you’re wondering how to troubleshoot the VLC Building Font Cache-related issue, then read through this guide.
After performing the above-mentioned steps, Launch the VLC Media Player app and check whether streaming videos or music on VLC is possible.
If doing this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can go to the next trouble shooting step.
3) Increase The Cache Value
Increasing the cache value prevents the VLC Media Player from crashing since the built-in cache is too small.
After you have increased the cache value, check whether it works correctly by playing that specific file, causing VLC to crash.
You can increase the cache value by following the guided steps below:
- Launch the VLC player, click “Tools” and visit the “Preferences” tab.
- Select the “Show Settings” option and choose “All” at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Input/Codecs” and then change the File caching (ms) to 2000 or higher limit.
- Lastly, tap “Save” and allow VLC to reboot to check whether it works correctly.
Follow the next troubleshooting step if the VLC Media Player is still crashing.
4) Configure Video Output Mode
If your VLC Media Player is crashing or not working in Windows 11, configure the video output modes to a different option to avoid the issue.
Being a versatile Media Player, it offers various options that can help resolve the problem.
Here are the steps to configure the video output mode in the VLC media player:
- Open VLC Media Player and go to “Tools.”
- Select “Preferences” and head to the “Video” section.
- Check the “Enable Video box” > “Windows Decorations” option.
- Finally, click on the “X11 Video Output (XCB) from the drop-down menu and save the necessary changes.
Note: If you don’t see the X11 Video Output option, go for Direct X or Open GL options.
Close the VLC Media Player and re-open it to check whether it can play the video file again.
Check whether it still crashes after the video output settings have been altered. If it does, then move to the next troubleshooting step.
5) Disable Hardware Video Decoding
Turning off the hardware video decoding in VLC will prevent it from crashing, especially if it is playing high-resolution or high-bitrate videos.
If VLC fails to play any audio video file format, then the best way to handle this situation is to turn off the hardware video decoding option in VLC.
Refer to these steps for doing so:
- Open VLC and select “Tools” > “Preferences.”
- Click on the “Show Settings” options and select “All”.
- Navigate to the “Input/Codecs” option from the menu.
- Click on “Video codecs” and select “FFmpeg.”
- Finally, go to “Hardware decoding” and select “Disable.”
Moving to the next troubleshooting step will be a wise decision if the issue persists.
6) Upgrade VLC To The Latest Version
If Windows 11 users are still using the older version of VLC, there are chances of incompatibility as developers release updates constantly.
It is, therefore, essential to check and download the latest version as it is most likely to fix all the issues.
For downloading the latest version of VLC, click here.
- If upgrading it to the latest version wasn’t useful, then perform the next troubleshooting step.
7) Update Windows
An outdated Windows 11 can also be responsible for the malfunctioning of the VLC Media player. It can also cause minor bugs or glitches.
Follow the steps below for updating your Windows:
- Type “Check for updates” in the “Search” button and click on the first option.
- If it is up to date, a message saying “You’re up to date” will be displayed in the left corner of the screen.
- If you encounter any latest updates, download and install the latest available updates.
- Even after updating to Windows 11, if you still encounter the issue, then go to the next method.
8) Update GPU Drivers
It has been reported that outdated or old drivers cause the VLC Media Player to crash or malfunction.
If you last updated your drivers a long time ago, then updating them to the latest available version will help you deal with this issue.
Follow these instructions to update the driver:
- Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type “devmgmt.msc” and hit “Enter.”
- Expand the “Display Adapters” section by double-clicking on it.
- Select the “Graphics Card” driver from the list.
- Right-click on it and choose the “Update Driver” option.
- Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
- Windows will now start searching for the latest driver software and install it.
- Finally, reboot your PC to check whether the problem persists or not.
If it does, follow the next troubleshooting method.
9) Run The Video Playback Troubleshooter
At times, misconfigured settings or video playback issues lead to the malfunctioning of the VLC Media Player in Windows 11.
The built-in video playback troubleshooter acts best in this scenario for detecting misconfigured video settings or any other issues.
Doing this helps resolve the VLC Media Player crashing issue.
Here is how it can be done:
- Press Windows + I to launch “Settings.”
- From the “System” tab, choose the “Troubleshoot” option.
- Click “Other troubleshooters” and scroll down until you encounter the “Video playback” troubleshooter.
- Click on the “Run” button adjacent to it and wait until the troubleshooting process ends.
- Make any suggested changes, and then restart your Windows 11 device.
Follow the next troubleshooting method if your VLC Media Player is still crashing.
10) Run The Audio Troubleshooter
If you’re trying to open an audio file with a VLC Media player on your Windows 11 device, you must run the audio troubleshooter and face a crashing issue.
It is similar to the video playback troubleshooter and will fix all your audio playback issues, including the VLC Media Player crashing issue.
This is how you can run the Audio Troubleshooter in Windows 11:
- In the “Settings” window, under the “System” tab, look for the “Troubleshoot” option.
- Now, click the “Other troubleshooters” option and search for the “Audio” option.
- Click on the three dots menu adjacent to the “Run” button and wait until the process ends.
- Go for the suggested changes and then restart the Windows 11 device.
Check for the issues; if it still crashes, then perform the next troubleshooting step.
11) Reset Your VLC Media Player
Resetting the VLC Media Player will revert to its default settings, which will help fix the issues that have occurred due to the change in settings.
It will eventually be helpful and act as a precautionary measure against crashing.
To reset the VLC Media Player, watch out for the steps that are mentioned below:
- Open the VLC and navigate to “Tools”.
- Choose the “Preferences” option, go to the bottom of the screen, and select “Reset Preferences.”
- Finally, click on “OK”.
In case resetting the Media Player didn’t prove to be a useful one, then follow the next troubleshooting method.
12) Re-Install VLC Media Player
If you are facing any trouble while running or launching the VLC application on your device, consider re-installing it.
A few Windows 11 users have reported that the old version of VLC Media Player sometimes fails to run on the upgraded version and displays a message that says, “This app can’t run on your PC.”
Considering this scenario, it is best to uninstall the application from your device and then look for the latest version of VLC Player from its official sources.
Follow the steps for uninstalling the app:
- Type “Settings” in the Search bar and choose “Apps”.
- Click “Installed Apps” and then search for the app you want to uninstall.
- Click on the “three dots menu” on the right and choose the “Uninstall” option.
Once you have uninstalled the app, go for a fresh download of the VLC Media Player from the Microsoft Store.
- If nothing works in your favor, then perform the last troubleshooting step.
13) Use Other Video Players
The last resort will be using other video players if all the above-mentioned troubleshooting methods fail.
Search for any other free alternatives to VLC that will be compatible with your Windows 11 device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is The VLC Player Compatible With Windows 11?
Yes, the VLC player is generally compatible with Windows 11 but may occasionally crash due to system-specific factors.
2. Are There Any Known Conflicts With Third-Party Software?
Yes, some third-party software, like anti-virus software, can conflict with VLC. Disabling or uninstalling that software temporarily can help you deal with the crashes.
3. Can I Run VLC In Compatibility Mode?
Yes, you can try running VLC in compatibility mode for earlier Windows versions to check whether it stabilizes the application on Windows 11.
Final Words
Experiencing VLC Media player crashing is indeed a common and frustrating issue.
But with the right approach, you can resolve this issue. Perform the above troubleshooting steps to keep your VLC on track and enjoy uninterrupted media playback.
Do tell us which method worked in your case.
