4K Videos Not Playing? Try These Fixes.

Read time 7 minutes

The prevalence of ultra HD resolution has led to a widespread adoption of 4K videos in contemporary times. Both professionals and individuals alike record and store a substantial volume of content in 4K quality. However, these high-definition videos necessitate specific system prerequisites. Consequently, users often encounter problems, such as choppy playback, stuttering, crashes, lag, and freezing when attempting to play these trending 4K videos, including popular content from Netflix and Amazon Prime.

How To Fix 4K Video Not Playing Issues With These Manual Solutions

If you’re encountering difficulties when attempting to play 4K videos, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we will provide you with guidance on potential solutions to address the challenges associated with 4K video playback.

1. Check & update system specifications
   For ultra-high-definition 4K videos, certain system requirements are mandatory (software and hardware). Let us have a look at the common specifications to run a 4K resolution video smoothly in your PC.
   • Enough Hard Disk space – For example, 150GB for a 3 hours movie
   • Video memory & GPU frequencies – 6000MHz and approx. 1100MHz respectively
   • RAM – minimum 4GB
   • Monitor or Projector – 4K supported
   • Processor decoding ability should be more than or equal to 15
2. Perform Necessary Updates
   To achieve a seamless viewing experience of high-resolution videos, ensure that you are utilizing the most up-to-date versions of your operating system (be it Windows), your video media player, and your graphics drivers.
   • Enable Automatic Updates for your Windows through Control Panel
   • Get the updated version for the Graphics Driver
   • Update the current Power Plan to High-Performance plan by visiting ? Options
   • Use compatible Video Media players for 4K Videos, update them regularly
   • Other Solutions
     Clear Web Browser cached files, e.g. for Chrome, visit – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
   • Disable browser plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons
   • Use HDMI cable supporting higher bandwidth for 4K Video files
3. Solutions for Videos not working with VLC Media Player
   If you encounter problems while attempting to play 4K videos using VLC Media Player, consider implementing the following solutions to resolve the issues.
   1. Enable Hardware Acceleration

   Addressing this problem may potentially alleviate issues such as video file lagging and freezing through enhancements in streaming, filtering, and decoding speeds. Prior to implementing this solution, it is imperative to verify that the system is equipped with the most up-to-date drivers.
   Initiate VLC Media Player, which should already be installed on your system. Access the Preferences menu by navigating to Tools> Preferences.

   

   On the opened page, click Input/Codecs icon and then choose the desired option from the displayed dropdown list under the Hardware-accelerated decoding option.

   

   2. Enable Hardware Decoding

   Configuring or enabling hardware decoding to Automatic, Direct could be another solution to get rid of any problem related to 4K videos. On VLC Media player, navigate to Tools> Preferences. On the Simple References page, select All options under Show settings at the bottom of the page. Then on the Advanced Preferences page, move to Input/Codecs> Video codecs>FFmpeg. In the Hardware decoding dropdown, select the desired decoding options from the list. Finally, click Save.

   

   3. Modify Video Output Settings

   This troubleshooting approach involves a trial-and-error method. Start by adjusting the current video output settings to either Direct or OpenGL and verify if the video plays correctly. To do this, open VLC Media Player, navigate to the Tools menu, and choose Preferences. Then, switch to the Video settings and within the Output section, select your preferred output settings before saving them by clicking the Save button. Finally, launch the 4K video to determine if the problem has been resolved.

   

   4. Increase the cached value in VLC Media Player

   To alleviate stuttering or lag problems when playing 4K videos, you can effectively manage the cached value within the software settings.
   Begin by launching the VLC Media Player. Navigate to the Tools>Preferences menu. Within the Show Settings section, opt for the “All” option. Next, access the Advanced Settings and select the Input/Codecs category. In the Advanced section, adjust the values for File caching (ms), Network caching (ms), and Disc caching (ms) to approximately 10,000 or higher. After making these adjustments, close the VLC Media Player and attempt to play the video once more.

   Note: It is also recommended to select All option against Skip H.264 in-loop deblocking filter option under Input/Codecs feature in the VLC Media Player.

4. Try converting the file format

If you encounter difficulties playing a video, especially one in 4K or another format, consider attempting to convert the file format as your initial troubleshooting step. Videos are typically created in a specific format according to the device used for recording. However, when users share or view videos on various platforms, they may opt to change the file format to suit their needs. Consequently, video files can undergo format changes as they are circulated and distributed. As a result, certain video files may exhibit unexpected behavior due to alterations in their original formats. To address this, it is advisable to convert such video files into a more compatible format and then attempt playback once more.

You have the option to transform a video file using numerous free video converter tools. However, if the video holds significant importance and sensitive material, it is advisable to employ a dedicated video conversion tool. An excellent choice for this purpose is the Kernel Video Converter, a dependable and professional solution. This software is capable of converting multiple videos simultaneously while ensuring no degradation in video quality or alteration of its duration.

5. Repair Corrupt 4K Videos

It’s not just the file size or high resolution that can cause problems with 4K videos; even video corruption resulting from various random factors can lead to issues. In such situations, the solution is to repair the corrupted video files. We recommend using Kernel Video Repair a comprehensive tool that supports a wide range of video file formats, including MP4, MOV, MPEG, MJPEG, MTS, M4V, MKV, AVI, AVCHD, WEBM, ASF, WMV, FLV, DIVX, 3G2, TS, 3GP, and F4V, regardless of their size and resolution, and regardless of the device they originate from. This repair process is swift and ensures the preservation of the original video quality. You can try out the trial version of the tool and save up to 30 seconds of video repair for free. In 2022, this solution was acclaimed as the best video repair tool of 2022 due to its compatibility, repair capabilities, user-friendly interface, and advanced features.

Conclusion

To ensure smooth playback of high-resolution videos, it is essential to have the necessary advanced settings and meet specific system requirements. Failure to do so may result in videos failing to play or open. If any of these required settings or system specifications are overlooked, you can adjust them accordingly to address any issues associated with playing 4K videos. However, in cases where 4K video files become corrupted, a more advanced solution, referred to as “The tool,” is needed to repair the damaged video files.