How To Fix Scrambled Video Playback in VLC Player?

Read time 7 minutes

The VLC media player is widely regarded as the most dependable and trusted media player application, serving users across various platforms. Its popularity has soared to the extent that, following a tremendous reception for its desktop version on multiple operating systems, it has now extended its availability to mobile devices. Nonetheless, even in this high-quality media player, video playback issues can occasionally arise. In this article, we will delve into the solutions for resolving distorted video playback in VLC Player.

What makes VLC the most sought-after player?

VLC is a famous media player, and it has valid reasons for being so. Let’s understand the prominent features which it provides to its users:

• Provides the best video playback quality
• Available on many platforms including mobile phones
• Can play videos with minor corruption easily
• Works as a screen recorder
• Can fix minor to moderate corruption in video files
• User can stream live feed with it
• Can play online videos
• Flexible codes
• Comes with plethora of advanced setting and customization options

Despite its apparent perfection, this technology remains susceptible to occasional aberrations in certain situations. Lately, numerous users have voiced concerns about encountering scrambled video playback issues while using VLC Player. In the following sections, we will explore various methods to swiftly resolve these video distortion problems in VLC Player.

Here we are going to mention a few methods which will help you fix the scrambled video playback error in VLC Player:

If the answer is affirmative, it is imperative that you promptly disable this feature. Disabling it should be your initial course of action when encountering distorted video playback in VLC. The activation of Accelerated Video Output (Overlay) can potentially disrupt the proper rendering of certain video formats, resulting in a distorted visual experience. To deactivate this functionality within VLC, please adhere to the subsequent instructions:

1. Launch VLC in your system and click on the Tools option in the toolbar.
2. From the Tool’s menu, select Preferences option. This will open a Simple Preferences window on your screen.
3. There, select the Video category to proceed with.
4. Now, in the Display category, look for the Accelerated video output (Overlay) option and uncheck the box next to it.
5. Finally, click on Save to finalize the changes.

Once performed, the problematic video should function properly.

Another VLC settings that can fix the scrambled video is changing its network caching rate. To do that follow the steps:

1. In VLC, go to the Tools option and select Preferences from the menu.
2. In the Simple Preferences window, go to the Interface Settings and in the Show settings category, check the box next to All option.
3. On checking the All option, an Advanced Preferences window will be displayed on your screen.
4. In that new window, locate Input/Codecs and click on it.
5. In the right panel a list of Input/Codecs settings will be visible.
6. There, look for the Advanced category, and trace the Network Caching (ms) option.
7. There you will see the value drop-down box in front of the Network Caching (ms) option. Increase the value of the caching.

Doing this should resolve your issue. Try to follow each step as it is mentioned and try to play the video again.

You might wonder about the significance of choosing between an external and an internal drive for playing a video file. Indeed, the manner in which you access the video can have an impact, potentially causing issues like the one you’re experiencing, where the video behaves erratically due to direct playback from an external drive. While this isn’t always the case, it could be a contributing factor. Playing a video this way may trigger your drive to enter sleep mode, thereby disrupting the normal operation of the VLC media player. To avoid such problems, it is recommended that you transfer the video file to your local drive in its entirety before attempting playback once more.

If none of the previously mentioned methods yield the desired results, it’s possible that a codec-related problem may be causing the issue. To confirm this, attempt to play the video on an alternative media player, ensuring that the player supports the video format. If the video plays successfully on another media player, then the issue likely lies with VLC. Potential issues with VLC include:

1. An inappropriate codec
2. An outdated codec
3. A corrupt codec

In such cases, consider acquiring the appropriate codec or updating the existing one before attempting to play the video again. There is also a slim but plausible chance that the video file itself is corrupt. In such an event, it is advisable to utilize a professional third-party tool. Keep reading for guidance on resolving the scrambled video playback error in VLC Player permanently.

Utilize Kernel Video Repair to rectify corruption problems in video files, ranging from minor glitches to severe issues, even addressing scrambled video playback errors. This software tool is versatile, accommodating a wide array of video formats compatible with various media players and devices. Distinguished by its remarkable features and cutting-edge technology, it offers the flexibility to save the repaired video in a location of your choice, whether it’s on internal or external storage devices. Notably, it imposes no restrictions on file size or video duration. You can test its capabilities by saving up to 30 seconds of video for free using the trial version. Now, let’s delve into the instructions for using this tool.

1. Launch the tool on your system and click on the Add icon on the home screen of the tool.



2. Add the corrupt video file from its location on your system, and click on Open after the right selection.



Note: You can add single or multiple video files as per your requirement.

3. In this step, add the reference file and click on Repair Files.



4. Provide a destination to your file on your system or an external device.



5. Wait for the repair process to finish.



Note: Click on Stop anytime to discard the process

6. Once the process is over and successful, click on Close to proceed. You can also save a CSV report by clicking on the Save report to CSV option.



Now, you can look for the repaired file on your system or the external drive. It should be working properly.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we addressed the video not playing issue that many VLC users encounter. Given VLC’s widespread usage, we aimed to provide comprehensive solutions to resolve this problem. Our recommendations are carefully curated to ensure the most effective and reliable fixes, as haphazard approaches can exacerbate the video not playing issue. However, if you’re dealing with a corrupted video file, we recommend utilizing this software to achieve optimal results quickly. We hope you’ve found valuable insights and assistance in resolving the video not playing issue from this blog!