If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 and found that your VLC Media Player no longer plays videos, you’re not alone. Many users have reported this issue. Luckily, there’s a fix. Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be watching videos in no time.
How to fix the error VLC Media Player does not play videos on Windows 11
Table of Contents
1. Check the file format
If you are having trouble playing videos in VLC Media Player on Windows 11, the first thing you should check is the file format. Some video formats are not compatible with VLC Media Player, and trying to play them will result in an error. To fix this, make sure you are using a compatible file format. If you’re not sure which format to use, try converting the video to a different format using a free video converter.
Once you have a compatible file format, try playing the video again. If it still doesn’t work, there may be another issue causing the problem. Try updating VLC Media Player to the latest version, or reinstalling it if that doesn’t help. You can also try changing the video playback settings in VLC Media Player to see if that makes a difference.
2. Disable hardware acceleration on VLC
If you’re experiencing issues with VLC Media Player on Windows 11, one potential fix is to disable hardware acceleration. Here’s how:
Open VLC Media Player and click on Tools > Preferences.
In the left sidebar, click on Input / Codecs.
Under Hardware-accelerated decoding, select Disable from the dropdown menu.
Click Save at the bottom of the window and restart VLC Media Player.
3. Change the File Catching and Network Catching values
If you’re getting the error that VLC Media Player does not play videos on Windows 11, there are a couple of things you can do to fix it. One is to change the File Catching and Network Catching values. To do this, open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences. Then, under Input / Codecs, scroll down to File Catching and Network Catching and change the values from Default to All. This should fix the problem.
Another thing you can try is to update VLC Media Player. To do this, go to Help > Check for Updates. If there is an update available, follow the prompts to install it. This should fix any playback issues you’re having.
4. Select DirectX (DirectDraw) as default video output mode
If you’re having trouble getting VLC Media Player to play videos on Windows 11, one possible solution is to select DirectX (DirectDraw) as your default video output mode. Here’s how:
1. Open VLC Media Player and go to Tools > Preferences.
2. Click on the “Video” tab.
3. Under “Output,” select “DirectX (DirectDraw)“.
4. Close the preferences window and try playing a video again.
If this doesn’t work, or if you’re not able to find the “DirectX (DirectDraw)” option, try another solution from the VLC Media Player website.
5. Reset VLC options
If you’re having trouble playing videos in VLC Media Player on Windows 11, one thing you can try is resetting the options. To do this, open the player and go to Tools > Preferences. On the left side of the window that opens, click Reset All. Confirm that you want to reset by clicking Reset again. This will reset all of VLC’s options to their default values. If your video playback issue was caused by a change you made to an option, this should fix it.
6. Download the latest VLC update
If you’re a Windows 11 user, you may have come across the error where VLC Media Player does not play videos. This can be frustrating, but there is a fix. First, download the latest VLC update. This can be found on the official VLC website. Once the update is downloaded and installed, restart your computer. Try playing a video in VLC again and it should work this time. If not, there are a few other things you can try, such as updating your graphics drivers or changing your audio output settings in VLC.
7. Reinstall VLC Media Player
If you’re having trouble getting VLC Media Player to play videos on Windows 11, there are a few things you can try. One is to reinstall the program. To do this, go to the VLC website and download the latest version of the software. Then, follow the instructions for installing it on your computer.
Another thing you can try is to update your graphics drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers can sometimes cause problems with video playback. You can usually find the latest drivers for your graphics card on the manufacturer’s website.
If neither of these solutions works, there may be an issue with your Windows media codecs. Codecs are responsible for encoding and decoding audio and video data. Sometimes, codecs can become corrupted or outdated, which can lead to playback issues. You can try running the Windows Media Player troubleshooter to fix any codec problems.
Conclusion
Follow the 7 steps above to fix the error VLC Media Player does not play videos on Windows 11. First, make sure that VLC is up to date. Second, try converting the video file to another format. Finally, if those two steps do not work, reinstall VLC Media Player.