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[Solved] Choppy Stuttering 4K 60fps Video Playback in VLC
VLC freezes or stutters on 4k videos? Here is a quick fix.
Can VLC play 4k?
Yes, but it can be extremely annoying to watch a super choppy video that hampers the UHD video playback experience. 4k videos not playing or stuttering are common errors in VLC. The footage recorded in 4K at 60fps can be extremely lagging at times if VLC is not configured properly. In this post, we will analyze common causes of VLC 4k playback error and corresponding fixes.
Why 4k video not playing ideally in VLC? Here are possible reasons.
• The resolution is too high
If the resolution of the video is too high, then it is possible that while running the video playback, you will have a lagged video that might buffer or stutter at many points.
• The frame rate is too high
The stuttering can also happen if the frame rate is high as well. This is because the GPU takes a longer time to render the frame than it is expected and sometimes it might even skip the frame. Once that happens, the video is bound to give a choppy output. That's in fact the trade off when CPU is overloaded. VLC enables frame dropping to decode less frames, thus causing the choppy video performance.
• Encoding affects the video playback
If the video coding engine is not up to the mark and 60fps video is being run with equal quality and speed, then the lag will be a continuous part of the playback and there will be a workload on the GPU.
• Slow system
If the system is too slow to decode the images, then also the video can be choppy and there can be numerous breaks.
Try These Methods to Playback 4K Properly in VLC
It is the current trend to record high definition videos on 4K devices and DSLR cameras. Now people are also inducing action cameras, drone cameras and even cell phones that support 4K. But it would be a waste of time if the video playback is lagging. So today we are going to give you the solutions that will help you to fix 4K 60fps playback error.
Method 1. Update VLC.
Update your VLC media player to the latest version. In fact, VLC 3.0 and higher versions provide better 4K video support.
Method 2. Disable/Enable GPU Acceleration
This method seems contradictory, but the situation various since users have different systems and hardware environment. Toggle GPU acceleration on or off? Feedbacks from users are divergent. Enabling GPU acceleration works for some users and disabling it works for others. For instance, StackExchange user harrymac provided his example in the thread How to configure VLC to play 4K content properly. When Hardware-accelerated decoding is not disabled, 4k video freezing issues exists; when disabled, VLC can manager better frame rate, though it requires high end CPU.
You can try to switch it on or off and stay with whatever works for your 4k videos.
Step 1. From VLC menu, click tools > Preferences.
Step 2. Click Input/Codecs, in Hardware-accelerated decoding, select Disable.
Step 3. Save settings, close VLC and restart it again. See if you 4k video playback smoothly this time. If not, follow step1-2 to enable hardware decoding.
Method 3. Change Cache Time
Increasing cache value can improve the smoothness in video playback. You can change the File caching value from 300 (3 seconds) to 1000 for instance. Keep adjusting the value until you find one that suits you. Here are steps to change VLC cache time.
Step 1. Go to Preferences > Input/Codecs.
Step 2. Tick Show settings: All.
Method 4. Change VLC Video Output Settings
Changing output settings from automatic to DirectX, Open GL, and DirectDraw are proved as workable for many users. You can go to tools > Preferences > Video, and switch output settings.
Method 5. Amend FFmpeg Thread Settings and Loop Filter Skipping
This fix is from VideoLAN official forums, where many users found changing FFmeg settings works to avoid choppy 4k playback. Here are the steps.
Step 1. VLC menu Tools > Preferences > Select All in Show settings to manage advanced settings.
Step 2. Search for FFmpeg in filter box, or navigate to Input/Codecs > Video codecs > FFmpeg.
Step 4. Save, close VLC and restart it. Load your 4k HDR videos.
Tips: You can also tweak loop filter skipping settings for FFmpeg until 4k playback worked.
VideoProc – Tailor 4k Video for Your Good Old VLC
You don't need to switch media player, VideoProc can make VLC better.Easy Solution
Don't fret out if none of above method works. If you want stick to VLC instead of switching to default Media Player, VideoProc can help you out. With this tool, you will be able fix 4K videos stuttering when playback, compress unlimited 4K files as well as time-lapse videos. Changing the codec, frame rate, bitrates and so on is 1-click away.
You Can Stick to VLC with the Help of VideoProc
- Transcode 4k video at full GPU acceleration
- Compress 4k video while retaining high quality
- Adjust 4k frame rate, bit rate, playback speed
• Change 4K Video Codec and Format
You can transcode 4k video from HEVC to H.264 without significant quality loss. The conversion process can be delivered at fast speed, thanks to full GPU acceleration powered by Intel, AMD or Nvidia.
• Change Frame Rate
Click the codec option (Gear icon on your imported video), find Frame Rate section and change it to a desired one. You can play with it until a suitable FPS is found.
• Compress 4k Video without Quality Loss
For smoother 4k playback, you can compress videos using VLC, but it would be demanding on old computers. As one of the best companions for VLC, VideoProc support compress 4k videos at full GPU acceleration, thus delivering a fast and high quality result.
Besides format compression, you can also change video resolution and trim out unwanted clip parts easily. The editing you made is non-destructive for the original 4k video, as you can always save a copy.
Final Words:
VLC might fall short to play high resolution, high FPS videos smoothly, you can configure cache times, hardware-accelerated decoding, FFmpeg thread, or change output settings to troubleshoot stuttering UHD video issue. Plus, use VideoProc alongside VLC for ultimate media enjoyment. You will be able to process 4k 8k videos and indulge in a number of tasks like cutting, cropping, trimming, stabilizing, denoise, and defisheye your clips at high quality.
