Why AVI File Won’t Play On VLC?
When you hit the play button, VLC should typically play the AVI file without any trouble. However, if your AVI file is having a codec issue or is corrupted then VLC might face issues playing the file.
To break down what a codec is: A codec takes the complicated stream of ones and zeros that make up video data and turns it into pictures and sounds that your computer can show and play.
Apart from Codec issues, there are other reasons that could prevent VLC from playing your AVI files:
- Incomplete transfer or download of the AVI video.
- Software bugs or glitches while editing the AVI file.
- AVI file is in a corrupt or damaged storage device.
The good news is there are different solutions to fix the issues depending on what is stopping the AVI file from playing in VLC. We have meticulously gone through each and every solution to make sure you fix this issue. Follow the below-mentioned DIY solutions.
Also Read: How to Play AVI Files on Mac?
4 Ways to Fix the “VLC Not Playing AVI Files” Issue
Keep the VLC Media player open and follow the troubleshooting techniques to fix VLC not playing AVI files.
- Clear Cache Value
- Disabling Hardware-accelerated Decoding
- Convert AVI to a Different File Format
- Update the VLC Media Player
1. Clear Cache Value
If the AVI file won’t play or restart when trying to skip forward or backward, clearing the cache can resolve the issue.
Here’s how to do it:
- Click on Tools and choose Preferences.
- In the left corner, select all from the show settings.
- Select Input / Codecs and scroll down to the Advanced section.
- Set both File caching(ms) and Network caching(ms) to 1000 and click on Save.
Now close and relaunch the player and check if the AVI playback errors are fixed.
2. Disabling Hardware-accelerated Decoding
By default, VLC uses the hardware-accelerated decoding feature to ensure smooth playbacks. In some cases, it causes compatibility issues with your AVI file codec. So disabling them could be a potential fix to playback issues on AVI files.
- Open the Preferences window and select the Input / Codecs option from above.
- Under the Codecs section, open the drop-down next to Hardware-accelerated decoding and choose Disable.
- Click on Save and relaunch the player.
Try playing the AVI video file, if the issues persist continue with the next solution.
3. Convert AVI to a Different File Format
Converting the AVI file to a more compatible and widely supported format like MP4 can bypass codec compatibility issues, you can do this using a VLC media player.
NOTE: You will notice a slight quality drop on the converted video file.
- Click on Media and select Convert/Save.
- In the Open media Window, Click on Add to upload the AVI file and click on Convert/Save.
- Expand the drop-down next to the profile, choose Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4), Browse a destination for the converted video file, and click on Start to begin the conversion.
Once the conversion is done now try playing the AVI file on the VLC player it should play.
4. Update the VLC Media Player
When the VLC player is outdated it could be lacking the necessary codec for your AVI video, update the player to ensure that there are the latest codecs to support your videos.
Click on Help and select Check for Updates.
If nothing works, try playing the AVI file on a different media player like 5KPlayer or KMPlayer to see if the AVI files play without any hassle. If they do, then there may be a problem with the VLC Media Player. Simply reinstall the player. If not, then…
We assume that your AVI file could be corrupted. We would recommend using a video repair solution or tool to get the AVI video file to a normal state.
Repair Corrupt AVI Files
1. Fix Incomplete AVI Files Using VLC “Always Fix”
VLC has the capability of repairing minor corrupt AVI files ie., fixing playback issues and fixing avi Indexes if they are misplaced. Use this feature on VLC to repair the damaged AVI file.
- Go to Tools, click on Preferences, and select Input/Codecs.
- Next to Damaged or incomplete AVI file select Always fix.
- Click Save and try playing the AVI file again.
Worked out? Cool. If not, don’t lose hope. There is a good chance to fix your broken AVI videos using a capable video repair tool.
You need to choose reputable software that can handle severe AVI issues, such as fixing corrupt AVI file headers, and restoring videos to their normal state. We will introduce such a tool to you.
2. Repair using Dedicated Video Repair Software
Yodot Video Repair can fix corrupt video files of different formats like AVI, MP4, MOV, etc. The tool is safe and very easy to use, try now to get your AVI files back.
Download the tool and follow the steps to use Yodot Video Repair to repair the AVI files that won’t play in VLC:
Step 1: Launch the tool, select the video, and click on Repair.
Step 2: The tool starts repairing the corrupt video file.
Step 3: After completion, preview the recovered video file and save it on your device.
Now you can stream your AVI videos on VLC or any other media player. Enjoy!.
BONUS: Repair Other AVI issues
When you face audio sync issues with AVI files, encounter errors stating ‘Input File Is Not an AVI File,’ or find that AVI files are not being recognized as AVI, you can choose to do two things to fix them:
- Update your VLC Media Player.
- Install the necessary codecs from reliable sources like FFmpeg.
Conclusion
VLC Media Player is so amazing that several users choose it as their default media player. However, when it can’t play your AVI files or has a playback issue while playing your videos, it could be troublesome but not the ultimate end.
Try all the solutions listed in this article, in no particular order, to get your VLC to play the AVI files back again.
