Video pixelated while playing in VLC or Windows? Fix playback problems

Before you blame the file, check whether the problem is the player. If the same video looks fine on another device, the pixelation is a playback problem. These are quick to fix.

  • Free preview, no signup
  • Files auto-deleted after 24 hours
  • Corrupted files are repaired automatically

Common playback causes

  • Hardware decoding glitches with an outdated graphics driver.
  • A CPU or disk that cannot keep up with a high bitrate file, causing dropped frames and artifacts.
  • Streaming from a slow network drive or a half-downloaded file.
  • Missing codecs in older players.
  • Display scaling and a window that scales a small video to fill a big screen.

VLC settings

Open Tools, Preferences, Input / Codecs. Set Hardware-accelerated decoding to Disable and test. Check that Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding is set to None, because skipping it speeds playback but leaves blocks visible. If you change settings, restart VLC.

Fix playback pixelation

  1. Test on another deviceIf it looks fine elsewhere, the file is healthy.
  2. Disable hardware decoding in VLCTools, Preferences, Input / Codecs, Hardware-accelerated decoding, Disable.
  3. Update graphics driversInstall the newest driver from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or Windows Update.
  4. Copy the file locallyMove it to an internal drive instead of playing across the network or from a USB stick.
  5. If it is bad everywhere, repair the fileUpload it to the fixer, which attempts a repair and cleanup automatically.

Try it on your own video

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Frequently asked questions

Why is my video pixelated in VLC but not in other players?

Usually hardware decoding or a graphics driver issue. Disable hardware decoding and test again.

Why do videos get pixelated when I seek?

After a jump, decoders wait for the next keyframe. You may see blocks for a moment, which is normal for some files.

Does Windows Media Player support all formats?

No. Use VLC or install codecs for less common formats.

Can a healthy file turn pixelated by being copied?

A copy interrupted by a flaky USB stick or network can corrupt the data. Re-copy and compare file sizes.

Related guides

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