How to Fix 'VLC Audio Not Syncing with Video'

Is there anything more annoying than settling down to watch your favorite movie, only for you to realize the characters’ lips move, but the sound doesn’t match? If you're using VLC Media Player, you might encounter an issue where the audio isn’t syncing with the video. This can be incredibly frustrating, but fear not! This article will guide you through several simple steps to fix audio-video synchronization issues in VLC.

Understand the Issue

Before diving into solutions, it's essential to understand that audio desynchronization can happen for many reasons. It could be due to the video file itself being out of sync, or it might be a playback issue with VLC. Either way, there are various methods to resolve the problem.

Method 1: Adjust Audio Delay in VLC

One of the quickest fixes is to manually adjust the audio delay in VLC while the video is playing.

While watching the video, tap the 'J' key on your keyboard to delay the audio if it’s ahead of the video. Each tap will delay the audio by 50 milliseconds.
If the audio is lagging behind the video, you can press the 'K' key to advance the audio forward by 50 milliseconds with each tap.

Keep adjusting until the audio syncs up with the video perfectly. You can see the delay counter at the top right of the VLC window as you make these adjustments.

Method 2: Adjust from the Menu

If you prefer using a menu or need more precise control:

Go to Tools > Track Synchronization on VLC’s menu.
Under the Synchronization tab, you will see the Audio/Video section. Here, you can adjust the Audio Track Synchronization setting. You can use positive values if the audio is behind the video or negative values if the audio is ahead.
Click Close once you're satisfied with the adjustments.

This method gives you more precise control over the timing compared to using shortcut keys.

Method 3: Check Your File

It’s worth considering that the file itself might be the issue. If the audio is out of sync for every video you play, the problem is likely with VLC settings or your computer. However, if it’s just one specific file, the issue likely lies within the file. You can try playing the file in another media player to confirm. If the problem persists across different players, you might need to find a different version of the file or use video editing software to permanently fix the sync.

Method 4: Update VLC Player

Running an outdated version of VLC can sometimes cause playback issues, including audio-video sync problems. Make sure you have the latest version of VLC:

Open VLC, go to Help > Check for Updates.
If there are updates available, follow the prompts to download and install the latest version.

Method 5: Change Output Module

If the previous methods don’t work, changing the output module in VLC’s settings might help:

Go to Tools > Preferences in VLC.
At the bottom left of the Preferences window, switch to All under Show settings.
Scroll down and click on Audio, then on Output modules. Try selecting a different output module from the drop-down menu.
Save your changes and restart VLC to see if the issue is resolved.

Method 6: Reset VLC Preferences

As a last resort, if nothing else works, you could try resetting VLC’s preferences to default:

Open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences.
Click on Reset Preferences at the bottom of the window.
Restart VLC.

This step will undo all your customized settings, so use it as a last resort.

Conclusion

Audio desynchronization can be quite a mood killer when you’re eager to dive into a good movie or show. Fortunately, with VLC, there are multiple ways to address this issue. Whether it’s a quick adjustment using shortcut keys or diving into the settings to change the output module, there’s a good chance one of these methods will get your audio and video back in perfect harmony. Happy watching!

Remember, technology can be quirky, but with a little patience and tinkering, there’s almost always a straightforward solution.

How to Fix 'VLC Audio Not Syncing with Video'