Does Your Windows PC Freeze When Watching Videos? Try These 10 fixes

Does your system freeze while watching videos? If yes, worry not; you are not alone in this. The problem is very common among users and occurs on watching both online and offline videos.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to troubleshoot this issue. Below are all the working solutions you can try in this situation.

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Why Do Windows Computers Sometimes Freeze When Watching Videos?

The prime reason behind the freezing of computers while watching videos is outdated graphics drivers. But, this isn’t the only cause of the problem. There are many more culprits that can be responsible for the issue. Let’s check them out.

Now that you know the different reasons causing the issue, here are the fixes you can try.

Dell monitor showing Windows 10 desktop

1. Download the Latest Windows Update

Before diving into technical solutions, ensure that the system runs on the latest Windows update. The freezing or crashing problem is common among systems that don’t feature the latest OS update.

So, update the computer to the latest OS version, and check if it fixes the problem. Here’s how to do it.

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That’s it. Now Windows will check for and download any pending update.

2. Run the Video Playback Troubleshooter

The latest Windows comes with built-in troubleshooting tools to keep the system free from issues. As the problem appears on playing video, you will have to use the video playback troubleshooter. Here’s how.

The troubleshooter will now look for any available issues and suggest potential solutions. Apply the fixes to resolve the problem.

firefox logo with yellow warning symbol

3. Update the Graphics Driver

Corrupt or outdated graphics drivers are a major reason behind the freezing issue. As a solution, you will have todownload the latest graphic driver update. Here’s how.

Windows will not look for and download the best available graphics driver for the system. Once the process is complete, reboot the system and check if the problem is fixed or not.

man angry at windows 11 laptop after crash

4. Increase Virtual Memory

The next solution on the list is to increase the virtual memory. Increasing the virtual memory will enhance the overall system performance, automatically solving the freezing issue. You canincrease the virtual memoryby following the below steps.

That’s it. Now reboot the system and check if you are still facing the issue. If yes, try the next solution on the list.

5. Perform an SFC scan

If the problem is being caused due to corrupt system files, consider performing an SFC scan. It’ll detect and replace all the corrupt system files.

you may perform an SFC scan by following the below steps.

Wait until the command is successfully executed. After that, reboot the system and check for the issue.

6. Switch to a Different Media Player

There are a lot offree media players available for Windows, but very few live up to the name. So, if you notice that the problem is only occurring on a particular media player, it’s time to switch to a different app.

7. Clear the Browser Cache Data

If the problem appears only on viewing online videos, most probably the corrupt cache data is the main culprit. The browser cache data can get corrupted due to various reasons. And when this happens, you will face different issues, including one in the discussion.

You’ll have to clear the browser cache data to eliminate the problem. Here are the steps to do it on Google Chrome.

Next, relaunch the browser, and play any video. If the problem persists, continue with the guide.

9. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Disabling hardware acceleration on your browser is another effective solution you can try in this situation. Here’s how to do it.

10. Update Your Browser

If you are using an outdated browser, you’ll often encounter freezing issues on viewing online videos. As a solution, consider updating the browser to the latest update. Here’s how to update Google Chrome.

Similarly, you can download the update for any other browser you use.

10. Reset Your Windows

You’ll have to reset the Windows if none of the above solutions was helpful. Here’s how to do it.

Next, follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows PC successfully.

Watch Videos Again Without Any Interruption

Watching videos is among the most basic tasks one can perform on a Windows PC. But if the computer freezes on watching online/ offline videos, try the above solutions to get rid of the problem.

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