● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
VLC Media Player Experiences 33-Second MP3 Playback Delay on Windows 11 Due to Microsoft Defender
Key points
- VLC on Windows 11 shows up to 33-second delay for MP3 playback.
- VLC developers blame Microsoft Defender for quarantining plugin cache.
- The plugin cache is crucial for VLC's component loading.
- Solutions include reinstalling VLC or adding Defender exceptions.
VLC Playback Delays on Windows 11
VLC Media Player users running Windows 11 have encountered an issue causing delays of up to 33 seconds when attempting to play MP3 files. This problem gained attention after game developer Jonathan Blow publicly criticized VLC and switched to Microsoft's Media Player due to the delay.
VLC Developers Blame Microsoft Defender
VLC's development team states that the media player itself is not at fault. They attribute the bug to a recent Windows 11 update that introduced a conflict with Microsoft Defender, causing it to quarantine VLC's plugin cache. This interference prevents VLC from efficiently loading necessary components.
Impact on VLC's Plugin System
VLC relies on a plugin cache to load codecs, demuxers, and input/output modules efficiently. When Microsoft Defender quarantines or blocks the 'plugins.dat' cache file, VLC must scan its entire plugin directory each time it loads, leading to the noticeable playback delay. The issue was not consistently reproducible on all Windows 11 machines.
Workarounds for Affected Users
Users experiencing this delay can resolve it by reinstalling VLC or regenerating the plugin cache. The VLC Windows installer includes a 'vlc-cache-gen.exe' tool or a shortcut in the Start menu to reset preferences and cache files. Alternatively, adding an exception for the VLC installation folder within Microsoft Defender settings can prevent future interference.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
VLC Media Player users on Windows 11 are reporting delays of up to 33 seconds when playing MP3 files, which VLC developers attribute to Microsoft Defender quarantining the player's plugin cache. This issue causes VLC to spend significant time processing its plugin system before playback begins.