Video lag can be frustrating when you’re trying to watch a movie, play a game, or get work done. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as outdated drivers, insufficient hardware resources, or software conflicts. Fortunately, there are several ways to fix video lag on Windows 11. In this article, we’ll explore the top 6 ways to improve video performance on your computer.
Check System Requirements
Before you start troubleshooting, make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. According to Microsoft, your computer should have a processor with at least 1 GHz clock speed, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. Additionally, your graphics card should support DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, you may experience lag and other performance issues. To check your system specifications, go to Settings > System > About. Here, you’ll see information about your processor, RAM, and storage. To check your graphics card, go to Device Manager and expand the Display adapters section. Here, you’ll see the name of your graphics card and the driver version.
If your computer doesn’t meet the system requirements, you may need to upgrade your hardware or consider using an older version of Windows. However, if your computer meets the requirements, there are several other ways to fix video lag on Windows 11.
Close Unnecessary Programs
One of the most common causes of video lag is insufficient resources. If your computer is running too many programs at once, it may not have enough memory or processing power to handle video playback smoothly. To free up resources, close any unnecessary programs that are running in the background.
To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Here, you’ll see a list of all the programs that are currently running on your computer. Look for programs that you’re not actively using, such as media players, web browsers, or chat apps. Click on the program and select End task to close it.
You can also disable startup programs that are not essential. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Startup. Here, you’ll see a list of programs that are set to start automatically when you log in to your computer. Disable any programs that you don’t need by toggling the switch to Off. This will prevent them from running in the background and using up resources.
Update Graphics Card Drivers
Outdated graphics card drivers can cause video lag and other performance issues. To ensure that your graphics card is working properly, check for updates and install the latest drivers.
To do this, go to Device Manager and expand the Display adapters section. Here, you’ll see the name of your graphics card. Right-click on the graphics card and select Update driver. Windows will search for the latest driver and install it if one is available.
Alternatively, you can download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer, such as NVIDIA or AMD, and look for the latest driver for your specific card model. Download and install the driver according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
After updating your graphics card driver, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect. This should improve video performance and reduce lag.
Adjust Graphics Settings
Another way to reduce video lag is to adjust the graphics settings. Lowering the graphics settings can reduce the demand on your computer’s resources and improve performance. Here are some tips for adjusting graphics settings:
- Lower the resolution: Lowering the resolution of the video can reduce the demand on your graphics card. Go to the video player or game settings and select a lower resolution.
- Turn off visual effects: Visual effects, such as shadows, reflections, and particle effects, can be demanding on your graphics card. Turn off any unnecessary visual effects in the video player or game settings.
- Reduce anti-aliasing: Anti-aliasing is a technique used to smooth out jagged edges in images. However, it can be demanding on your graphics card. Reduce the anti-aliasing setting in the video player or game settings.
By adjusting the graphics settings, you can reduce lag and improve video performance on your computer. Experiment with different settings to find the best balance between performance and visual quality.
