How Do I Fix Audio Video Sync Problems on Windows and Mac

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into what audio-video out-of-sync issues are, examine their causes, and provide the appropriate solutions with screenshots and step-by-step instructions. Stay with us to learn about repairing audio and video files and resolving out-of-sync problems.

What Is the Audio and Video File Out of Sync Problem

Videos are complex files where the container keeps information about the beginning and end of each scene, dialogue part, and subtitle. The audio, video, and subtitles must perfectly match each other to enjoy the video as intended. However, that’s not always the case, which brings us to out-of-sync issues.

In essence, out-of-sync problems refer to any issues related to mismatching audio, video, and subtitle tracks. Nonetheless, not all videos have subtitles, and since these mismatching issues can quickly be resolved, we’ll focus more on audio and video file out-of-sync problems, which are much more common.

Such issues can be incredibly frustrating, as everything essentially works, but the mismatching audio and video tracks steal the attention, not allowing you to focus on the content. Enjoying your favorite videos is impossible when audio comes after the video, or vice versa, so these issues must be resolved.

Causes of Audio and Video Out of Sync Problem

Before we can get into practical solutions for out-of-sync problems and repair audio and video files, we must examine the culprits behind these issues. That way, we’ll know what method to apply. Below is a list of the most common causes of audio and video out-of-sync problems.

Although these aren’t all the culprits behind syncing problems, they’re undoubtedly the most common causes of such issues on Windows and Mac machines. You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed, though – we’ll show you how to fix the problems they cause in the next section.

How to Fix the Audio and Video Out of Sync on Windows

While there are many different culprits behind audio and video out-of-sync issues, the problems they cause are almost always resolvable. Below is a list of troubleshooting methods with detailed steps, and by going through it, you’ll undoubtedly find a solution that works for you.

Fix 1: Clean Cache and Cookies

Cached data and website cookies are tiny browser elements that remember how websites look and function, and they store this data on your computer. That speeds up your access time and website navigation the next time you visit the same website.

However, there’s also a downside to cache and cookies, as a local build-up of each element can lead to various audio, video, and syncing issues. Occasionally deleting them from the PC and through the browser can help resolve these problems. So, let’s dive straight into it.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome and hit the Three Dots at the top.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data > Advanced.

Step 3: Under Time range, select All time, and then check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.

Step 4: Click Clear data and then restart the browser. When done, check whether out-of-sync issues persist.

While the abovementioned steps are for Google Chrome, one of the most widely used web browser apps, other browsers will require similar steps. You can always look for specific steps for your browser.

Fix 2: Fix Audio and Video Files With Wondershare Repairit

File corruption is one of the most common causes of syncing problems. No matter how many adjustments you make inside the media player, such files will always be out-of-sync, and you won’t be able to enjoy your favorite content. However, there is a way to eliminate the problem.

Whether file corruption is caused by failed file transfers, broken video headers, viruses, system crashes, or whatever else, you can use a dedicated video repair tool like Wondershare Repairit to repair audio and video files and handle file corruption.

The Repairit app for Windows and Macs supports 18 video formats, including MOV, 3GP, FLV, AVI, MP4, M4V, MKV, etc. There’s also an online version accessible to any device with a web browser. The application’s incredibly effective repair algorithms also eliminate corrupted file sectors and allow for quick and easy out-of-sync file repair.

Here’s how you can repair audio and video files with Repairit - Video Repair:

Step 1: Open Wondershare Repairit, then pick Video Repair and tap Add.

Step 2: Click Repair to initiate the repair process.

Step 3: Preview the repaired files by clicking Preview to see whether you’re satisfied.

Step 4: For heavily corrupted video files, choose the Advanced Repair option and upload a sample video. Using the sample video made with the same device and settings, Repairit will fix even the most broken videos.

Step 5: When ready, click the Save button next to the previewed video. You can also click Save All to save all videos.

As mentioned, Wondershare Repairit also exists as a macOS app. The steps for repairing audio and video files with Repairit on macOS are similar to the ones above, so you can follow them after downloading and installing the Mac version.

Fix 3: Restart Your Media Player

Suppose you’ve been binge-watching your favorite TV show or had a movie marathon with friends where you’ve loaded tens of episodes or films into the media player. In that case, there’s a possibility that your favorite media player has experienced an error due to being overloaded with video, audio, and subtitle tracks, which can lead to syncing problems.

Fortunately, fixing this is as simple as possible, as you only need to restart the media player. Close the application down, give your PC a few seconds, and open the media player again. Then, load your videos and check whether the syncing issues persist. If they do, you can move on to another solution.

Fix 4: Restart Your Computer

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” is a widespread phrase you’ll hear from friends and technicians if you describe any problem with an electronic device, be it a smartphone, a tablet, a TV, or a PC. While hearing the phrase is undoubtedly frustrating, there’s much truth to it.

A restart is a simple yet incredibly effective solution. Turning the device off and back on resolves any bugs the operating system might have after hours of being used. Restarting also clears your RAM, where software bugs that lead to audio-video syncing issues might nest.

Fix 5: Run Audio Troubleshooter

Windows Troubleshooter is a tremendous built-in instrument for fixing miscellaneous operating system problems. That also includes out-of-sync issues, and the Windows Troubleshooter might be able to repair your audio and video files. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1: Hit the Windows key, type in Settings, and open it.

Step 2: Head into System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Step 3: The Audio troubleshooting tool should be at the top of the list. Click Run.

Step 4: Once initiated, follow the instructions and let the troubleshooting tool handle the issue.

In most cases, the Windows troubleshooting tools can handle minor errors that lead to audio and video sync issues. These include OS bugs, media player errors, incorrect playback devices, and other minor audio problems.

Fix 6: Restore Playback Devices to Default

There’s always the chance you’ve incorrectly set your playback devices. Nonetheless, you can manually set these settings to default if that’s the case. It’s also recommended if the Windows troubleshooting tool doesn’t fix your playback device issues. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go into Settings and navigate to System > Sound > Volume Mixer.

Step 2: Click the Reset button next to Reset sound devices and volumes for all apps to the recommended defaults.

Step 3: Once the Checkmark appears next to the Reset button, exit the Settings app and check whether the syncing problems persist.

Remember that clicking Reset also changes the volume. Please set it to an appropriate number afterward so you don’t scare yourself when the video starts playing.

Fix 7: Update Sound Drivers

Although regularly running Windows Updates should update all your drivers and resolve any issues related to these elements, you might also need to update the drivers manually in some cases. To do that, you’ll need to use the Device Manager, and here’s how:

Step 1: Click the Start menu, search for Device Manager, and open it.

Step 2: Navigate to Sound, video, and game controllers.

Step 3: Right-click on your audio device and choose Update driver.

Step 4: Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the steps to update it.

Step 5: Alternatively, you can choose the Uninstall device option after right-clicking your audio device. Then, restart your PC and let the OS find the driver through Windows Update.

You can also visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website, type in your motherboard model, download the latest audio drivers, and unzip the file. From there on, you can repeat the Device Manager process but choose Browse my computer for drivers and point the tool to the downloaded audio drivers.

Fix 8: Turn off Battery Saver

While not very likely, there’s a chance that your Battery Saver settings are causing syncing issues with audio and video files. That’s especially true for low-power laptops, where the Battery Saver might limit the CPU’s power, making it struggle with high-quality video and causing such problems. Nonetheless, fixing this is relatively straightforward.

Step 1: Hit the Windows key and search for the Control Panel.

Step 2: Once you open the Control Panel, start typing Power Options and open it.

Step 3: Change the power plan from “Power saver” to “Balanced” or “High performance.”

It’s worth noting that these two options, especially the High-performance one, consume more battery, but that’s a small price to pay to enjoy your favorite video content without issues.

How to Fix the Audio and Video Out of Sync on Mac

Windows users aren’t the only ones facing audio and video out-of-sync problems. These issues are also standard on Macs, and the solutions for fixing the problems on macOS also differ. Below is a list of the most common fixes on macOS.

Fix 1: Configure Audio Sync Preferences in Motion

Apple’s ecosystem is filled with specialized video tools where editors and graphics enthusiasts can thrive. However, some of these tools can also fix video issues, and Motion is a perfect example of that. While it’s an app for creating and editing motion graphics, Mac users can also use Motion to resolve out-of-sync issues, and here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Motion app and load the out-of-sync video.

Step 2: Navigate to Motion > Settings > Time pane.

Step 3: Go into Playback Control and choose “Skip video frames” or “Pause audio playback.”

As their names suggest, the Skip video frames choice skips frames focusing on uninterrupted audio, while the Pause audio playback pauses the audio track, focusing on continuous video.

Fix 2: Fix the Issue in iMovie

Although iMovie is primarily a video editing app on macOS, it’s also excellent at correcting audio and video issues, including out-of-sync problems. You’ll need to follow these steps to repair audio and video files with iMovie:

Step 1: Launch the iMovie app, select the File option, and click on Import Media to add the problematic file.

Step 2: Select the video, right-click it, and tap Detach Audio.

Step 3: Click the audio file on the timeline and choose the Edit option.

Step 4: Use the Trim to Selection option and adjust the audio file to fit the video.

Step 5: Finally, click File > Save to save the adjusted video.

It’s worth noting that iMovie has a steep learning curve since it’s a powerful video editing tool with hundreds of features. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it might not be the most practical option for fixing all syncing issues.

Fix 3: Convert the File to 48KHz

Detaching the audio track from the video inside iMovie also lets you convert the audio file to another sample rate. However, macOS doesn’t have a built-in tool for doing so, but you can do it online.

A quick search for an audio converter will present you with various free websites where you can upload the audio file and convert it to another format like MP3, WAV, or FLAC. Choosing the 48,000Hz or 48KHz sample rate can often resolve syncing problems, after which you can reattach the audio file to the video.

Fix 4: Update Your macOS

An outdated system is a known culprit behind various OS issues, and syncing problems are no exception. Fortunately, that’s an easy fix on Macs, and here’s everything you’ll need to do:

Step 1: Tap the Apple button in the top left and open System Settings.

Step 2: Go into General > Software Update.

Step 3: Click Upgrade Now if there’s an update.

Step 4: Once macOS finishes with the updates, restart your Mac and test the videos again.

Similarly, checking the box next to “Automatically keep my Mac up to date” is recommended. It’ll automatically install future updates, letting your system run the latest software.

Conclusion

Videos don’t always work perfectly, which can cause a lot of frustration when trying to watch your favorite content. For example, a particular video might not load. However, a video that loads but has audio and video out of sync can be even more frustrating.

Various culprits, like outdated systems, software errors, corrupted files, etc., can cause syncing issues. Fortunately, the problems they cause can often be resolved, requiring different solutions on Windows and Mac.

These solutions range from reopening the media player, restarting the PC, updating the OS, and manually syncing audio and video in iMovie. Wondershare Repairit works wonders and can quickly repair audio and video files or resolve syncing issues caused by corrupted data.