If you experience audio/video problems in RealPlayer, please try the following solutions. You may not need to try them all--after completing each one, try playing your video clip again.

If you are not seeing any video at all or the video is distorted, please check this article for additional troubleshooting tips.

Solution 1: Adjust your hardware settings

1. Open RealPlayer.
2. Click the RealPlayer logo, then Preferences. 
3. In the Category pane, select Hardware.

From the Hardware window, try each of these:

- Under Playback Performance, move the slider to the left, towards Lowest CPU usage.
- Click OK twice to save the changes.
- Close out of RealPlayer, restart it, and sign back in.
- If this does not work, set Playback Performance back to its default.

- Under Sound Card Compatibility, click the Settings button.
- Move the slider bar for Playback Quality to Most reliable.
- Click OK twice to save the changes.
- Close out of RealPlayer, restart it, and sign back in.
- If this does not work, set Sound Card Compatibility back to its default.

- Under Video Card Compatibility, move the slider bar to Most reliable.
- Click OK twice to save the changes.
- Close out of RealPlayer, restart it, and sign back in.
- If this does not work, set Video Card Compatibility back to its default.

Solution 2: Update DirectX

If Windows DirectX components are out-of-date or damaged, RealPlayer can crash or display video incorrectly.

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools in the top menu bar, then select Windows Update.
3. Click Custom. Look for DirectX in the list of available updates, and select it. (If DirectX is not listed, you already have the latest version.)
4. Click Review and install updates and follow the steps.

Solution 3: Update your video card drivers

Video drivers that are out-of-date, damaged, or not DirectX-compatible can cause video display or resolution problems. Visit your video card manufacturer's website to download and install the latest DirectX-certified drivers.