VLC High CPU Usage Fix 2026

## Direct Answer
To fix VLC high CPU usage, go to **Tools** > **Preferences** > **Input/Codecs**, and change the **Hardware-accelerated decoding** to **Disable**. This will reduce CPU usage, but may affect video playback performance.

## Step-by-Step Guide
1. **Open VLC**: Launch the VLC media player on your computer.
2. **Access Preferences**: Go to **Tools** > **Preferences** (or press **Ctrl + P** on Windows or **Command + P** on Mac).
3. **Input/Codecs Settings**: In the Preferences window, click on **Input/Codecs** in the left-hand menu.
4. **Disable Hardware-Accelerated Decoding**: Under **Codecs**, change the **Hardware-accelerated decoding** option to **Disable**.
5. **Save Changes**: Click **Save** to apply the changes.
6. **Restart VLC**: Close and restart the VLC media player to ensure the changes take effect.

## FAQ
### Q: Why is VLC using high CPU?
A: VLC high CPU usage can be caused by hardware-accelerated decoding, which can be resource-intensive.
### Q: Will disabling hardware-accelerated decoding affect video playback?
A: Yes, disabling hardware-accelerated decoding may affect video playback performance, but it will reduce CPU usage.
### Q: Are there any alternative solutions?
A: Yes, you can also try updating your graphics drivers, closing other resource-intensive programs, or using a different media player to see if the issue persists.

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