plugin cache Archives

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Is VLC taking an agonizingly long time to start up on Windows 11? Microsoft Defender is to blame

Users of VLC on Windows 11 have experienced delays of up to 33 seconds for MP3 playback due to a bug in Microsoft Defender that interferes with VLC's plugin cache. VideoLAN has clarified that this issue is not a reflection of VLC's reliability. Affected users can resolve the problem by adding the VLC folder as an exception in Windows Defender or by regenerating the plugin cache. Jonathan Blow, a game developer, highlighted the issue in a tweet, prompting discussions about the state of open-source software. Other users have reported similar delays, even on Windows 10. VideoLAN emphasized that the problem lies with Microsoft Defender, not with VLC itself.

Winsage

August 16, 2026

Devs blame Windows for VLC media player bug that causes 33-second delay when playing MP3 files

VLC, the open-source media player, is experiencing delays of up to 33 seconds when playing MP3 files on Windows 11, attributed to a recent update to Microsoft Defender that conflicts with VLC’s plugin cache. Developer Jonathan Blow criticized VLC for this issue, prompting the VLC team to clarify that the problem stems from Microsoft Defender quarantining the plugins.cache file. Users can resolve the issue by reinstalling VLC or regenerating the plugin cache, although this will reset personalized settings. Adding an exception for VLC in Microsoft Defender may prevent future issues. Microsoft has not yet commented on the situation.