Editing videos on Windows might be easier than you thought, but sometimes things go awry—like missing features, files refusing to import, or the app crashing outta nowhere. If you’ve been struggling with basic editing or just want smoother workflows, this guide aims to cover some common pain points and solutions. Most folks start with the built-in Photos app, which is surprisingly capable for simple trims and edits, but it definitely has quirks. The key here is to know what to check when things go sideways and how to tweak settings or try alternatives so your footage actually gets cleaned up instead of turned into a frustrating mess.
How to Fix Video Editing Glitches or Limitations on Windows
Method 1: Make Sure Your Video is Supported and Properly Imported
If videos aren’t loading or editing smoothly, it’s probably a codec issue or a filepath problem. Windows Photos supports formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV, but some weird files might have incompatible codecs. To fix it, check the file format and codec first. You can use tools like MediaInfo to see what codecs are used.
If your video is in an unsupported format or codec (like HEVC/H.265 on some systems), you might need to convert it to MP4/H.264 using a free converter like HandBrake (handbrake.fr).Just drag the video onto HandBrake, select a preset like “Fast 1080p30, ” and queue it up. Then re-import that into Photos. Sometimes, Windows struggles with certain H.265 files natively—hence, conversion helps a lot.
Method 2: Reset or Repair the Photos App
If the app keeps crashing, freezes, or acts weird—even after trying to import files, it might need a reset. On Windows 10/11, go to Settings → Apps → Apps & Features. Find the Microsoft Photos entry, click it, then choose Advanced options. From there, hit Reset. This often clears out a weird cache or broken config preventing the app from working right.
Once reset, reopen Photos and try importing your video again. Sometimes, on certain setups, the first few launches after a reset are a little sluggish, but it settles down.
Method 3: Check Windows Video Playback Settings and Graphics Drivers
Not directly about the editing per se, but if your videos look choppy or won’t export correctly, maybe your GPU drivers or playback settings are screwing things up. Use Device Manager or go to your graphics card manufacturer’s site (Nvidia, AMD, Intel) and update your drivers. Also, check that hardware acceleration in Windows is enabled if your system supports it.
Go to Settings → System → Display → Graphics and click on Graphics Settings. Turn on hardware acceleration or toggle it off/on to see if it stabilizes your editing experience.
Method 4: Use Alternate Editing Software for Better Control
Sometimes, Photos just isn’t enough, especially if you’re dealing with larger files or want more editing features. On the other hand, some free or cheaper alternatives—like Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve—offer more stability and options. They can handle different formats better and give you more control over editing, transitions, and export settings. If Pac-man’s a little glitchy in Photos, switching might save your project from corruption or crashes.
Many find that updating the Windows OS itself can also help with codec support and overall stability. Check for pending updates under Settings → Update & Security. Keeping everything current fixes weird bugs and adds support for newer formats or hardware features.
Plus, if exporting looks odd or the quality isn’t what you expected, it’s worth experimenting with export settings—like changing the resolution, bitrate, or format. Sometimes the default isn’t the best for your needs.
And of course, every setup is different; what works on one machine might not on another, so a bit of trial and error is part of the process. But knowing these troubleshooting steps makes the whole editing journey less like hitting a wall every five minutes.