Fix audio that is out of sync with the picture

Lips move and the words arrive a moment later. Use the audio-delay control to test a timing correction.

Why it happens

An offset in the source or output path can cause audio/video misalignment. Sometimes it is the output path — Bluetooth headphones and speakers add latency of their own.

Nudging it into place

Audio delay shifts the sound earlier or later while the film keeps playing. For a constant offset, adjust during a clear line of dialogue, then check later scenes. The other sound controls are on the sound page.

For the current playback

The audio delay resets when a new file opens; it is not saved against the video.

Ruling out your headphones first

Before adjusting anything in the player, consider how you are listening. The audio output path can add delay; compare another output to help investigate it. If the same offset appears across videos, compare wired output to help isolate the output path.

A reliable way to judge the offset

Find a close-up where someone speaks clearly, and watch the mouth rather than listening. If the sound arrives after the lips move, the audio is late and needs pulling forward. Adjust in small steps while the film continues playing, then compare another scene. Trying to judge it during action or music is much harder than during plain dialogue.

When the gap grows as the film runs

A constant offset can sometimes be corrected with Audio delay. If the offset changes during playback, compare another copy and output path; a fixed delay cannot correct every kind of drift. In that case a different copy of the film is a faster remedy than fighting the one you have.

Worth knowing