# Devs blame Windows for VLC media player bug that causes 33-second delay when playing MP3 files — creators allege Microsoft Defender blocking plugin cache is to blame

> Popular open-source media player VLC has run into an unusual issue on Windows 11 that causes it to take as long as 33 seconds to start playing a simple MP3 file, the side effect of a recent unexplained change to…

- **Source:** [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/vlc-media-player-bug-reportedly-causes-33-second-delay-when-playing-mp3-files-on-windows-developers-say-microsoft-defender-is-to-blame?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6a8082b724183da08bfc3a15)
- **Published:** 2026-08-15
- **Category:** Computers & IT
- **Tags:** #microsoft #windows
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6a8082b724183da08bfc3a15

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