[thekingswolf]

I don't want to call it buffering, as i don't use Kodi for streaming. I play only local files, not on my network on an external drive plugged directly into the computer running Kodi. It's only just recently started happening. Watching a movie or show or whatever, and it just stops. Then after a minute or two, the file will begin playing again at a rapid speed to catch up to where it is supposed to be then often will pause again and repeat. All the solutions im finding are for buffering streaming data and that's not my issue. Thoughts?
Kodi 17.3

[Klojum]

Thoughts?

The details are in the kodi.log file. Provide it so we can do without any crystal balls or tarot card reading.
Possibly your video file has a bitrate, and your kodi box is catching its breathing while catching up with it.

[thekingswolf]

it is random across different files, and no need to be snippy. will upload log file when i get home