Troubleshooting

Why Is My Record Player Skipping? A Step-by-Step Fix

Skipping is the most common complaint from new turntable owners, and the frustrating part is that it can come from the record, the stylus, the setup or the room. The good news: most causes are free or cheap to fix. Work through this guide in order and you'll usually find the culprit in a few minutes.

A skip happens when the stylus is knocked out of the groove it's supposed to be following. It might jump forward (skipping ahead), jump back (repeating a section, often called a "locked groove" effect), or slide across the record entirely. Each points in a slightly different direction, so pay attention to which one you're hearing.

Step 1: Is it the record or the player?

This is the most useful question you can ask, and it takes two minutes.

Step 2: Inspect and clean the record

Look at the spot where it skips under a bright light. If there's a visible scratch that catches your fingernail, the skip may be permanent damage. If you see dust, a hair or a crumb, that's good news.

• Use a dry carbon fiber brush while the record spins to lift surface dust.
• For grime that a brush won't move, a wet clean with a fluid made for vinyl often helps. Our guide to brushes vs wet cleaning covers how.
• Check for a warp by looking at the record edge-on while it spins. A strong warp can bounce the stylus out of the groove.

If a scratch is the issue, some people try playing the section with slightly higher tracking force (still within the cartridge's recommended range) so the stylus rides through. That can work for minor scratches, but don't go above the maker's range to force it.

Step 3: Check and clean the stylus

Fluff and dust collect on the stylus tip, especially on dusty records. Once a little ball forms, the stylus effectively rides on that instead of the groove, and it starts skipping and sounding distorted.

1. Lift the tonearm onto its rest and lock it if it has a clip.
2. Look at the stylus from the side with a light. Any visible fuzz needs to go.
3. Use a stylus brush and stroke gently from back to front only (in the direction the record moves under it). Never side to side, which can bend the cantilever.
4. While you're there, check that the cantilever (the thin tube the stylus tip sits on) is straight, not bent or pushed up into the cartridge body.

Step 4: Tracking force and anti-skate

Tracking force is how much downward pressure the stylus puts on the record. Too little and it bounces out of the groove. Too much can wear records and stylus faster. Your cartridge maker publishes a recommended range; look it up by the exact cartridge model.

• Many entry-level turntables come preset and have no adjustment. If yours is like that, skip ahead; the setting isn't the issue unless something is broken.
• If your tonearm has a counterweight, balance the arm and set the force as described in the manual, or use an inexpensive digital stylus force gauge to confirm. Counterweight dial markings can be off on some arms.
• Anti-skate counteracts the tonearm's tendency to pull toward the center as the record plays. If it's set far too low, the arm can be pulled inward and skip forward. A common starting point is to match it to the tracking force number, then follow your turntable's manual.

If you've bought a used deck or changed cartridges, our step-by-step guide to setting tracking force and anti-skate walks through it in detail.

Step 5: Check that the tonearm moves freely

With the turntable stopped, gently lift the tonearm off its rest and let it move side to side and up and down. It should move smoothly without catching. A sticky arm can't follow the groove properly.

• Make sure the tonearm lift lever is fully lowered when playing. A lift that doesn't drop all the way can hold the stylus just above the groove.
• Check that the tonearm cable isn't caught or pulled tight behind the deck.
• On automatic turntables, an auto-return mechanism that triggers too early can sound like a skip at the end of a side. Some records have unusual run-out spacing that confuses older mechanisms.

Step 6: Level and vibration

A turntable reads microscopic movements in the groove, so it's sensitive to anything else that moves it.

• Put a small bubble level on the platter. If it's off, adjust the feet or shim the furniture.
• Avoid placing the turntable on the same surface as speakers. Bass vibrations travel straight into the stylus.
• If skips happen when people walk by, the floor is flexing. A heavier, stable piece of furniture or a wall-mounted shelf usually helps more than any accessory.
• Isolation feet or a platform can help in some setups; our article on isolation feet explains when.

Step 7: Worn or wrong stylus

A stylus wears gradually. As the tip wears, it sits differently in the groove and can start to skip and sound harsh, particularly in loud passages and near the center of the record. Manufacturers give rough lifespan guidelines in hours, which vary widely by stylus type, so check yours rather than relying on a general number.

Also check that the stylus actually matches your cartridge. A replacement for the wrong model can fit physically and still sit at the wrong height or force. Our guide to stylus compatibility shows how to identify exactly what you have.

When it's probably not worth fixing yourself

If you've cleaned everything, confirmed force and anti-skate, leveled the deck and fitted a new correct stylus, and records still skip, there may be a mechanical problem: a damaged tonearm bearing, a bent tonearm, or on some budget all-in-one players, a tonearm design that simply can't track well. At that point a repair shop or a different turntable is often the better path.

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