Sometimes, the video or audio content in a web page cannot be properly downloaded and displayed in Firefox. A required plugin may be missing or in conflict with another plugin, the page may be coded specifically for Internet Explorer, or the content may be blocked for some reason. This article will help you solve these problems. __TOC__ = Install missing plugins = Although Firefox can display some media on web pages, such as images, it needs the help of media players and browser plugins for video, audio, and other content. Although you may have the correct media players installed to play video and audio files, you may be missing the necessary plugins when the media is ''embedded'' within the web page itself. The following articles and related notes describe some common plugins and the types of media they handle: * '''Flash plugin''': See [[Installing the Flash plugin]] and [[Managing the Flash plugin]] ** The Flash plugin is used for many types of embedded audio and video, including YouTube.com videos. * '''Shockwave plugin''': See [[Using the Shockwave plugin with Firefox]] ** The Shockwave plugin is needed for some types of animated content, such as games, interactive demos, and online training. * '''Windows Media Player plugin''': See [[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox]] ** The Windows Media Player plugin will only play a specific few Windows media formats (.asf, .asx, .wm, .wma, .wax, .wmv, and .wvx) unless the web page is specifically designed for Firefox and other Mozilla browsers. Internet Explorer will use Windows Media Player for many other formats like mp3 and midi, but Firefox will require another plugin, such as QuickTime. * '''QuickTime plugin''': See [[Using the QuickTime plugin with Firefox]] ** The QuickTime plugin can handle many different types of embedded media. On older operating systems, the QuickTime plugin may not be configured to handle some common file formats found online, such as embedded .mp3 audio on Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.5 and below. In such cases, you need to select the media formats you want QuickTime to play in Firefox in your QuickTime Preferences. *''' VLC Media Player plugin''': See [http://wiki.videolan.org/Documentation:Play_HowTo/Advanced_Use_of_VLC#The_Mozilla_plugin Advanced use of VLC - The Mozilla plugin] at wiki.videolan.org **The VLC media player includes an optional plugin that can handle many different types of embedded media (.vlc, .ogg, .avi, .flv, .divx, .mkv, .mka, .xspf, .mp3, .mpe, .vob, .m3u, and some QuickTime and Windows Media formats) but it may conflict with other installed plugins that handle the same content. * '''RealPlayer plugin''': See [[Using the RealPlayer plugin with Firefox]] ** The RealPlayer 10.5 plugin plays the .rpm format only. Other Real media files (.rm, .ram, .ra) may not work if the plugin is enabled so, if you are having problems with links to Real media files, disable the RealPlayer plugin. * '''Java plugin''': See [[Using the Java plugin with Firefox]] * '''Silverlight plugin''': See [[Using the Silverlight plugin with Firefox]] [[T:pluginCheck]] = Disable a conflicting plugin = If you have more than one plugin installed that can handle the same [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_media_type media type], this can cause a conflict that prevents some embedded media from playing. You may be able to fix the issue by disabling one of the plugins. #[[T:Open Add-ons|type=Plugins]] #In the list of plugins, select the plugin you wish to troubleshoot. #*If you want to disable the plugin, click the {button Disable} button. #*If you want to re-enable the plugin, click the {button Enable} button For example, you may need to disable the VLC plugin to play embedded QuickTime or Windows Media content. For more information about troubleshooting problems caused by plugins, see the [[Troubleshooting plugins]] article. = Other solutions = * Verify that cookies are enabled in the '''Privacy''' panel in the [[Options window - Privacy panel|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for}]] window. Verify that the site is not blocked in the Cookie Exceptions list. * Allow the website as an exception in the Firefox pop-up blocker. The "Block pop-up windows" option is found in the '''Content''' panel of the [[Options window - Content panel|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for}]] window. *Verify that JavaScript is enabled in the '''Content''' panel of the [[Options window - Content panel|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for}]] window. <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=449358 --> *Disable any ad-blocking software or Firefox extensions, such as Adblock or Adblock Plus. If the site works with ad-blocking disabled, you may want to add the site to your whitelist in your adblocker filter. *Clear the cache (see [[How to clear the cache]]). <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=594327 --> * '''Advanced users:''' If you use a Windows [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file hosts file], you can temporarily disable it by renaming it {filepath Xhosts}. Or, you can edit the hosts file to remove specific entries such as '''ad.doubleclick.net''' that can cause videos on certain sites to fail (for more information, see this [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=2862303#2862303 MozillaZine forum thread]). To apply changes to your hosts file, you may need to flush the DNS cache by entering the command: <code>ipconfig /flushdns</code> in the Run dialog box in Windows. [[T:amo]] <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Video_or_audio_does_not_play Video or audio does not play (mozillaZine KB)]'''''

Sometimes, the video or audio content in a web page cannot be properly downloaded and displayed in Firefox. A required plugin may be missing or in conflict with another plugin, the page may be coded specifically for Internet Explorer, or the content may be blocked for some reason. This article will help you solve these problems.

Install missing plugins

Although Firefox can display some media on web pages, such as images, it needs the help of media players and browser plugins for video, audio, and other content. Although you may have the correct media players installed to play video and audio files, you may be missing the necessary plugins when the media is embedded within the web page itself.

The following articles and related notes describe some common plugins and the types of media they handle:

• Flash plugin: See Install the Flash plugin to view videos, animations and games and Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems
  • The Flash plugin is used for many types of embedded audio and video, including YouTube.com videos.
• Shockwave plugin: See Using the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
  • The Shockwave plugin is needed for some types of animated content, such as games, interactive demos, and online training.
• Windows Media Player plugin: See Play Windows Media files in Firefox with the Windows Media plugin
  • The Windows Media Player plugin will only play a specific few Windows media formats (.asf, .asx, .wm, .wma, .wax, .wmv, and .wvx) unless the web page is specifically designed for Firefox and other Mozilla browsers. Internet Explorer will use Windows Media Player for many other formats like mp3 and midi, but Firefox will require another plugin, such as QuickTime.
• QuickTime plugin: See Use the QuickTime plugin to play audio and video
  • The QuickTime plugin can handle many different types of embedded media. On older operating systems, the QuickTime plugin may not be configured to handle some common file formats found online, such as embedded .mp3 audio on Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.5 and below. In such cases, you need to select the media formats you want QuickTime to play in Firefox in your QuickTime Preferences.
• VLC Media Player plugin: See Advanced use of VLC - The Mozilla plugin at wiki.videolan.org
  • The VLC media player includes an optional plugin that can handle many different types of embedded media (.vlc, .ogg, .avi, .flv, .divx, .mkv, .mka, .xspf, .mp3, .mpe, .vob, .m3u, and some QuickTime and Windows Media formats) but it may conflict with other installed plugins that handle the same content.
• RealPlayer plugin: See Fix problems with RealPlayer add-ons
  • The RealPlayer 10.5 plugin plays the .rpm format only. Other Real media files (.rm, .ram, .ra) may not work if the plugin is enabled so, if you are having problems with links to Real media files, disable the RealPlayer plugin.
• Java plugin: See Use the Java plugin to view interactive content on websites
• Silverlight plugin: See Use the Silverlight plugin to play audio and video

The template "pluginCheck" does not exist or has no approved revision.

Disable a conflicting plugin

If you have more than one plugin installed that can handle the same media type, this can cause a conflict that prevents some embedded media from playing. You may be able to fix the issue by disabling one of the plugins.

1. Click the menu button , click Add-ons and themes and select Plugins.
2. In the list of plugins, select the plugin you wish to troubleshoot.
   • If you want to disable the plugin, click the Disable button.
   • If you want to re-enable the plugin, click the Enable button

For example, you may need to disable the VLC plugin to play embedded QuickTime or Windows Media content. For more information about troubleshooting problems caused by plugins, see the Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems article.

Other solutions

• Verify that cookies are enabled in the Privacy panel in the OptionsPreferences window. Verify that the site is not blocked in the Cookie Exceptions list.
• Allow the website as an exception in the Firefox pop-up blocker. The "Block pop-up windows" option is found in the Content panel of the OptionsPreferences window.
• Verify that JavaScript is enabled in the Content panel of the OptionsPreferences window.
• Disable any ad-blocking software or Firefox extensions, such as Adblock or Adblock Plus. If the site works with ad-blocking disabled, you may want to add the site to your whitelist in your adblocker filter.
• Clear the cache (see How to clear the Firefox cache).
• Advanced users: If you use a Windows hosts file, you can temporarily disable it by renaming it Xhosts. Or, you can edit the hosts file to remove specific entries such as ad.doubleclick.net that can cause videos on certain sites to fail (for more information, see this MozillaZine forum thread). To apply changes to your hosts file, you may need to flush the DNS cache by entering the command: ipconfig /flushdns in the Run dialog box in Windows.

In addition, there may be third-party Firefox extensions that can help you. For more information on searching for and installing extensions, see Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox.

Based on information from Video or audio does not play (mozillaZine KB)