Fix problems with RealPlayer add-ons

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  • Revision id: 27610
  • Created:
  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: edit to last revision's note about downgrading Flash for Web Download & Recording to work - see discussion
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: AliceWyman
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: AliceWyman
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RealPlayer installs a number of add-ons in Firefox, which sometimes cause download problems or other issues with audio or video content on websites. This article explains how to fix or work around these problems.

Note: This article only applies to Windows.

Flash videos or games on sites like Facebook or YouTube may appear, black, white or grey and never play

A recent version of Flash doesn't work with RealPlayer. See Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox for more information.

Note: RealPlayer includes a Web Download & Recording feature that adds a Browser Record Plugin extension to Firefox. This causes problems with Flash content if Flash Player 11.3 is installed. If you don't use this feature, you can turn it off to avoid problems (see Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox). If you want to keep using this feature, another option is to uninstall Adobe Flash Player 11.3 and install an earlier Flash version as a temporary solution. See How do I revert to a previous version of Flash Player? on the Adobe forum for detailed instructions and download links. (Adobe's uninstaller removes the Flash Player ActiveX for Internet Explorer as well as the Flash Player Plugin for Firefox and other browsers, so you will need to reinstall both.)

RealPlayer add-on is not compatible with Firefox

See Re-enable add-ons that were disabled when updating Firefox for suggestions.

Cannot download videos

This is caused by the RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension. To fix it, disable the extension.

The RealPlayer plugin will still work.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Extensions.
  2. Select RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin.
  3. Click on Disable.
  4. Click Restart FirefoxNow to start Firefox with the extension disabled.

Cannot download audio streams such as Internet radio

This is caused by the RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension. To fix it, disable the extension.

The RealPlayer plugin will still work.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Extensions.
  2. Select RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin.
  3. Click on Disable.
  4. Click Restart FirefoxNow to start Firefox with the extension disabled.

Webpages are blank after updating RealPlayer

This is caused by the RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension. To fix it, disable the extension.

The RealPlayer plugin will still work.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Extensions.
  2. Select RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin.
  3. Click on Disable.
  4. Click Restart FirefoxNow to start Firefox with the extension disabled.

The RealPlayer plugin has crashed

If you see this error, it means that the RealPlayer plugin was not able to handle embedded audio or video content on a webpage. This is a known problem. As a workaround, disable the "RealPlayer G2 LiveConnect-Enabled Plug-In" in the Add-ons Manager Plugins list. See Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems for details. You will still be able to use the RealPlayer program for links to Real Media files but audio and video content embedded in webpages will not play.

Other problems