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 provides some tips to 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, the embedded media types they handle, and how to install or configure them. * '''[[Managing the Flash plugin|Flash Guide]]''' ** See also: [[Flash-based videos and sound do not play correctly]] * '''[[Using the Shockwave plugin with Firefox|Shockwave Guide]]''' * '''[[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox|Windows Media Player Guide]]''' ** 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. * '''[[Using the QuickTime plugin with Firefox|QuickTime Guide]]''' ** 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. * '''[http://wiki.videolan.org/Documentation:Play_HowTo/Advanced_Use_of_VLC#The_Mozilla_plugin VLC Guide]''' 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. * '''[[Using the RealPlayer plugin with Firefox|RealPlayer Guide]]''' ** 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. * '''[[Using the Java plugin with Firefox|Java Guide]]''' = Disable a conflicting plugin = If you have more than one plugin installed that can handle the same content, 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 = Some sites with multimedia content may require you to allow popup windows or cookies or that you disable ad-blocking. Try the following: * 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. * You can allow the website as an exception in the Firefox pop-up blocker. The "Block pop-up windows" option is found in the '''Content''' panel in the [[Options window - Content panel|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for}]] window. *Clear the cache (see [[How to clear the cache]]). <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=594327 --> * For the time being, you can 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. * '''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 provides some tips to 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, the embedded media types they handle, and how to install or configure them.

• Flash Guide
  • See also: Fix common audio and video issues
• Shockwave Guide
• Windows Media Player Guide
  • 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 Guide
  • 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 Guide 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 Guide
  • 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 Guide

Disable a conflicting plugin

If you have more than one plugin installed that can handle the same content, 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

Some sites with multimedia content may require you to allow popup windows or cookies or that you disable ad-blocking. Try the following:

• 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.
• You can allow the website as an exception in the Firefox pop-up blocker. The "Block pop-up windows" option is found in the Content panel in the OptionsPreferences window.
• Clear the cache (see How to clear the Firefox cache).
• For the time being, you can 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.
• 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)