Audio and video files in Firefox

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Firefox handles many types of audio and video content on web pages, and can also open links to MP3 files and some other types of media. This article explains which media formats you can play and how to control, save, and open them.

This article explains which media formats you can play and how to control, save, and open them.

Supported audio and video formats

Firefox uses your operating system’s built-in media libraries and codecs to play supported formats. Below is a breakdown of popular formats and their availability across platforms. To learn more, see this guide to media types and formats and this guide to container formats at MDN Web Docs.

Audio codecs

Codec File types Firefox support OS support Free to use
MP3.mp3All versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
AAC.m4a
.mp4
.m4p
.m4b
.m4r
.m4v
All versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
Opus/Vorbis.ogg
.opus
.oga
.ogv
.ogx
.spx
All versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
FLAC.flacAll versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
WAV.wav
.wave
All versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes


Video codecs

Codec File types Firefox support OS support Free to use
AV1.mp4
.webm
Firefox 67+

Android 113+

Windows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
H.264 (AVC) .mp4
.3gp
All versionsWindows

macOS
Android

No
H.265 (HEVC).mp4Firefox 120+ (limited)Windows 10+

macOS
Linux

No
VP8/VP9.webm
.ogg
.3gp
All versionsWindows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
Theora.oggFirefox 3.5–126Windows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
MPEG-4 Visual (MP4V-ES).3gp
.mp4
All versions (3gp only)Windows

macOS
Linux
Android

Yes
MPEG-1 / MPEG-2.mpeg
.mp4
.mov
Not supportedNot availableSome patents expired
H.263 / HEVC mkv / HEVC HDR 10-bit.3gp
.mkv
Not supported or not rendered properlyLimited OS supportYes

Important things to know

  • Some codecs, such as MP3 and WebM, are available for free, but those restricted by patents, like AAC or H.264, require a fee to be installed.
  • HEVC 10-bit HDR videos are supported, but currently Firefox won’t render them properly.
  • Firefox supports WebM/VP9 video on systems that don't support MP4/H.264. In order to test your system, some sample video files are available in the HTML5 Video Test Page at tekeye.uk.
  • Some Windows systems can play H.265 (HEVC) video in Firefox natively. Others need additional software from the Microsoft Store.
    • Windows versions that automatically support H.265 (HEVC)
      • Windows 10 versions: 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709
      • Windows 11: 22H2, 23H2, 24H2
    • Windows versions that don’t support H.265 (HEVC) by default
      • Windows 10: 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004, 20H2, 21H1, 22H2
      • Windows 11: 21H2
    • You’ll need to install these codecs manually:
Note: You can use this site to test your system.

Audio and video controls

Control bar

When you follow a link to open a supported audio or video file in Firefox or when you visit a website that includes supported media, you will see controls for managing playback.

Controls for video will appear when you hold the mouse pointer over the media on the page.

Fx124Win10VideoControls

IconNameAction
Fx124Win10VideoPlayPlay buttonStarts playback
Fx124Win10VideoPausePause buttonPauses playback
Fx124Win10VideoPositionSliderPosition sliderIndicates how much time has elapsed since the beginning of the file
Drag the slider left or right to go back or forward
Fx124Win10VideoSoundSliderVolume controlClick the loudspeaker to mute or unmute.
Hover and drag the slider left or right to adjust the volume
Fx124Win10VideoFullscreenFull-screen buttonToggles full screen when in default size
Fx124Win10VideoDefaultSizeDefault size buttonRestores the default size when in fullscreen

Use the context menu controls

The context menu (accessible via right-clickCtrl-click) includes the above controls except the sliders, and also let you:

  • Accelerate or reduce the playback rate: Select Speed and then one of the available speeds.
  • Play video over and over: Select Loop so that the video will play over and over automatically.
  • Hide controls: Select Hide Controls so that the bottom control bar never show up. To show them, select Show Controls.

Keyboard controls

After you click the media on a web page, to give it focus, you can control the playback with your keyboard.

Command Shortcut
Toggle Play / Pause Space bar
Decrease volume
Increase volume
Mute audio Ctrl + Command +
Unmute audio Ctrl + Command +
Seek back 5 seconds
Seek back 10% Ctrl + Command +
Seek forward 5 seconds
Seek forward 10% Ctrl + Command +
Seek to the beginning Home
Seek to the end End

Saving media files

Save an audio file from a web page to your computer

  1. Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click the audio controls and select Save Audio As…
  2. Select a location on your computer to save the file.

Save a video file from a web page to your computer

  1. Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click the video controls and select Save Video As…
    • Select Take Snapshot… if you only want to save the video snapshot.
  2. Select a location on your computer to save the file.

Opening saved files

The media files you save from web pages may not play in your normal media player. To open these types of files:

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Click Ctrl + OCommand + O.
  3. Navigate to the folder that contains the file you want to play, select the file, and click Open.

FAQ

Q: Why can't I hear audio in Firefox?

A: Make sure your system volume is not muted and that Firefox has permission to play sound. See this guide for more information.

Q: How do I enable support for AAC audio?

A: AAC support depends on your operating system. If your system lacks the codec, install it manually. Firefox will detect it automatically.

Q: What should I do if a video doesn't play?

A: Make sure you have installed the right codecs, or Firefox supports the format of the video. If that’s not the case, then the issue might be caused by something else. Check out this guide for more details.

Q: Why can Firefox use OpenH264 for video calls but not to play videos?

A: Firefox uses the OpenH264 plugin to support WebRTC-based video calls, and the browser automatically installs it for this purpose. However, for general video playback (such as streaming videos on websites), Firefox does not use the OpenH264 plugin. Instead, it relies on the operating system's native H.264 codec support. The reasons have to do with technical and licensing aspects, since the OpenH264 plugin is developed by Cisco.

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