Why is there an OpenH264 plugin in Firefox for Android?

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 93787
  • Created:
  • Creator: Joni
  • Comment: added Cisco
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: heyjoni
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: rtanglao
Revision Source
Revision Content

Many streaming videos rely on the H.264 codec in order to work. Because of licensing restrictions, H.264 is not available for open source software like Firefox for Android. Instead, Firefox uses an open source alternative, OpenH264 , to support video calls.

OpenH264 is shipped in collaboration with Cisco and Mozilla. It is automatically installed by Mozilla to enable video calls with devices that require the H.264 codec.


openh264 android