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plugins.click_to_play doesnt help with certain websites

  • 3 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cmruffin

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plugins.click_to_play doesn't seem to work on CNN web pages. Videos autoplaying on CNN is extremely annoying, I would hope that my browser would protect me from content authors autoplaying videos.

Examples where plugins.click_to_play doesn't help: http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/27/investing/apple-earnings-economy-extreme-conditions/index.html?iid=hp-grid-dom http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/27/media/donald-trump-bill-reilly-interview/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/28/news/economy/paternity-leave-asia-japan/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

plugins.click_to_play doesn't seem to work on CNN web pages. Videos autoplaying on CNN is extremely annoying, I would hope that my browser would protect me from content authors autoplaying videos. Examples where plugins.click_to_play doesn't help: http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/27/investing/apple-earnings-economy-extreme-conditions/index.html?iid=hp-grid-dom http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/27/media/donald-trump-bill-reilly-interview/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/28/news/economy/paternity-leave-asia-japan/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

Modified by cmruffin

Chosen solution

Could you double-check the permissions:

(1) Default setting

To make sure Flash is set to "Ask to Activate", open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. On the right side, find "Shockwave Flash" to confirm it is set to "Ask to Activate".

(2) Site-specific permission

You can use the Permissions panel of the Page Info dialog. You can call that up using any of these while on the CNN page:

  • right-click and choose View Page Info > Permissions
  • (menu bar) Tools menu > Page Info > Permissions
  • click the padlock or globe icon to the left of the site address, then the > button, then More Information > Permissions

(Example screen shot attached)


If CNN does not have an exception, a script in the page might be substituting an HTML5-based player for the Flash-based player. While the video is playing, try right-clicking it and checking the short "context menu" that appears. Does it list Flash on the last line or does it look more like a Firefox context menu?

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All Replies (3)

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Chosen Solution

Could you double-check the permissions:

(1) Default setting

To make sure Flash is set to "Ask to Activate", open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. On the right side, find "Shockwave Flash" to confirm it is set to "Ask to Activate".

(2) Site-specific permission

You can use the Permissions panel of the Page Info dialog. You can call that up using any of these while on the CNN page:

  • right-click and choose View Page Info > Permissions
  • (menu bar) Tools menu > Page Info > Permissions
  • click the padlock or globe icon to the left of the site address, then the > button, then More Information > Permissions

(Example screen shot attached)


If CNN does not have an exception, a script in the page might be substituting an HTML5-based player for the Flash-based player. While the video is playing, try right-clicking it and checking the short "context menu" that appears. Does it list Flash on the last line or does it look more like a Firefox context menu?

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This worked! Bless you!

"Shockwave Flash" to confirm it is set to "Ask to Activate"

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For reference, on firefox for android, you can do Settings->Display->Allow AutoPlay = unchecked