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Videos playing only with sound after update to 49.0.2

  • 21 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 75 views
  • Last reply by RandomTroll

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After Firefox update to 49.0.2 i have problems with videos on sites like: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/07m87l/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-donald-trump-hints-at-a-not-so-peaceful-transfer-of-power or http://time.com/4514971/iphone-7-worlds-tallest-building/

There is only sound, no picture, just grey/black background. Downgrading to 48.0.2 helped, but on this version Netflix videos aren't working.

After Firefox update to 49.0.2 i have problems with videos on sites like: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/07m87l/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-donald-trump-hints-at-a-not-so-peaceful-transfer-of-power or http://time.com/4514971/iphone-7-worlds-tallest-building/ There is only sound, no picture, just grey/black background. Downgrading to 48.0.2 helped, but on this version Netflix videos aren't working.

Modified by sparrhawk

Chosen solution

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful. (2) In the search box above the list, type or paste async and pause while the list is filtered (3) Double-click the dom.ipc.plugins.asyncdrawing.enabled preference to switch the value from true to false

This might not take effect until the next time you exit Firefox and start it up again.


One of the headline changes in Firefox 48-49 is e10s, which separates the browser interface process from the page content process. The performance impact of this can vary a lot between systems, so it would be helpful to know whether you have this feature turned on. To check that, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, check the row for Multiprocess Windows and see whether the number on the left side of the fraction is greater than zero. If so, you are using e10s.

If you are using e10s:

To help evaluate whether that feature is causing this problem, you could turn it off as follows:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste autos and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2 preference to switch the value from true to false

Note: the exact name of the preference may vary, but it will start with browser.tabs.remote.autostart

At your next Firefox startup, it should run in the traditional way. Any difference?

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (20)

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If you have problems with current Shockwave Flash plugin versions then check this:

  • see if there are updates for your graphics drivers

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

  • disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later)

https://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround

  • disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/891337 See also:

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Thanks, but these unfortunately don't sove my problems. This is apparently html5 question, not Flash. And since downgrading FF version helps, i guess it's something with latest update.

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Hi, Would you take a look at the article   'HTML5 audio and video in Firefox' :
        http://mzl.la/1aoxUbC
and also:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-common-audio-and-video-issues

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Yes, I've seen these links before but these suggestions didnt help. All plugins are apparently updated and working properly.

I just hope it's FF update thing and will be fixed with the next version.

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Some have tried this; Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe websites. Are there any problems?

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Also tried this, no effect however.

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sparrhawk said

Also tried this, no effect however.

Bummer   !!!
I'm a bit confused about your question;   in the heading you say : 'Videos playing without sound  ....',   while at the bottow you say: 'There is only sound   .......'.
Help me out here:   which is it   ?

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Sorry! My terrible mistake, don't know how I wrote that. Only sound, no picture, I apologize for the confusion. Thanks for correction.

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sparrhawk said

Sorry! My terrible mistake, don't know how I wrote that. Only sound, no picture, I apologize for the confusion. Thanks for correction.

Aww,   don't worry about it;   I make mistakes all the time   !

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You have tried everything that was sugggested,   and still no luck   ........
Stab in the dark:
www.thewindowsclub.com/flash-player-settings-windows

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I also have the same problem, sound but no video on http://www.independent.co.uk

First frame of video shows but then blank screen and only sound. Tried all suggestions but all to no avail. Other browsers work fine but Firefox no. Think I might "jump ship" with Firefox, as this is not the first time problems have occurred with an "update" but like the add-ons on Firefox

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Chosen Solution

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful. (2) In the search box above the list, type or paste async and pause while the list is filtered (3) Double-click the dom.ipc.plugins.asyncdrawing.enabled preference to switch the value from true to false

This might not take effect until the next time you exit Firefox and start it up again.


One of the headline changes in Firefox 48-49 is e10s, which separates the browser interface process from the page content process. The performance impact of this can vary a lot between systems, so it would be helpful to know whether you have this feature turned on. To check that, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, check the row for Multiprocess Windows and see whether the number on the left side of the fraction is greater than zero. If so, you are using e10s.

If you are using e10s:

To help evaluate whether that feature is causing this problem, you could turn it off as follows:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste autos and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2 preference to switch the value from true to false

Note: the exact name of the preference may vary, but it will start with browser.tabs.remote.autostart

At your next Firefox startup, it should run in the traditional way. Any difference?

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Thanks that seems to have done the trick, after just spending a few hours getting Chrome to act the way I like it. Much prefer Firefox though.

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Hello,

I am glad to hear that your problem has been resolved. If you haven't already, please select the answer that solves the problem. This will help other users with similar problems find the solution more easily.

Thank you for contacting Mozilla Support.

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Thanks a lot, that "asyncdrawing" change helped!

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I have exactly this problem. The commercials display video, the show doesn't. I view videos at the library (because my home connection is too slow); this behavior happens with both the library's installation and the installation I have on my flash drive. IE and Chrome work.

Being the library I can't change a lot of these settings.

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At the library, are you using your own computer or the libraries?

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FredMcD said

At the library, are you using your own computer or the libraries?

The library's. I hoped that would be obvious from my comment that I can't make changes in the Firefox configuration.

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You must inform the staff there about the issue.

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FredMcD said

You must inform the staff there about the issue.

I did. It's wishful thinking that they will troubleshoot it to the extent this thread proposes. If the people who write Firefox think this behavior is okay, that's their call. I'm just letting them know how it works out in 1 case.

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