Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

youtube thumbnails are grey

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1167 views
  • Last reply by MARTIN

more options

for the past several days, my youtube thumbnails have been grey boxes. they aren't the standard "no thumbnail :(" grey, instead just a block of grey.

this is not the case for youtube on chrome or on the app. i've tried the following: - restarting firefox (multiple times) - clearing the cache for youtube - reinstalling firefox - restarting my computer - logging out and logging back into my youtube account - using firefox in a private browser

please help.

for the past several days, my youtube thumbnails have been grey boxes. they aren't the standard "no thumbnail :(" grey, instead just a block of grey. this is not the case for youtube on chrome or on the app. '''''i've tried the following:''''' - restarting firefox (multiple times) - clearing the cache for youtube - reinstalling firefox - restarting my computer - logging out and logging back into my youtube account - using firefox in a private browser please help.

Chosen solution

Those images appear to be WebP images if you check this in the Network Monitor, so it is possible that you block WebP images if you see the gray placeholder/background.

You can check this pref on the about:config page and make sure it is true.

  • about:config => image.webp.enabled = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. If you get the warning page, you can click the "Accept the Risk and Continue" button.

WARNING: modifying prefs directly via the about:config page can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior, and there is no guarantee that this will keep working in future Firefox releases, so be cautious with modifying prefs if you aren't sure you understand their purpose. You should only do this if you know what you're doing.

Read this answer in context 👍 3

All Replies (3)

more options

Chosen Solution

Those images appear to be WebP images if you check this in the Network Monitor, so it is possible that you block WebP images if you see the gray placeholder/background.

You can check this pref on the about:config page and make sure it is true.

  • about:config => image.webp.enabled = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. If you get the warning page, you can click the "Accept the Risk and Continue" button.

WARNING: modifying prefs directly via the about:config page can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior, and there is no guarantee that this will keep working in future Firefox releases, so be cautious with modifying prefs if you aren't sure you understand their purpose. You should only do this if you know what you're doing.

Modified by cor-el

more options

There are also extensions that can block WebP images.

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window
more options

cor-el said

Those images appear to be WebP images if you check this in the Network Monitor, so it is possible that you block WebP images if you see the gray placeholder/background. You can check this pref on the about:config page and make sure it is true.
  • about:config => image.webp.enabled = true
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. If you get the warning page, you can click the "Accept the Risk and Continue" button. WARNING: modifying prefs directly via the about:config page can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior, and there is no guarantee that this will keep working in future Firefox releases, so be cautious with modifying prefs if you aren't sure you understand their purpose. You should only do this if you know what you're doing.

ugh, thank you. i had no clue that youtube thumbnails were webp. i personally hate the extension so i was hoping disabling it just meant that i could save photos normally again

Modified by cor-el