Netflix won't work, says I need to install Silverlight.
I can play Netflix on Safari, but I can't play it on Firefox or Waterfox. Both say that I need to install Silverlight, and no matter how many times I run the the install from the .dmg, it shows the same screen.
Chosen solution
It shows up on Safari? That's a good sign.
One possible reason for an installed plugin not to appear on the Add-ons page is if Firefox has been set NOT to scan for plugins. Another is that Firefox's settings file storing plugin data has become corrupted. Here are the steps to check those possibilities:
Confirm that Firefox is scanning for plugins
Here's how to check and fix that (this is based on Windows but probably is similar on Mac):
(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 filter box, type or paste scan and pause while the list is filtered
(3) If plugin.scan.plid.all is not set to its default value of true, double-click it to toggle it back to the default.
If you changed this setting, quit and restart Firefox to trigger another scan.
If you check the Add-ons page, Plugins section again, can you find the missing plugin there now?
If Firefox is set to scan but still does not find the plugin and list it on the Add-ons page...
Remove Firefox's plugin registry file
Sometimes the pluginreg.dat file becomes corrupted. You can remove it and have Firefox re-scan for plugins.
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
- Help menu > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the first table on the page, click the "Show in Finder" button (on Windows: the "Show Folder" button) to launch a new file manager window showing your settings files.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Quit/Exit, either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
- Firefox > Quit (on Windows: File menu > Exit)
Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename pluginreg.dat to something like pluginreg.old
Start Firefox back up again. (If you want to restore your previous non-private session, use History > Restore Previous Session.)
When you return to the Add-ons page, does the missing plugin finally appear there?
Read this answer in context 👍 2All Replies (6)
Could you check the Add-ons page to see whether Silverlight is there but is disabled:
Sorry, this was for Windows:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
For Mac:
- Command+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Plugins. On the right side, look for Silverlight, if it's disabled, it would be at the bottom. If you find it down there, change its permission from "Never Activate" to "Ask to Activate".
Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 said
Could you check the Add-ons page to see whether Silverlight is there but is disabled:
Just checked and it isn't there at all.
FredMcD said
Microsoft:Silverlight https://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx Silverlight 5 (5.1.41212.0) https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Using+the+Silverlight+plugin+with+Firefox https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Search/result.aspx?q=Silverlight http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/30387.silverlight-troubleshooting-installation.aspx
I've read through all those link and none of them actually helped. The Microsoft site sees that I don't have it installed, gives me the Silverlight.dmg, I run through the installer, but it doesn't actually show up in Firefox.
Interestingly enough, I have version 5.1.50428.0 — from file “Silverlight.plugin” on Safari
Chosen Solution
It shows up on Safari? That's a good sign.
One possible reason for an installed plugin not to appear on the Add-ons page is if Firefox has been set NOT to scan for plugins. Another is that Firefox's settings file storing plugin data has become corrupted. Here are the steps to check those possibilities:
Confirm that Firefox is scanning for plugins
Here's how to check and fix that (this is based on Windows but probably is similar on Mac):
(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 filter box, type or paste scan and pause while the list is filtered
(3) If plugin.scan.plid.all is not set to its default value of true, double-click it to toggle it back to the default.
If you changed this setting, quit and restart Firefox to trigger another scan.
If you check the Add-ons page, Plugins section again, can you find the missing plugin there now?
If Firefox is set to scan but still does not find the plugin and list it on the Add-ons page...
Remove Firefox's plugin registry file
Sometimes the pluginreg.dat file becomes corrupted. You can remove it and have Firefox re-scan for plugins.
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
- Help menu > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the first table on the page, click the "Show in Finder" button (on Windows: the "Show Folder" button) to launch a new file manager window showing your settings files.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Quit/Exit, either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
- Firefox > Quit (on Windows: File menu > Exit)
Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename pluginreg.dat to something like pluginreg.old
Start Firefox back up again. (If you want to restore your previous non-private session, use History > Restore Previous Session.)
When you return to the Add-ons page, does the missing plugin finally appear there?
I tried looking for plugin.scan.plid.all in about:config but it wasn't there. Luckily removing Firefox's plugin registry file fixed it!