H.264 video codec not longuer working in Firefox
This issue promptly appeared after Windows updates KB4525244 of 15.02.2020 My OS: Windows 10 Professional (NOT N ) 1903 I already tried solutions from this support page (Launched without plugins, clean reinstall, clean reinstall and downgrading etc). Doesn't seem related to the Windows Media Pack as Chrome Browser just works fine as well as all the viedos files Mp4 and MEPG that I download does read on the PC player
I added screen caps of the HTML5Test page from FF and chrome.
Thanks for your support
All Replies (9)
Hi Ricardo! Windows claim to love open free software, like Mozilla Firefox, according to fsf.org, so what a strange thing.
I use the open free Linux Mint Cinnamon, without proprietary software, and it works fantastic, so I guess I am the lucky one of us today.
The only thing I could think of that might solve your problem:
Search in the menu settings add-ons for "h.264", then come back to us and tell us if one or the other solved your problem!
Good luck, Ricardo!
Okulungisiwe ngu Maitreya
Hi Maitreya!,
Thanks for the advice, I tried to install each of this 4 add-ons, but wasn't successful. Tried everything I saw on forums, but nothing did work. It's unfortunate but I think I will stop using Firefox until a patch comes out.
Best regards,
Ricardo A
Ok, Rickardo. Hope you will remain happy with the non-free OS and software until then. I want freedom,
Hi again Ricardo!
Sorry for not coming back to you until now. I am surprised that not anybody else answered.
Ayway. Could it be that the open free Firefox default setting does not allow non-free non-trivial Java script (malware) to run on your computer without your consent?
Try Menu-Settings-General-Program
There you can choose what program Mozilla should run the flash-video, and other things, with and if Firefox should ask you for permission first or not.
Come back to us if this solved your problem, Ricardo! That you run open free software does not only protect you, but also protects an open free society.
Google Chrome possibly comes with its own support for MP4 unlike Firefox that relies upon native OS support, so that Google Chrome can play MP4 videos may not mean that much.
Can you play MP4 files with media players you have installed in Windows that do not come with their own codecs ?
Hi, Tested my media players (VLC, WMP) and they work fine. However I don't know if they have their own codecs or not.
Did you check media*enabled prefs like media.mp4.enabled on the about:config page to see if they are default ?
Yes, all about:config solutions proposed in the main support page were already tested. Changed all to default and clean reinstall of Firefox did not help. I think it may be related to Windows, but Chrome works so I really don't know..
Hi Ricardo!
Cor-el seems to be very skilled. I am not so skilled, but scanning the Internet it seems to be either a patent issue, or a security issue, or simply unknown malware.
Firefox uses an open source alternative, "OpenH264", to support video and seems to be "sand boxing" the running programs for security, for you as a user. Security is a good reason to use Firefox. Windows is unknown code.
Sources for my statement: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/openh264-plugin-firefox-android https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/firefox-linux-flatpak-snap.html https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/why-freeing-windows-7-opens-doors