Ways To fix “Firefox not playing videos”

Read time 7 minutes

The Firefox web browser can pose challenges for its users by occasionally halting the playback of videos. For individuals who wish to persist in using this browser for video viewing, there are various techniques to explore in order to restore video functionality. This article offers guidance on resolving the problem of “Firefox not playing videos” by presenting a range of potential solutions.

Quick Manual Fixes

There are different ways to make Firefox play videos. We are providing you some native fixes which you can try once.

• Refresh Firefox
• Disable faulty add-ons/extensions
• Disable hardware acceleration
• Enable autoplay
• Check browser settings
• Install Adobe Flash plugin
• Update Firefox
• Downgrade Firefox

Fix no. 1 – Refresh Firefox
To resolve the problem, consider refreshing your Firefox browser. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the top-right corner of the Firefox web browser, where you’ll find three horizontal bars, and click on them.
2. Locate and click on the Help icon located at the bottom of the panel.



3. Then click on the Troubleshooting Information option.



4. A page named Troubleshoot Information page will get opened. On the right side of the page, under Give Firefox a tune up, click on Refresh Firefox option.



5. Click Refresh Firefox one more time.
6. Wait for the process to be completed and check if videos are playing now.

Fix no. 2 – Disable faulty add-ons/extensions

Certain browser extensions or add-ons might impose limitations on video playback within the Firefox web browser. Therefore, it is recommended to promptly deactivate any such extensions in your browser.

1. To do this, launch the Firefox web browser on your system. Then, click on the three horizontal bars located in the upper right corner and choose the “Add-ons” option from the menu.



2. On the next page, go to the left panel and click Extensions.



3. First, navigate to the problematic add-on or extension. Click on the three dots located in the upper-right corner, then choose the “Disable” option.
4. Repeat this process for any other extensions you suspect might be causing issues.
5. Next, attempt to play the videos once more directly from your web browser.

Fix no. 3 – Disable hardware acceleration

Firefox has introduced a graphics hardware acceleration feature as an advanced option. However, despite routine updates, certain persistent bugs may hinder video playback. Therefore, users have the option to deactivate this feature themselves.

To disable it, follow these steps:

1. Click on the three horizontal bars located at the upper-right corner of the Firefox start page and select “Options.”
2. In the left-hand menu, choose “General.” On the right-hand panel, navigate to the “Performance” section.
3. Within the “Performance” section, deselect the checkboxes for “Use recommended performance settings” and “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
4. Close your Firefox web browser.
5. Restart Firefox and attempt to play videos to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix no. 4 – Enable autoplay

The latest update of the Firefox web browser has introduced a default setting that disables the automatic playback of media containing sound. This default configuration aims to prevent the intrusive autoplaying of advertisement videos, which often vexes users. However, it’s worth noting that this default setting may occasionally disrupt the expected playback of videos. Therefore, users are encouraged to manually enable this feature if necessary.

Fix no. 5 – Change browser settings

An alternative solution involves reviewing and adjusting your Firefox browser configuration, specifically in relation to cache, cookies, pop-ups, browsing history, and related settings, in order to restore the functionality of video playback.

1. To initiate this process, open your Firefox web browser and locate the three horizontal bars situated in the top-right corner. Then, select “Options” from the dropdown menu.



2. First, navigate to the Privacy and Security section on the left panel. In the History subsection, locate the Firefox option and opt for the “Customize history settings” choice.
3. Then, mark the checkbox labeled “Clear history when Firefox is closed” and proceed to click the “Settings” button next to it.



4. On the Settings for Clearing History page, select the checkbox Cache and click OK.



5. Similarly, you can set the pop-ups settings by removing Firefox from Block pop-up windows section.
6. Restart the browser to effect the changes

Fix no. 6 – Install Adobe Flash plugin

The Firefox web browser necessitates the Adobe Flash plugin for multimedia playback, necessitating users to activate this plugin via its settings.

1. Navigate to the three horizontal bars situated in the upper-right corner of the Firefox main page, click on them, and then choose “Add-ons.”
2. Next, opt for the “Plugins” category.



3. Select Ask to Activate option from the drop-down menu. Or go to the option in the address bar Run Adobe Flash Player and click Allow for it.
4. Now, your videos file may run.

Fix no. 7 – Update Firefox

If the user has not updated the Firefox web browser, it is possible that the videos are not playing because of that. So, update it and check if the video is playing.

Fix no. 8 – Downgrade Firefox

If you’ve encountered video playback problems in your web browser immediately following a Firefox update, one potential remedy is to revert to the previous version of Firefox. By doing so, you may resolve the issue of videos not playing correctly.

With this adjustment, you should now be able to swiftly address the problem of videos not playing and enjoy uninterrupted video streaming and downloading. Occasionally, users may still encounter difficulties when attempting to access downloaded video files. In such cases, video file corruption is often the underlying issue. To safeguard users from this undesirable predicament, we present an efficient and secure solution: the Kernel Video Repair. This tool is adept at mending corrupt or damaged video files across various formats. It incorporates advanced algorithms that can effectively fix video flickering issues. Obtain it promptly to enhance your video viewing experience.

Conclusion

We understood some fine manual solutions to make videos playable again which were earlier restricted by the Firefox web browser. Methods can be tested and tried until the positive results and for sure shot repair or corrupt video files, the suggested professional Video Repair tool can be trusted anytime as a full-proof solution.