How to fix videos not playing in Google Chrome
Google Chrome users often complain about videos not playing in the browser. Their web videos hang, fail to load, or get buffered in Chrome. It’s even more annoying when you can’t watch your favorite videos on Vimeo, Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, etc.
There are several reasons why there are a number of reasons for a web videos problem on Chrome. It could be a slow internet issue or too many open tasks on your computer that are not allowing Chrome to load videos. An outdated browser or missing JavaScript code required to play these videos can also cause video playback issues in Chrome.
Whatever the reason, you cannot ignore the problem. If you are having the Chrome browser problem, here is how you can fix it.
Try the workarounds to fix web videos problem on Chrome
Quick hacks can help play online videos right away in your device’s browser. Try these 5 workarounds and watch videos in Chrome in no time:
- Play the video in your Chrome’s Incognito window.
- Watch your video in lower quality. You can do this from ‘Settings’ option on the video screen. Select a minimum acceptable quality from the options.
- Open a single browser window to play the video online. Close all other browser windows.
- If possible, try to download the video to your computer and then play it back. If the video still does not play or is choppy, etc., it may be corrupted. You can try video repair software like Stellar Repair for Video to fix it.
- Just switch to another browser.
The above workarounds didn’t work? Solve the problem to fix it permanently. Let’s start with the mMethods to fix videos that are not playing in Google Chrome
- Repair internet connection
Videos cannot be played in Chrome or continuously buffered if internet speed is slow. So check your Wi-Fi connection. Run the Internet speed test. Once unplug and turn on your modem / router. If the videos are not playing on other browsers as well, contact your service provider, it may be a broadband issue.
- Update Chrome
Any browser issue should be addressed by updating it first. The updates resolve compatibility issues and bug-related issues that can cause video issues in Chrome. In addition, updating Chrome will improve the performance and speed of the browser and may also bring new features.
Therefore, make sure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Chrome and click on 3 dots in the upper right corner.
- Select ‘Update Google Chrome ”. If the option is not present, it means that your Chrome is updated.
3. Clear cache, cookies and temporary files in Chrome
If your video works fine in Chrome’s Incognito window, it reveals that cache, cookies, browsing history, and temp files are not allowing your videos to play in Chrome.
Caution: Clearing hidden and cookies will delete any the passwords you have saved for various websites. You will need to re-enter the passwords to log into the websites. So before you delete these files, write down the passwords somewhere, in case you don’t remember them.
Follow the given steps to delete these files in Chrome:
- Go to ‘Settings’ in Chrome.
- Move towards Advanced> Privacy and security.
- Click on ” Clear browsing data “.
- Click on ‘Advanced’.
- Check the items you need to delete, such as browsing history, download history, cached images and files, cookies, and other site data.
- Click on ‘Erase data’.
4. Activate JavaScript
Most websites use the JavaScript programming language to make their pages more interactive for users. If JavaScript is disabled in Chrome, you will not be able to play videos in the browser. It will also limit your other activities on the website. For example, you may not be able to refresh your account, or the search box on the website may not work, etc. Activate or activate JavaScript in Chrome to play videos transparently.
Follow the steps below to enable JavaScript in Chrome:
- Open Chrome and click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner.
- Click on ‘Settings’.
- Click on ” Privacy and Security “ to the left.
- To select “Site settings” on the right side.
- Scroll to ‘Content’ and click on ‘Javascript’.
- Light up ‘Permit’.
Now open your website again and see if the video is playing in Chrome or not.
- Disable plugins and extensions in Chrome
Extensions and plugins in Chrome can affect your browser performance. They can also be malicious if installed from questionable third-party websites. Disable extensions and plugins once, then try to play videos in Chrome. To deactivate plugins, go to ‘Privacy and Security’ option in Chrome settings. In “Content settings”, deactivate installed plugins.
To remove extensions in Chrome, click on the 3 dots at the top in the browser. Move towards ‘Extensions’ Going through “More tools”. Disable any extensions you see here.
Now check if the problem of videos not playing in Chrome is resolved.
- Reset Chrome Settings
Installed applications, extensions or plug-ins may have changed your browser settings. Resetting can restore Chrome to default settings and your web videos can be played again without any issues.
Follow the steps below to reset Chrome:
- Open Chrome and click on the 3 dots at the top.
- Click on ‘Settings‘.
- To select ‘Advanced’ to the left. If you use Windows PC follow: Reset and clean> Reset settings> Reset settings. Mac or Linux users can click to follow Reset settings> Restore settings to their original defaults> Reset settings.
Once the process is complete, open your web video in Chrome on a computer. They should now be playing correctly.
- Disable hardware acceleration in Chrome
Hardware acceleration in Chrome uses your computer’s GPU to play high-resolution videos or other graphics-intensive tasks where the CPU is not enough. But sometimes hardware acceleration may not work due to driver issues. This causes delays or freezes in videos playing in Chrome.
So try playing videos in Chrome by disabling hardware acceleration in browser settings. In Chrome ssettings, select ‘Aadvanced‘ followed by ‘System’. Here youcheck ‘Use hardware acceleration if available‘and close the window after confirmation.
To finish
There is so much exciting and informative video content online. But sometimes you cannot read them smoothly due to browser issues in Chrome. Try the above methods to fix web videos that won’t load or play on Chrome and enjoy your videos again.