Safari Video Playback Problems - "If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device."

Question

Safari Video Playback Problems - "If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device."

Hello,

I am in despite need of help!

For some reason I am unable to view any videos on Safari (i.e. Youtube, Amazon, etc.). For example, when I click on a Youtube video the video or the advertisement will attempt to load but it will never load to play. I get the error message "If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device."

I have called Apple Support and they cannot trouble shoot the issue and recommend I take into the Apple store for repair. I have read everything online and this issue exists and has been solved for Windows users, but nothing from Apple users.

I have found a thread on the Apple discussion board that gives instructions to copy and past in Terminal "defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu 1" I tried this once and it did work for one night, but when I logged back into my computer I began to receive the "If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device" message again.

I have tried everything to include uninstalling Chrome, FireFox, and to include uninstalling and re-installing Adobe Flash Player multiple times and updating Java several times as well.

From what I can read online with Window users, it seems to be a problem with either a "hardware accelerator" feature in Chrome and/or Firefox" or a html5 issue or a graphic card issue not being "enabled". Nothing has been posted about Apple user having this problem recently, the latest issue was noted in 2017, but really nothing after that.

If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it, as one could imagine not being able to watch videos online (i.e. Youtube) is painful.

My system info:

Macbook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

macOS Mojave, Version 10.14.2

Graphics: INTEL hd GRAPHICS 4000 1536MB

MacBook Air (2018 or later)

Posted on Jan 16, 2019 10:24 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eric Root

Level 10

685,239 points

Jan 17, 2019 7:43 AM in response to cmbndthoughts

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.

Isolating an issue by using another user account

Safe Mode - About

If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply Pastebin

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Answer 2

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Jan 19, 2019 11:38 AM in response to cmbndthoughts

If video plays in Safe Mode, most probably the issue is related to a third party software.

Do you have Parental Control enabled inadvertently?

Any new Media Player installed recently?

Any anti-virus software installed recently?

Safari > Preferences > Extensions

Is there any new addition?

If you wish to post an Etrecheck report, please do. This is a diagnostic test.

Download EtreCheck: https://etrecheck.com/maspro and post the report here.

Click, “Free Download” button and then “Click to download” button,

open Downloads folder, click on it to open, and then select ”Open”.

Click on the bouncing EtreCheck icon in the Dock.

“Choose a problem” from the popup menu box, and then “Start EtreCheck” in the dialog.

Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” .

Please post the report here when you reply.

Download Safari Technology Preview and test. https://developer.apple.com/safari/technology-preview/

Safari Technology Preview is a self standing developer version of Safari

with some advanced features and bug fixes.

Bookmarks will be automatically imported. Other preference options will remain default.

After testing, you can remove it from Applications folder if you wish.

Try Repairing Disk. Repair a disk using Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Jan 19, 2019 10:51 AM in response to dominic23

Hello,

Thank you for the support. Unfortunately, when I input the code in terminal to show the "debug menu" it never works. I have tried the same code in terminal in "safe mode" (restarting computer holding 'shift') but it still didn't work. I have tried other codes in terminal "defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitMediaPlaybackAllowsInline -bool false" as suggested from google searches, but nothing seems to work.

Interesting thing is when I log in through 'safe mode' videos play in safari.

Is there anything else I can do to get the 'debug menu' to show in safari?

Thank you very much for replying to my post.

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Answer 4

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Jan 17, 2019 1:44 AM in response to cmbndthoughts

Video not playing?

Make sure “Disallow Inline Video” is not enabled inadvertently.

Enable “Debug” menu.

Click “Debug” in the Safari menu bar.

Move the mouse pointer to “Media Flags”.

If “Disallow Inline Video” is enabled, click on it to remove the check mark beside it.

To enable Debug menu:

1. Click Spotlight icon in the menu bar.

2. Start entering terminal

3. Double click Terminal to open terminal

3. When Terminal window opens, pull the bottom right corner to enlarge the window.

4. Copy the below written command and paste it in the Terminal window.

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu 1

5. Press enter key on the keyboard.

6. Launch Safari. “Debug” will appear in the menu bar.

To disable Debug menu:

1. Copy and paste below written command in the Terminal.

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu 0

2. Press enter key.

3. Relaunch Safari.

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

685,239 points

Jan 19, 2019 10:58 AM in response to cmbndthoughts

Have you checked the Safari/Preferences/Websites/Auto Play settings?

If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply Pastebin

Reply

Answer 6

Jan 19, 2019 5:10 PM in response to dominic23

Thank you all for the help. I finally figured it out. One of the post made me think it was an external app. Come to find out it was my external displaylink adapter. when i was in safe mode, I realized that the monitor that the display link was not on--then I unplugged the display link adapter and it worked. Therefore, I uninstall the displaylink app and reinstalled to the most current one and I am able to watch videos on Youtube again. Thank you again for all the help and ideas to help me find out why my videos wouldn't work.

Cheers!

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Safari Video Playback Problems - "If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device."

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