How to use Silverlight (DirecTV Now)

[Julien]

Trying to use DirecTV Now but will not play on my Mac (mini 2012). It keeps saying I need to install the Silverlight plugin (so I did). iHowever I can't get DirecTV to play. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

 

[old-wiz]

Hmm.. I have Silverlight installed on my rMBP under Chrome. I needed it to run Amazon videos. It wasn't difficult to install, but I don't remember exactly.. Also I was running El capitan, but it still works under Sierra. What version of osx are you using and what browser?

 

[KALLT]

Are you using any content blockers?

 

[Julien]

No content blockers. I'm using Chrome now to watch DircTV Now now but would prefer to use Safari.

 

[KALLT]

Have you restarted Safari? Have you checked their website for a support section? Maybe they have some strict browser checks that don’t support Sierra yet.

Als try changing the user agent in Develop → User Agent to Chrome or something else. You may need to enable the develop menu in Safari preferences → Advanced.

 

[997440]

It runs in 10.11.6, Safari 10.0.1. I did have to empty Safari's caches using the Develop Menu. Safari preferences -> Advanced -> tick - Show Develop Menu in the menu bar.

Also check : Safari Preferences -> Security -> tick - Allow plug-ins AND while there click Plug-in Settings to adjust as necessary.

I haven't tried it in a Sierra install.

 

[Julien]

Have deleted Silverlight plugin from Library and reinstalled several times. Have rebooted Mac several times. MS may need to update Silverlight to be completely compatible.

 

[KALLT]

Silverlight is officially end-of-life. If this table is correct, there will be a definite end this year. That would explain why Sierra is not supported.

 

[mdlyen]

Silverlight is officially end-of-life. If this table is correct, there will be a definite end this year. That would explain why Sierra is not supported.

Silverlight has been deprecated for many years now. I'm amazed that DirectTV would put out a new product that relies on any third party plugin. Plugins are on their way out. Interesting...

 

[vintagebob]

I don't think that you need Silverlight. I don't need Silverlight to use DirecTV NOW on my 2014 Mac Mini. Probably early teething problems and error codes with the service. Mine has improved greatly since release day.

I Hope that yours improves!

 

[old-wiz]

UGH... Amazon video requires silverlight, but it is running fine for me on 10.12.1 with Chrome

 

[Julien]

Interesting that after not working in Safari since launch it just started today and without a reset. Also I turned off Silverlight to check and it still works (why did it ask for it before???). One negative is Chrome offers a 30 second back/forward (must be built into Chrome) that you lose using Safari unless there is a key combination for it. In Chrome it is Shift+< or Shift+>.

 

[tresmith]

The solution to this problem is to go into preferences>websites and under the Plug-ins list, make sure Silverlight is checked. And in the next window pane, for DirectNow, chose "on" from the drop down menu.