HTML5 Videos Won't Load in Safari

[cincygolfgrrl]

OP's Note: I've had this posted in the El Capitan forum for a few weeks with 200+ views, but no responses. I thought putting it here might attract an idea or two. Thanks.
__________________________

I have a late-2013 iMac (pre-5K) that suddenly won't show embedded video in Safari, including YouTube videos. The problem is characterized by a black frame where the HTML5 player ought to be displayed. I can't swear to it, but I think this issue dates to the installation of 10.11.6.

I do not have Flash installed. If I feel compelled to view a video I'll copy the link into a Chrome browser. That works, but I really, really don't want to use Chrome.

As far as I can tell the problem is limited to HTML5 videos in Safari. I've looked at Safari preferences and have reconfigured some I thought might help, to no avail. There's nothing on Apple's Support site that addresses my concern.

Your thoughts?

 

[redheeler]

Strange. Does the same problem occur in Safari Technology Preview?

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Strange. Does the same problem occur in Safari Technology Preview?

Uh-oh. I guess I need to turn in my MacRumors membership. I have no idea what Safari Technology Preview is.

 

[Weaselboy]

Uh-oh. I guess I need to turn in my MacRumors membership. I have no idea what Safari Technology Preview is.

https://developer.apple.com/safari/technology-preview/

It is a new test version of Safari.

HTML5 videos work fine for me on 10.11.6. Just as a test, open System Preferences and in Users & Groups, make a new, test admin account. Then reboot and login to that account. Don't change any settings or anything and start Safari and see if the HTMl% videos work from that account. If they do, that tells us it is something about your account, like a settings or extension/utility that is causing the issue.

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Thanks Red and Wease.

Videos work great in Safari Technology Preview, but not my default Safari browser. This is a fairly new thing, and with Sierra coming out in less than a month (we think), I'm willing to ride out the inconvenience. In the meantime I'll do more poking in settings.

If you have more thoughts on this please let me know.

 

[Weaselboy]

Thanks Red and Wease.

Videos work great in Safari Technology Preview, but not my default Safari browser. This is a fairly new thing, and with Sierra coming out in less than a month (we think), I'm willing to ride out the inconvenience. In the meantime I'll do more poking in settings.

If you have more thoughts on this please let me know.

Did you try the second account like I suggested?

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Did you try the second account like I suggested?

Yep. Created the new test admin account. Videos played in all Safari instances in the test account. Something got screwed up when I installed 10.11.6. I really wish I knew why and I'll keep picking at it, but with the new OS coming soon I'm not going to lose sleep. Thanks again for your ideas.

 

[Weaselboy]

Yep. Created the new test admin account. Videos played in all Safari instances in the test account. Something got screwed up when I installed 10.11.6. I really wish I knew why and I'll keep picking at it, but with the new OS coming soon I'm not going to lose sleep. Thanks again for your ideas.

If it works fine in the test account and not in your account, then you have some startup or login item causing this in your account only.

Run the app Etrecheck and it will create an anonymized report showing all these hidden launch items. Post the report here so we can take a look.

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Here you go.


EtreCheck version: 3.0.2 (306)

Report generated 2016-08-23 21:02:41

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 1:32

Performance: Excellent



Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.



Problem: No problem - just checking



Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac14,2

1 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM1

Empty

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac


Video Information: ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M - VRAM: 4096 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440


System Software: ⓘ

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G31) - Time since boot: about one day


Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 499.10 GB (246.12 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.42 GB Online


USB Information: ⓘ

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub 1 TB

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub 1 TB

Seagate BUP Slim Mac SL 1 TB

EFI (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

tm backup (disk4s2) /Volumes/tm backup : 999.86 GB (118.73 GB free)

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub 1 TB

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub

NOVATEK

Western Digital My Passport 0820 1 TB

EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

lr catalog (disk3s2) /Volumes/lr catalog : 999.83 GB (690.66 GB free)

Seagate Backup+ Mac SL 1 TB

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

mac clone (disk2s2) <not mounted> : 500.10 GB

photobkup (disk2s3) /Volumes/photobkup : 499.62 GB (327.18 GB free)


Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Anywhere


Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Applications/Beats Updater.app

[not loaded] com.beatsbydre.BeatsDFUSupport (3.0.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-07-01) [Support]



System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 143 Apple tasks

[running] 88 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 45 Apple tasks

[loaded] 148 Apple tasks

[running] 98 Apple tasks


Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a23d420d.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusagent.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusnotifications.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusstatus.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-11-14) [Support]


Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusdaemon.plist (2016-07-24) [Support]

[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2016-08-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-03-19) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-10-08) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-11-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.surteesstudios.Bartender.BartenderInstallHelper.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.backup-auto.plist (2016-07-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.helper.plist (2015-10-24) [Support]

[running] de.appgineers.Mountain.Helper.plist (2016-03-10) [Support]


User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2012-02-22) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[running] com.c-command.SpamSieve.LaunchAgent.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2016-01-27) [Support]

[failed] com.hp.printerAgent.plist (2011-10-21) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.markallan.clamxav.freshclam.plist (2012-04-17) [Support]


User Login Items: ⓘ

Flux Application (/Applications/Flux.app)

Mountain Application (/Applications/Mountain.app)

PopClip Application (/Applications/PopClip.app)

Bartender Application (/Applications/Bartender.app)

Palua Application (/Applications/Palua.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Alfred 2 Application (/Applications/Alfred 2.app)

Caffeine Application (/Applications/Caffeine.app)

TextExpander Application (/Applications/TextExpander.app)

CCC User Agent Application (/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC User Agent.app)

Due Application (/Applications/Due.app)

Orbis Application (/Applications/Orbis.app)

HazelHelper Application (~/Library/PreferencePanes/Hazel.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/HazelHelper.app)

WD Quick View Application (/Library/Application Support/WDSmartware/WDQuickView.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-19)

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-04) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-04) [Support]

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-19)

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2016-08-19) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.40728.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-08-30) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 25 (2014-11-14) Check version



User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2016-01-27) [Support]

NugsterPlugin: Unknown - SDK 10.7 (2015-07-06) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]



Safari Extensions: ⓘ

Ghostery - GHOSTERY, Inc. - https://www.ghostery.com/ (2016-03-11)

Instapaper - Instapaper Holdings Inc. - http://www.instapaper.com (2016-03-11)

ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)

ClickToPlugin - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)

DuckDuckGo - DuckDuckGo - http://duckduckgo.com (2015-07-11)

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-07-24)

Shortly - Zhusee (ZZHC Studio) - http://zzhc.org/shortly/ (2015-01-25)


Audio Plug-ins: ⓘ

BartenderAudioPlugIn: 1.0.0 - SDK 10.10 (2015-10-14) [Support]



3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Backblaze Backup (2016-07-12) [Support]

Hazel (2016-08-15) [Support]

Java (2014-09-17) [Support]

WDQuickView (2014-11-14) [Support]


Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

lr catalog: Disk size: 999.83 GB Disk used: 309.17 GB

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.10 GB Disk used: 252.98 GB

Destinations:

tm backup [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 100

Oldest backup: 3/2/15, 4:37 PM

Last backup: 8/23/16, 7:13 PM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 562.15 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

4% WindowServer

2% kernel_task

2% fontd

1% ps

1% Finder


Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

2.13 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(13)

1.19 GB kernel_task

475 MB softwareupdated

377 MB Safari

246 MB mds_stores


Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

5.64 GB Free RAM

10.00 GB Used RAM (2.56 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Aug 22, 2016, 05:28:31 PM Self test - passed

 

[Weaselboy]

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2016-01-27) [Support]

NugsterPlugin: Unknown - SDK 10.7 (2015-07-06) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]



Safari Extensions: ⓘ

Ghostery - GHOSTERY, Inc. - https://www.ghostery.com/ (2016-03-11)

Instapaper - Instapaper Holdings Inc. - http://www.instapaper.com (2016-03-11)

ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)

ClickToPlugin - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)

DuckDuckGo - DuckDuckGo - http://duckduckgo.com (2015-07-11)

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-07-24)

Shortly - Zhusee (ZZHC Studio) - http://zzhc.org/shortly/ (2015-01-25)

Wow... you have LOT of things running here an it will take some work to narrow down what is causing this.

The fact is does not occur in the new test account means it has to be something launching in the old user account that I have copied into this post.

Let's start by turning off all these Safari extensions. Open Safari then in Safari preferences go to the extensions tab and by each of these extensions UNcheck the enable box so the extension is turned off. Do that will every one on this list and see if that fixes it.

If not, lets turn off these user Internet plugins. Make a temp folder on the Desktop to move these items into. Now select the entire line below with your mouse then right click and in Services click "Reveal in Finder"... that will open the folder in Finder. Now drag everything from that folder to the temp Desktop folder. Restart the Mac and see if that fixes it. If not, skip to the next section below.

~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2012-02-22) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[running] com.c-command.SpamSieve.LaunchAgent.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2016-01-27) [Support]

[failed] com.hp.printerAgent.plist (2011-10-21) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.markallan.clamxav.freshclam.plist (2012-04-17) [Support]

Nest lets get rid of these user launch agents. All of these run in your account but not the new one. Do the same seelct and right click then Services and Reveal in Finder as before to get to the folder. Remove all these items to the Desktop folder then reboot and test.

If that does not work, proceed to the next section.

~/Library/LaunchAgents

User Login Items: ⓘ

Flux Application (/Applications/Flux.app)

Mountain Application (/Applications/Mountain.app)

PopClip Application (/Applications/PopClip.app)

Bartender Application (/Applications/Bartender.app)

Palua Application (/Applications/Palua.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Alfred 2 Application (/Applications/Alfred 2.app)

Caffeine Application (/Applications/Caffeine.app)

TextExpander Application (/Applications/TextExpander.app)

CCC User Agent Application (/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC User Agent.app)

Due Application (/Applications/Due.app)

Orbis Application (/Applications/Orbis.app)

HazelHelper Application (~/Library/PreferencePanes/Hazel.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/HazelHelper.app)

WD Quick View Application (/Library/Application Support/WDSmartware/WDQuickView.app)

Similar deal here. Open System Preferences and in Users & Groups go to Login items and remove everything then reboot and test. (You can probably leave CCC, Alfred, Dropbox, and Bartender... as I am using those and not having this issue).

There is just no easy way to do this. You just have to remove these items in groups until you find the culprit as a group. Then within the group start adding things back and restarting and testing over and over until you narrow it down.

What helps is to printout the Etrecheck report and use that as a worksheet to track what you have done.

But the bottom line is something on this list in my post is causing this in the main account.

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Thanks for taking the time to go through the report and make comments. When I got to my computer this morning I found that (magically) vids were working in my user account in Safari. Yesterday, on a lark, I turned off two Safari extensions that had been around so long with no ill effects that I blew right by them every time I searched Preferences, looking for something that could possibly cause this problem.

ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)

ClickToPlugin - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2015-07-29)
​

My guess would be 10.11.6 changed something that affected the extensions because vids played in user accounts without those extensions always worked as intended.

So, my bad for not looking beyond the obvious. Again, thank you for your help. You taught me a few things.

 

[Weaselboy]

Again, thank you for your help. You taught me a few things.

You are quite welcome. Glad you got it sorted out.