Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

YouTube videos in Firefox show this weird overlay which forces me to watch it in another tab.

more options

So I click on it and it plays in the other tab. But the original window and the familiar red YouTube arrow are GRAYED OUT and unusable. I don't know what's going on, but it only does this in Firefox. I'm attaching two screenshots, one showing the original YouTube video page, and the other tab page in which I play the video. Since when does YouTube make you open another tab to play a video? It should play right IN the same window at the page I selected!

So I click on it and it plays in the other tab. But the original window and the familiar red YouTube arrow are GRAYED OUT and unusable. I don't know what's going on, but it only does this in Firefox. I'm attaching two screenshots, one showing the original YouTube video page, and the other tab page in which I play the video. Since when does YouTube make you open another tab to play a video? It should play right IN the same window at the page I selected!
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

First off I should mention that I am using an older MacBook. I have the current version of Firefox. I checked my Flash Player and I have version Shockwave Flash 17.0 r0 and I checked if there were any updates, and there were none. I did, however, install a YouTube Video Player and restarted Firefox. It seems to have worked, but we'll see. In the past few days it would appear intermittently, so hopefully I won't have to see it at all anymore. Thanks for your help.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (3)

more options

What player are you using?

If you have problems with current Shockwave Flash plugin versions then check this:

  • see if there are updates for your graphics drive drivers

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

  • disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later)

https://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround

  • disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/891337 See also:


If there is still an issue; Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

more options

tiburonjoan said

So I click on it and it plays in the other tab. But the original window and the familiar red YouTube arrow are GRAYED OUT and unusable. I don't know what's going on, but it only does this in Firefox. I'm attaching two screenshots, one showing the original YouTube video page, and the other tab page in which I play the video. Since when does YouTube make you open another tab to play a video? It should play right IN the same window at the page I selected!
more options

Seçilmiş Həll

First off I should mention that I am using an older MacBook. I have the current version of Firefox. I checked my Flash Player and I have version Shockwave Flash 17.0 r0 and I checked if there were any updates, and there were none. I did, however, install a YouTube Video Player and restarted Firefox. It seems to have worked, but we'll see. In the past few days it would appear intermittently, so hopefully I won't have to see it at all anymore. Thanks for your help.