In YouTube, I have trouble very often shifting focus from video to the page(so that I can scroll using space/arrow keys). Is there some way to fix this?
As stated, I go to a video and if I attempt to click off of it so that I can use my keyboard to instead scroll the page, it seems to be pretty finicky about allowing it to happen. I'll click the page itself, use the scroll bar, nothing. Sometimes it works and I can use the keyboard to navigate. Sometimes it doesn't, and no matter what I do, focus will not come off of the video.
I only ever had this issue when using YT on Firefox(previously used Chrome and Opera). Any ideas what's causing it or what I can do to fix it?
Chosen solution
Over the past couple of years, users have noticed that the Flash player on YouTube was particularly "sticky" or tenacious when it came to capturing keyboard focus.
Last time I looked into this, about a year ago, I posted this summary of previously mentioned workarounds:
(1) Full screen the video and then switch back
press f then Esc - focus will move back to the page
(2) Switch to another application window and then back
press Alt+tab then Alt+tab - focus will move back to the page
(3) Click on a different tab then click back - focus will move back to the page
Some users also reported that the YouTube player behaves normally (i.e., clicking the page regains control) if you disable the Flash Player plugin's protected mode feature. There is now a hidden preference for this:
(A) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(B) In the search box above the list, type or paste flash and pause while the list is filtered
(C) Double-click the dom.ipc.plugins.flash.disable-protected-mode preference to switch its value from false to true.
This might not take effect until all Flash has been unloaded for a few minutes, or you close Firefox.
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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options) key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?
FredMcD said
Start Firefox in Safe Mode
I just jumped through about 10-15 videos to test it, and no it doesn't seem to be happening anymore. Does this mean that my issue might be with a plugin I have installed? Just for reference, the ones I have are: Adblock Plus Adblock Plus Popup Addon & Flash and Video Download
Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac:<Command>)<Shift> A)
In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox.
Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them.
If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.
Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.
Chosen Solution
Over the past couple of years, users have noticed that the Flash player on YouTube was particularly "sticky" or tenacious when it came to capturing keyboard focus.
Last time I looked into this, about a year ago, I posted this summary of previously mentioned workarounds:
(1) Full screen the video and then switch back
press f then Esc - focus will move back to the page
(2) Switch to another application window and then back
press Alt+tab then Alt+tab - focus will move back to the page
(3) Click on a different tab then click back - focus will move back to the page
Some users also reported that the YouTube player behaves normally (i.e., clicking the page regains control) if you disable the Flash Player plugin's protected mode feature. There is now a hidden preference for this:
(A) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(B) In the search box above the list, type or paste flash and pause while the list is filtered
(C) Double-click the dom.ipc.plugins.flash.disable-protected-mode preference to switch its value from false to true.
This might not take effect until all Flash has been unloaded for a few minutes, or you close Firefox.
I wasn't making much progress on the disabling and enabling method unfortunately, no matter what I seemed to do the issue would come back unless I launched FireFox in safe mode(it worked properly then). Thankfully disabling the flash protected mode tip seems to have fixed it!
Thanks to both of you for your help and prompt responses!