How to Fix Embedded Videos Not Playing in Google Chrome

Harsha Alamchandani | Updated on May 31, 2024 Video Repair

Summary: This blog is an ultimate guide to fix Google Chrome embedded videos not playing or working error. Slow, stuttering or sluggish video in Google Chrome are common scenarios and extremely annoying. This blog focuses on dealing with such instances.

‘I am unable to play Netflix videos in Chrome browser on Mac. I tried to load videos on Safari and they run fine. What could be the problem? I prefer Google Chrome for online activities. How can I fix the Chrome video playability issue?’

Are your website videos not playing in the Chrome browser?

Do the videos keep loading in YouTube, Netflix, or Facebook, etc., when viewed in Chrome?

Then read on this post to fix the ‘embedded videos not playing in Google Chrome’ problem.

Google Chrome is a popular browser used by macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android users. However, technical glitches can occur at any time. Often Chrome users report that when they open a web video, animation, or game, it does not load, stutter, is sluggish or shows a black screen, etc. Chrome even crashes or freezes at times.

The experience is frustrating when you want to watch your favorite video or play a game online.

There could be many reasons for the issue, from a slow internet connection, outdated Chrome, and cookies to the extensions or plugins installed in the browser.

But luckily, the web video playback issues can be easily fixed.

Also read:

How to Fix Video Lag, Stutter or Glitches?

How to Fix Black Screen while Trying to Play Videos?

How to Fix Choppy or Jerky Videos

Fix Embedded Videos Not Playing in Google Chrome

Before moving onto solutions to fix the Chrome video playback issue, ensure that your computer has the following to play the videos:

High-speed internet connection
Latest Chrome version
Updated Adobe Flash Player
Updated Drivers

You may want to try these workarounds to watch your videos

• Close all other browser windows except the video website.
• Delete all temporary files on your PC/Mac/smartphone.
• Watch videos in low quality. Click video Settings icon > Quality and select a lower quality view.
• Choose to play in another browser instead of Chrome.

Methods to Fix Embedded Videos Not Playing in Google Chrome

Clear Cached Data & browsing history in Chrome.
Update Google Chrome.
Update Adobe Flash Player.
Disable Hardware Acceleration Plugins in Chrome.
Disable Adblock on Chrome.
Allow Flash on the site.

Method 1: Clear Cached Data in Chrome

Clearing the browser history, cache (temporary files), and cookies can solve many browser-related issues like videos not playing or buffering problems in Chrome.

It also frees up disk space and hence improves the performance of the computer while browsing.

Steps to clear cache/browsing history/cookies in Chrome:

Open Google Chrome browser.
Click on Settings in the dropdown menu.
Scroll down to Advanced > Privacy and security.
Click on Clear browsing data.
Click on You can also select the time range of deleting this data from Last hour, 24 hours to All time.
Check-in Browsing history, Download history, Cached images and files, Cookies, and other site data.
Click Clear Data at the bottom.

Now, open Chrome and check if the videos are playing well.

Note: Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites that need log-in.

Method 2: Update Google Chrome

Updates fix bugs and mostly resolve web video playing issues. Ensure that you are using updated Chrome and Flash player.

Steps to update Chrome:

Open the menu icon in Chrome browser and click Settings.
On the top left corner click Settings.
Select About Chrome.
Update if a new version is available.

Method 3: Update Adobe Flash Player

Steps to update Adobe Flash:

Type chrome://components in the Chrome address bar. Press Enter
Scroll down to Adobe Flash Player.
Click Check for an update. If you see any updates, install.

Method 4: Turn off Hardware Acceleration in Chrome

Whenever Google Chrome does not load properly or web videos do not play on it, turn off Hardware Acceleration in the browser settings.

Steps to disable Hardware Acceleration:

Go to Settings in the Chrome menu.
Under Advanced scroll down and select System.
Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.

Method 5: Disable Plugins in Chrome

Steps to disable plug-ins in Chrome:

Open Chrome menu icon (the three dots on the top right).
Follow Settings >Advanced settings > Privacy and Security.
Click on Content Settings.
Scroll to the plugin you want to disable. Click on it.
Toggle off Ask First to disable Plug-ins in your Chrome.

Method 6: Turn off AdBlock on Chrome

If you are using the Chrome AdBlock version, uninstall it. Chrome AdBlock prevents ads over the web but can sometimes interfere with the loading of web videos.

Steps to uninstall Chrome Adblock

Go to Settings in the Chrome menu.
In the dropdown select Extensions on the left.
Find AdBlock and toggle it off. You can also select the Remove button to delete it completely.

Method 7: Allow Flash on the site

If you receive messages such as ‘Click to enable Adobe Flash Player or download Flash, the website in Chrome needs permission to use Flash.

Steps to Allow Flash on the website:

Open the website in Chrome.
To the left of the web address, click on the Lock icon.
To the right of ‘Flash,’ click the Arrows icon.
Choose Always allow on this site.
At the top left, click Reload.

Note: Allow Flash only on trusted and secure websites.

Wrapping Up

One of the above methods should fix the problem of embedded videos not playing in Google Chrome. Removing plugins, extensions, cookies, and cache data work for most of the users. It is best, to begin with, simpler workarounds like checking your internet connection, deleting all temporary files on your computer, and updating Chrome.

Hope this post was helpful.

Which method worked in your case when videos didn’t play in Chrome? Do share with our readers in the comment box below.