How to fix an HTML5 video issue with Pale Moon on Windows 10
Posted: 2017-12-09, 16:42
This tutorial explains how to fix a specific HTML5 MP4/H.264 video problem that affects the Pale Moon browser on some Windows 10 computers.
The video related issues this tutorial fixes in Pale Moon on Windows 10 include:
1.YouTube videos won't play in HD. They stay stuck in 360p.
2. Some sites like CNN for example won't play videos. Instead, "update the browser" and "mime error messages" are generated.
3. If you visit the YouTube HTML5 player site with Pale Moon, you may see H.264 and MSE & H.264 with a red exclamation mark next to them. These should have a blue check mark next to them. Note: It is okay if MSE & WebM VP9 has red exclamation mark. That is default Video MSE setting.
This particular video problem on Pale Moon is caused by two extensions that may be installed on Windows 10. One is called HEVCVideoExtension. The other is called MPEG2VideoExtension. You may find you only have one of these extensions installed. Most people report finding and uninstalling HEVCVideoExtension fixed their video problems.
Note: You may want to read about these extensions first before uninstalling them. They can be found on the Windows store or through a Google search.
On to the tutorial and fix:
1. In Windows 10, click on the start menu button on the low left corner of your screen and then when the start menu opens up click on the settings tile. The settings tile/icon is the one that has a gear symbol on it.
2. Now you are on the Windows 10 settings page. Click on "Apps".
3. This will open the Apps and Features page. On this page, enter HEVC in the search field like shown below:
4. If you have it installed on your computer, this will bring up HEVCVideoExtension. Click it and choose uninstall.
You many want to also check for MPEG2VideoExtension in the same way and do the same if found.
5. Close Settings.
6. Close your Pale Moon browser if it is open by clicking the Pale Moon menu icon on the top right of the Pale Moon browser and click "Exit". If you use the menu bar, choose File and click Exit.
Now open Pale Moon and visit any sites you have been having trouble with to see if this issue is resolved. For example, if YouTube was only showing videos in 360p, see if they are now offering HD options. You can also visit here to see if the two settings mentioned earlier in this tutorial now have blue check marks next to them.
I and others have found that as soon as the extension/s are uninstalled, the video problem is fixed instantly. If you still have problems after uninstalling, perhaps try a computer restart.
If you don't find these extensions after searching for them as described above then your problem is likely due to something else and you may want to check this link out to troubleshoot it if you haven't already or get help on the forum.
Thanks to the forum members in this thread who discovered this fix.
Thanks for reading.
The video related issues this tutorial fixes in Pale Moon on Windows 10 include:
1.YouTube videos won't play in HD. They stay stuck in 360p.
2. Some sites like CNN for example won't play videos. Instead, "update the browser" and "mime error messages" are generated.
3. If you visit the YouTube HTML5 player site with Pale Moon, you may see H.264 and MSE & H.264 with a red exclamation mark next to them. These should have a blue check mark next to them. Note: It is okay if MSE & WebM VP9 has red exclamation mark. That is default Video MSE setting.
This particular video problem on Pale Moon is caused by two extensions that may be installed on Windows 10. One is called HEVCVideoExtension. The other is called MPEG2VideoExtension. You may find you only have one of these extensions installed. Most people report finding and uninstalling HEVCVideoExtension fixed their video problems.
Note: You may want to read about these extensions first before uninstalling them. They can be found on the Windows store or through a Google search.
On to the tutorial and fix:
1. In Windows 10, click on the start menu button on the low left corner of your screen and then when the start menu opens up click on the settings tile. The settings tile/icon is the one that has a gear symbol on it.
2. Now you are on the Windows 10 settings page. Click on "Apps".
3. This will open the Apps and Features page. On this page, enter HEVC in the search field like shown below:
4. If you have it installed on your computer, this will bring up HEVCVideoExtension. Click it and choose uninstall.
You many want to also check for MPEG2VideoExtension in the same way and do the same if found.
5. Close Settings.
6. Close your Pale Moon browser if it is open by clicking the Pale Moon menu icon on the top right of the Pale Moon browser and click "Exit". If you use the menu bar, choose File and click Exit.
Now open Pale Moon and visit any sites you have been having trouble with to see if this issue is resolved. For example, if YouTube was only showing videos in 360p, see if they are now offering HD options. You can also visit here to see if the two settings mentioned earlier in this tutorial now have blue check marks next to them.
I and others have found that as soon as the extension/s are uninstalled, the video problem is fixed instantly. If you still have problems after uninstalling, perhaps try a computer restart.
If you don't find these extensions after searching for them as described above then your problem is likely due to something else and you may want to check this link out to troubleshoot it if you haven't already or get help on the forum.
Thanks to the forum members in this thread who discovered this fix.
Thanks for reading.