Have you ever encountered an issue where you can’t play Facebook or YouTube videos on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer after applying a Windows update? It can be frustrating when updates seem to do more harm than good, especially when it comes to compatibility issues.
However, before rolling back your Windows, there are solutions you can try to fix the problem. In this article, we’ll walk you through several methods to get your videos playing again.
How to fix YouTube or Facebook video not playing on Windows 10 or 11 after update
Here are some solutions you can try to fix the issue and get the videos playing again.
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Update video driver
A graphics driver is required to allow communication between Windows and the application to display graphical images on your monitor. In short, it’s required to correctly play video on your PC. If a driver is outdated and no longer compatible with the latest system components installed by Windows Update, it could be the cause of why video won’t play on Chrome, Firefox, or Edge after a Windows update.
To update your video driver:
- Go to the respective manufacturer’s website to download their latest drivers. For example, if you have an Nvidia GeForce video card, go here, whereas if you have an ATI Radeon video card, go here. Download and install the latest driver for your video card and see if it solves the problem.
- Alternatively, you can go to Windows Search, search for “Device Manager“, and open it. Expand “Display adapters”. Right-click on your graphics card, then select Update driver.
Update your browser
Outdated browsers may cause issues with video playback on Facebook and YouTube. Internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge frequently release updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and improvements to video playback.
To update your browser:
- In Windows 11 or 10, open your browser and click on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner of the screen. Then click on “Help” > “About Google Chrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge”. If there is a new version available, click on the “Update” button and follow the instructions to install it.
Clear cache and cookies
Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies may help to resolve the issue. If only certain website’s videos are not playing, check your browser’s plugin and add-on. Some websites require a specific video player plugin to play their videos. If these plugins or add-ons were mistakenly removed or are no longer compatible with the latest Windows Update, you will have to either update or reinstall them.
To clear your cache and cookies:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner of the screen. Then click on “More tools” > “Clear browsing data”. Make sure to check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”, then click on “Clear data”.
Disable browser extensions
Browser extensions can sometimes interfere with video playback on Facebook and YouTube. Try disabling any extensions you have installed and see if that helps resolve the issue.
To disable browser extensions:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner of the screen. Then click on “More tools” > “Extensions”. Click on the toggle switch next to each extension to disable them.
Check your internet connection
If you’re having trouble playing videos on Facebook or YouTube, it’s important to check your internet connection. Slow internet speeds can cause videos to buffer or not play at all. Try restarting your modem or router, or resetting your internet connection to see if that helps.
Enable “Accelerated Graphics”
If you are using Edge or Internet Explorer, try to disable (or enable) the graphic accelerator in the Internet Option. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Click on the Settings (gear icon) and select Internet Options.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Under Accelerated graphics, enable or disable “Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering.”
- Try to play a video in Edge or IE again and see if it works.
Try a different browser
If the issue persists, try playing the video in a different browser. For example, if you’re having trouble playing a video in Chrome, try playing it in Firefox or Edge.
Keep in mind that staying up to date with software and driver updates, and maintaining a good internet connection, are key to a smooth browsing experience. With these solutions, you should be able to fix the issue and get back to watching your favorite videos on Facebook and YouTube.
