How to Fix the Problem with Videos Not Playing After a High Sierra Upgrade

Upgrading to High Sierra is indeed an exciting experience. Imagine trying all the new features and functionalities! However, we cannot deny the fact that an upgrade may trigger compatibility issues with some apps and programs; hence errors arise.

Before you upgrade to High Sierra, it is a clever idea to back up the files on your Mac. With a backup in handy, you can quickly and conveniently boot from your Mac’s recovery partition and recover all your data in case something comes up in the process of upgrading.

Assuming you already have a backup of your important files, we’ll now tackle one of the most reported issues that Mac users have experienced: they can’t play or stream videos after upgrading to High Sierra.

According to some Mac users, High Sierra won’t play any video. While some were unable to stream videos online, others struggled opening or playing their favorite clips offline. The good news is, as is the case with most Mac issues, there are ways to resolve issues with videos not playing on High Sierra.

How to Fix Videos Not Playing on High Sierra

Whether you are looking forward to enjoying live NBA games, the latest episode of your favorite Netflix series, a tutorial, or a movie, not being able to watch your favorite show on YouTube can be extremely annoying. This becomes even more annoying when your Mac crashes while watching a video.

In case you find yourself stuck in any situation wherein videos are not playing on High Sierra, try these solutions we have listed below:

Solution #1: Fix Your Internet Connection.

A poor, unstable, or slow Internet connection can keep videos on YouTube from playing smoothly. Most videos on YouTube, such as movies, TV series, and live events, may require a high-speed Internet connection. If you are fond of watching content on YouTube, make sure you subscribe to an Internet connection with at least a 1 MBPS speed.

Alternatively, you may opt to watch videos on YouTube in lower quality. Here’s how you do it:

1. Go to YouTube.
2. Open the video you want to watch.
3. Tap on the Settings gear icon situated at the bottom-right part of the video.
4. Select Quality.
5. Choose your preferred video quality.

Solution #2: Update Adobe Flash Player.

Adobe Flash Player plays a vital role in playing online videos. This means updating it may resolve your problem.

To update Adobe Flash Player, follow these steps:

1. Uninstall Adobe Flash Player. The process varies depending on your OS version. You can confirm it here.
2. Now, enable Adobe Flash Player on your browser. To do this, go to Safari and select Navigate to Websites and then click on Plugins. Choose Adobe Flash Player.
3. Lastly, reinstall Adobe Flash Player. Again, the steps vary depending on the OS version you are using. You may refer to the instructions here to reinstall Adobe Flash Player.

Solution #3: Disable Certain Plugins.

In case the videos on YouTube are loading but not playing, try to disable the plugins you are using on your browser. Here’s how:

1. If you are using Safari, go to Preferences.
2. Select Security.
3. Deselect the Allow Plugins option.

Solution #4: Update Your Browser.

It is likely that your browser has an available that is waiting to be installed. That is why videos are not playing on YouTube. To avoid this scenario, update your browser to the latest version.

If you are using Safari, go to the Mac App Store. Check if your computer meets the system requirements. For High Sierra, it is required to have at least 14.3 GB of free storage space and 2 GB of memory space.

Solution #5: Use the Repair Disk Permissions Tool.

Often times, all you need to do is use the Repair Disk Permissions tool. This will check if the folders and files on your Mac are correct. If it detects any discrepancies or problems, it will automatically change and correct the permissions.

To use the Repair Disk Permissions tool, follow these steps:

1. Launch Go.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Double-click on Disk Utility.
4. Click the disk you want to repair permissions.
5. Hit First Aid.
6. Choose Repair Disk Permissions.
7. Wait for the repair process to be completed.

Solution #6: Enable JavaScript.

You may also try enabling JavaScript in your browser and see if the problem still persists. To enable JavaScript, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Advanced Settings.
3. Navigate to the Privacy section.
4. Go to Content Settings.
5. Under the JavaScript section, check the Allow sites to run JavaScript option.
6. Hit OK.
7. Relaunch your browser.

Solution #7: Use a Third-Party Media Player.

Sometimes, the reason a video does not play on High Sierra is that the media player you are using does not support the video’s file type. So, if you are using QuickTime, you might want to try using a third-party media player like VLC.

To use a third-party media player app, do the following:

1. Download and install the media player app of your choice.
2. Launch the app.
3. Go to File.
4. Select Open.
5. Find the video file that you want to watch. It should then start playing.

Solution #8: Convert the Video File into a Playable Format.

You can also convert the video file into a format that is supported by your media player. For this, you can use a video converter app. While some of these apps are paid, others can be used for free.

Solution #9: Clean Your Mac.

Is your Mac loaded with junk and unnecessary files? Then it is possible that they would interfere or mess up with your system processes; hence videos are unable to play.

To get rid of junk files the safe and easy way, use a third-party Mac repair tool. In just a few clicks, the tool can determine unnecessary files hiding in your system and suggest to delete them.

Solution #10: Visit the Apple Store.

If all else fails, go to the nearest Apple Store and have your Mac checked. It is because there is a chance that your hardware or software is at fault. An Apple expert can have a look at your Mac and suggest the best solution.

Wrapping Up

By trying the solutions that we have suggested above, you can resolve your problems with videos not playing on High Sierra. Soon thereafter, you should be able to watch videos as you normally would, without errors or problems.

Which of the solutions above worked for you? Let us know by commenting on them below.