Firefox handles many types of audio and video content on web pages, and can also open links to MP3 files and some other types of media. This article explains which media formats you can play and how to control, save, and open them.

This article explains which media formats you can play and how to control, save, and open them.

Formats in Firefox

Important things to know

• Some codecs are available for free, but those restricted by patents require a fee to be installed.
• HEVC 10-bit HDR videos are supported, but currently Firefox won’t render them properly.
• Firefox supports WebM/VP9 video on systems that don't support MP4/H.264. In order to test your system, some sample video files are available in the HTML5 Video Test Page at tekeye.uk.

Windows support for H.264 (HEVC)

Not all systems can stream H.264 (HEVC) videos in Firefox, despite updating to the latest version of the browser.

The issue is caused by the lack of necessary components on your device. Windows, for example, is a popular case: certain versions of the operating system automatically support H.264 (HEVC) videos, while others can’t support the format, and you’ll have to manually install the codecs.

In any case, if you’re not sure about your Windows system supporting H.264 (HEVC)-based videos, you can use this site to test your system.

If your system can’t play it, you’ll need to manually install the H.264 (HEVC) codecs. Please know that not all of these components are free. You’ll need to purchase some of them. Both versions are available on the Microsoft Store, as follows.

1. HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer (Free)
2. HEVC Video Extensions (Not available for free)

Audio and video controls

Control bar

When you follow a link to open a supported audio or video file in Firefox or when you visit a website that includes supported media, you will see controls for managing playback. Controls for video will appear when you hold the mouse pointer over the media on the page.

	Icon	Name	Action
	Play button	Starts playback
	Pause button	Pauses playback
	Position slider	Indicates how much time has elapsed since the beginning of the file Drag the slider left or right to go back or forward
	Volume control	Click the loudspeaker to mute or unmute. Hover and drag the slider left or right to adjust the volume
	Full-screen button	Toggles full screen when in default size
	Default size button	Restores the default size when in fullscreen

Use the context menu controls

The context menu (accessible via right-clickCtrl-click) includes the above controls except the sliders, and also let you:

• Accelerate or reduce the playback rate: Select Speed and then one of the available speeds.
• Play video over and over: Select Loop so that the video will play over and over automatically.
• Hide controls: Select Hide Controls so that the bottom control bar never show up. To show them, select Show Controls.

Keyboard controls

After you click the media on a web page, to give it focus, you can control the playback with your keyboard.

Saving media files

Save an audio file from a web page to your computer

1. Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click the audio controls and select Save Audio As…
2. Select a location on your computer to save the file.

Save a video file from a web page to your computer

1. Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click the video controls and select Save Video As…
   • Select Take Snapshot… if you only want to save the video snapshot.
2. Select a location on your computer to save the file.

Opening saved files

The media files you save from web pages may not play in your normal media player. To open these types of files:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click Ctrl + OCommand + O.
3. Navigate to the folder that contains the file you want to play, select the file, and click Open.

FAQ

Q: Why can't I hear audio in Firefox?

A: You might not be able to hear sound in Firefox due to the configuration of the Volume settings on your system. Make sure you have enabled them and then try to play sounds in Firefox. Check out this guide for more information.

Q: How do I enable support for AAC audio?

A: AAC is a patented audio/video compression format, and you can view it in Firefox using built-in OS libraries. However, some Windows versions don’t have it pre-installed, so you’ll have to install the format manually. It will then be enabled automatically.

Q: What should I do if a video doesn't play?

A: Make sure you have installed the right codecs, or Firefox supports the format of the video. If that’s not the case, then the issue might be caused by something else. Check out this guide for more details.

Q: Why can Firefox use OpenH264 for video calls but not to play videos?

A: Firefox uses the OpenH264 plugin to support WebRTC-based video calls, and the browser automatically installs it for this purpose. However, for general video playback (such as streaming videos on websites), Firefox does not use the OpenH264 plugin. Instead, it relies on the operating system's native H.264 codec support. The reasons have to do with technical and licensing aspects, since the OpenH264 plugin is developed by Cisco.

Related articles

• Fix common audio and video issues
• What to do if Firefox won't play any sounds
• Watch DRM content on Firefox
• Open media files in Firefox