Some users of the Chrome browser periodically encounter a problem – when trying to watch videos, the sound plays normally, but a black screen is displayed instead of a picture.
If this happened for the first time – users have a slight panic, accompanied by thoughts about the need to change the computer. Fortunately, the problem is solved much easier and cheaper – you do not have to buy a new computer, you just need to check the quality of the connection to the network. Sometimes it is necessary to analyze the work of the player and adjust the settings.
Why videos can't play in Google Chrome
If a video plays with a black screen instead of a visual series, it is worth trying to run other videos. It is likely that some of the videos will open in the correct form, and some will have a sound without a picture.
Usually, this behavior of video content indicates that there are problems with the network connection.
If it is unstable, many videos can load crookedly – for example, instead of showing the video, a looped clip picture or a black screen will be broadcast. In any of these cases, the problem needs to be solved – and this is done quite simply.
The first thing to do is to check your Internet connection. Make sure that the device itself and the router work normally, that the provider provides normal quality of communication.
Also, one of the reasons may be the illegal content of the video – but this is not the most common option. If a site is blocked, it usually just doesn't open the whole thing (although it can be otherwise).
There are several other reasons for a dark screen when you try to start a video:
- Too high a load on the resource to which you are accessing;
- Problems in the operation of the server;
- JavaScript and Adobe Flash Player are disabled in chrome;
- The browser version is out of date – it needs to be updated.
All these probable causes of problems with video playback are solved very easily – you need to check the operation of the system on other sites, in extreme cases – update the browser.
Methods to fix the problem
In order to fix the problem, you need to establish its cause – and only after that you can restore the normal operation of Google Chrome.
Options for fixing the problem:
- Check network connectivity;
- Update Adobe Flash Player;
- Clear the cache (this is generally a very useful procedure that should be performed as often as possible – especially if you use the Internet often and a lot);
- Demolish and reinstall video card drivers;
- Update Chrome;
- Check ad blockers, their presence, number and correctness of work – if necessary, disable the blocker;
- Verify that JavaScript is reproduced correctly.
A radical way to solve the problem is to restore Google settings. This can be done as follows:
- Go to chrome://settings/
- Select the line "Show advanced settings", click on it;
- Scroll down to the stop, select the item "Reset browser settings".
This method can not be called universal – when it is used, personal settings will be lost. But if they were not, and there is nothing to lose – this is a good option to restore the normal operation of the browser.
To test your Internet connection
The most obvious cause of many problems. If the Internet connection is junk, many sites will work in a truncated mode or will not open at all. In this case, the error can be perceived as systemic, although it lies in a completely different plane.
If the provider is to blame for the problem – your efforts will not lead to anything, just wait for the restoration of normal network operation.
To check the availability and quality of the connection, try to go to other web resources with different content (video, pictures, audio, text).
To check the status of the connection, you can also go to the control panel, then to the "Network and Sharing Center".
You can also use a faster diagnostic method – in the lower right corner of the screen you need to find an icon with a network connection, click on it and check the connection status.
Adobe Flash Player Update
While the player was fully working, problems with it most often consisted in an outdated version of the plug-in and the lack of permission to operate it. To solve the problem, you just needed to update the player at the link chrome://settings/content/flash.
Now this issue is not relevant, because support for Adobe Flash Player from December 31, 2020 is discontinued.
Clear your cache
Active operation of the browser leads to the fact that over time it is clogged with garbage of various origins, which slows down its work, and sometimes leads to such consequences – a black screen appears instead of video. As a result, there is not enough RAM for normal video loading.
To verify, follow these steps:
- Copy the address of the site where you want to watch the video into the search bar and click the stirrup icon with dots.
- In the list, select "New window in Incognito mode".
If after these manipulations the video on the link works normally, then the problem is definitely in the cache.
Cleaning it is also simple:
- Open Settings in the browser, go to Additional tools;
- Here we select the item "Delete data on viewed pages" – put marks next to those resources that need to be removed, select the time range of cleaning;
- Confirm the cleanup – ready, memory released.
Probably, after this procedure, you will need to log back on some of the constantly used sites, but this is done in a minute.
Clean Installation of Video Card Drivers
If the video card does not work correctly, this can lead to the fact that instead of playing the video, users will see a black screen with or without sound. In this case, the problem with video playback will be observed not only in the browser, but also on the laptop.
If there is still sound, but the video does not play, you should install drivers for the video card.
To do this, you need to find out the name of the video card. Go to the "Device Manager" – there we see the name of the map, copy it and through the Microsoft.com find the update. Click "Get" – and it is installed automatically, the user only needs to wait for the installation to be completed. Reboot the device – done, the drivers are reinstalled.
This method may seem simple, but if you have never done anything like this, it makes sense to call a specialist.
Updating your browser
If Chrome hasn't been updated in a long time, some resources that chrome opens with it may not display correctly. To solve the problem, you need to update your browser.
If this was not done automatically at the right time, you can perform the update manually.
Here's how to do it:
- Go to the main menu by clicking on the marked icon next to the address entry line;
- Find the line "Reference", click on it;
- Next, select the item "About the browser…".
If there is no update, then you already have the current version of Chrome. If there is a new version, download it.
Then again go to the site with the desired video – and it begins to play normally.
Ad Blocker
Chrome has a feature to block intrusive ads – it can be the reason that you can not view the desired video.
To verify, try deactivating this feature. This can be done by each user – just go to the Settings – "Privacy and Security", "Site Settings", "Advertising". Here we disable all extensions that block ads.
Troubleshooting JavaScript Issues
Some videos require JavaScript support. This feature is easy to enable with a couple of clicks:
- Open the browser;
- Enter the chrome://settings/content/javascript;
- Put the slider in the active position.
Next, we open the desired site again and try to play the video again – this will help to put in order not only the problematic videos, but also to get rid of errors in browser games.
