This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

New vversion 30.n eliminated the ability to download a video file while viewing

  • 11 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by wkaighn

more options

When viewing video I can no longer see the .flv or .mp4 files to save. only file shown in the box are .swf files. went back to system image before installing V 38.n of firefox and all works as it should.

When viewing video I can no longer see the .flv or .mp4 files to save. only file shown in the box are .swf files. went back to system image before installing V 38.n of firefox and all works as it should.

All Replies (11)

more options

I'm not sure which add-on you are using to download videos, but please mention this problem to the add-on author so they can fix it in the add-on. Or maybe they have a workaround already.

more options

Also, your Adobe plugins are out of date.

  • To update the Adobe Acrobat plugin (PDF), I suggest going to the Help menu in your stand-alone Adobe product and using Check for Updates. You should end up with version 11.0.11.18 on the Add-ons page.
more options

Not sure that I had an addon. I have been using the small down arrow in a box with a small chop board next to it inthe options area of the browser for many of the past version for at least 2 years. just broke with the download of V38.0.1

more options

Flash player is 16.0.30n Problem only occured when firefox updated to V38 from V37

more options

No! my adobe plugins are ok and working fine. the function in firefox that lets me save a video while it is playing is no longer working.

more options

If you were able to save FLV, you definitely had an add-on for that. If you review your extensions, probably at least one of them refers to video or FLVs. You can check those on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. To check for extension updates, you can use the "gear" button above the list.


I'm not saying this problem is caused by the Adobe plugins, just that they are both common vectors for attacks and therefore should be kept up-to-date to minimize security vulnerabilities.

more options

Per your suggestions I went to tools/add-ons and chose extensions I have Download Utube videos as MP4 V 1.8.3 last updated today I have Flash video download V 1.7 last updated today. I noted in the Flash video options that all video file types are selected. I will re-load the firefox V 38.01 again and retry. If that does not fix it I will be back to you/the board.

more options

After going through your suggestions about accessing the add-ons and confirming that the Flash video is up to date I now have the same problem in FIrefox 37.0.1.

more options

Does the "Download YouTube Videos as MP4" download arrow/button appear in the YouTube description area as shown in this picture?


I'm not sure what that other extension is. Do you recall where you installed it from?

more options

By the way, is YouTube serving videos using the HTML5 player on Windows XP (instead of Flash)? You can confirm the one you're getting by right-clicking the player and checking the bottom item on the context menu. Or if you check this page, can you confirm that you have been switched?

https://www.youtube.com/html5

If the video downloader you prefer only works Flash, there are a couple of extensions to force Flash on YouTube. For example:

more options

First off I do not use the down arrow in the UTUBE area to down load the current video that is playing. I have used the Firefox tool bar in the upper right corner and use the download arrow there. When a video is playing there is a small clapboard next to that arrow that is turned blue. this drop down menu lists MP4, FLV, and SP3 options for the format to download the video. When I right click in the utube video it shows adobe flash player v16.n and not HTML5

BTW I have reloaded my image back to a working download function so I am not on Firefox 38.0.1 at this time. I have not checked my add-ons as I suspect that will cause them to update and regenerate my problem in this current version.