Youtube H264 videos stop buffering after the initial portion
Having this issue with Youtube since a few days ago, on version 115.0.2 and 115.0.3, and only for videos encoded in AVC/H264. VP9 and AV1 encoded videos have no trouble buffering, only H264 is affected. Happens with or without adblocker, and on different OS. Cookies cleared, no dice.
Video would load the first 20-40 seconds, then does not buffer at all subsequently once it reaches the end of that portion. I have to skip a few seconds forward for it to load the next 20-40 secs, then it would get stuck again.
I can get around this issue by either lowering resolution to 480p (which looks terribly unwatchable), or turn VP9 streams back on (which does not work correctly on my setup, there's a driver bug that hasn't been fixed).
The sure way, and strange thing, is that AVC/H264 videos load and buffer with absolutely no issue when I'm logged out of my account. Also, works with no issue in Chromium, even while logged in.
Anyone facing this or similar issue recently too? Is it still ongoing for you?
All Replies (12)
nuclear.tactician said
The sure way, and strange thing, is that AVC/H264 videos load and buffer with absolutely no issue when I'm logged out of my account. Also, works with no issue in Chromium, even while logged in.
"Logged out of my account". Are you referring to your Firefox account? Give us a link for the video. What OS? What desktop? X11 or Wayland? Did you try Firefox in Safe Mode? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode#search104 Try downloading Firefox from Mozilla, run firefox-bin from the folder and see if you have the same issue. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release
Modified by jonzn4SUSE
Does it still happen in the latest Nightly ?
jonzn4SUSE said
nuclear.tactician said
The sure way, and strange thing, is that AVC/H264 videos load and buffer with absolutely no issue when I'm logged out of my account. Also, works with no issue in Chromium, even while logged in."Logged out of my account". Are you referring to your Firefox account? Give us a link for the video. What OS? What desktop? X11 or Wayland? Did you try Firefox in Safe Mode? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode#search104 Try downloading Firefox from Mozilla, run firefox-bin from the folder and see if you have the same issue. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release
By account, I meant my Youtube account.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXzZlHNUSI (But happens for all avc encoded videos, not just this one)
OS I've tried - Linux (KDE, both X11 and Wayland), Windows 10, macOS Ventura
FF versions tried so far: 102.13.0esr (on Win10 and macOS), 115.0.3 (normal and esr; on Linux and Win10) In safe mode: Issue still occurs firefox-bin: Issue still occurs
What I've narrowed down: Issue does not show up when logged out of Youtube, or switched to another Youtube account. Issue only appear with that specific account (my main).
Absolutely no issues with buffering while watching AVC-encoded videos in Chromium-based browsers, while logged into that problem account.
I can rule out network issues as well.
It happens regardless of the network I'm connected to.
Does it still happen if you go to about:config in the address bar and change media.av1.enabled to false?
In the problematic Youtube account, go to Settings > Playback and performance > AV1 settings > Prefer AV1 for SD.
zeroknight said
Does it still happen if you go to about:config in the address bar and change media.av1.enabled to false? In the problematic Youtube account, go to Settings > Playback and performance > AV1 settings > Prefer AV1 for SD.
Yup, still happens. By the way, I'm having trouble with AVC/H264 encoded videos, not AV1. Those load up fine.
I have no issue with the video. see screenshot Even with my distro version of Firefox, I have no issues.
Operating System: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20230728
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.108.0
Qt Version: 5.15.10
Kernel Version: 6.4.6-1-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 16 × AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics
Memory: 62.1 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon Graphics
Manufacturer: HP
Product Name: HP ProBook 455 15.6 inch G9 Notebook PC
Modified by jonzn4SUSE
jonzn4SUSE said
I have no issue with the video. see screenshot
Your screenshot shows VP9 codec being used which OP has disabled.
nuclear.tactician said
I'm having trouble with AVC/H264 encoded videos, not AV1.
Have you confirmed the codec being used by right-clicking on the video > "Stats for nerds"? You say the problem goes away at 480p but is that still using H264?
nuclear.tactician said
Issue only appear with that specific account (my main).
The only account-specific playback setting Youtube has is for AV1.
zeroknight said
Have you confirmed the codec being used by right-clicking on the video > "Stats for nerds"? You say the problem goes away at 480p but is that still using H264?
Yes, confirmed. I have Stats for Nerds opened for that.
The only account-specific playback setting Youtube has is for AV1.
I figured, but changing that doesn't seem to help though.
The AV1 codecs work for me. see screenshot Good luck with this issue.
