Fix: Cannot Load Video Error M3U8

The “Cannot Load M3U8″ Error can occur while trying to play a video on the internet. The error might display three different types of messages i.e. “Cross-Domain Access Denied“, “No levels to play” and “404 not found“. The error prohibits a user from being able to play a video and the error is not restricted to a specific browser and has been reported in almost all of the browsers. However, this can be solved with a few simple methods. In this article, we will provide you with a detailed guide to follow those methods and also inform you about the reasons which trigger the problem.

What Causes the “Error M3U8”?

We looked into the issue after receiving several user reports and devised a set of repair strategies that helped solve the error. Also, we investigated the reason due to which this error was being triggered and found three of the most common ones that are listed below.

Now that you have a basic concept of the nature of the problem we will move forward towards the methods which you can implement to eradicate this problem. We will advise you to follow the guide below and try the fixes in the provided order.

Note: Make sure that your Browser is updated to the latest build before proceeding.

Solution 1: Granting Access in Firewall

Sometimes the firewall may be blocking certain elements of your browser from accessing the internet which may be triggering the error. Therefore, you can try to allow Chrome through the Firewall or proceed with the steps below.

1. Type in “Firewall” in the search bar and click on “Allow an app through firewall” option.

   

2. Make sure that box that allows your browser is checked in both Public and Private Networks

   

3. If it wasn’t allowed check the box and restart the browser

This solution will eradicate any problems with the firewall and if this didn’t solve it for you. Move on to the next solution.

Solution 2: Allowing 3rd Party Cookies

Sometimes due to your privacy settings the third party data and cookies are not allowed which can cause the M3U8 No levels to play error, therefore, in this step, we will make sure that cookies and the third party data are allowed in your browser. Also, this step might vary from browser to browser.

For Google Chrome:

1. Open your browser, click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner and click on settings

   

2. Scroll down and click on “Advanced”

   

3. Now click on Content Settings

   

4. Select Cookies

   

5. Make sure that the “Block Third-Party Cookies” is unselected

   

For Microsoft Edge:

1. Open your browser and click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner.
2. Now click on settings

   

3. Now in the left pane select Privacy and security settings

   

4. Now make sure that under the cookies heading the “Don’t block cookies” option is selected

   

    

Note: The process may vary if you are using a different browser and if the above solutions don’t work for you then restart your internet connection or reinstall your browser.

Solution 3: Using Incognito Mode

Every major browser has a private/incognito mode in which the browser is launched without extensions and saved/cached data. To rule out if any of the extensions or saved/cached data is creating the problem, launch the browser in the incognito/private mode. For illustration purposes, we will use the Chrome browser.

1. Launch Chrome.
2. Click on 3 dots and then click on New Incognito Window.

   

3. Now visit the webpage you were having issues to play video and check if you can play video without any issues.
4. If you were able to play video in private/incognito mode, then either clear the cache or disable extensions that can be problematic. Extensions like Adblock are known to create this issue. In Chrome, the “HTTPS Everywhere” browser extension is known for the root cause of this problem.

Solution 4: Changing Internet Explorer Settings

The Internet Explorer even when not used dictates a lot of Browser and internet settings on the computer. Therefore, if one or more settings aren’t configured properly, it can prevent the videos from loading for certain sites. In order to configure the settings properly, follow the steps listed as follows.

1. Press “Windows” + “R” to open the Run prompt.
2. Type in “inetcpl.cpl” and press “Enter”.

   

3. Click on the “Security” tab and then select the “Custom Levels” option.
4. In the Custom Levels, scroll down until you come across the “Miscellaneous” option.
5. In here, check the “Enabled” box for the “Access Data Sources Across Domains” entry.

   

6. Click on “OK” and save your changes.
7. Check to see if the issue persists.

Solution 5: Changing Plex Web Settings

In certain situations, the Plex Web plugins might work for browsers other than the Safari on Mac OS by reconfiguring some of its settings. In order to do that:

1. Click on the “Settings” icon and then select “Web”.
2. Click on “Player” and then select “Show Advanced”.
3. In the advanced settings, uncheck the “DirectPlay” box.

   

4. Check to see if the issue persists.

Solution 6: Loading Unsafe Scripts

In certain cases, there might be a restriction for the site which prevents it from running some scripts due to which it doesn’t load. Click on a “Little Shield” next to the bookmark bar in Chrome and click on the “Load Unsafe Scripts” option and check to see if the issue persists.