Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers. The video starts to load, thumbnails
keep coming but the playback doesn't start and there's no sound.

I've tested it on the New York Times, YouTube, Netflix and some homemade
videos that used to work. Now nothing plays, failing in the same way.

If anybody's seen this or knows a fix, please post.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 07/12/2025 01:38, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers.

What do you mean "once again"? Have you had this problem before? How did
you solve it then?

... and why upgrade to Bookworm? Trixie (Debian 13) is the current version.

--
Cheers,
Daniel.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> wrote:

On 07/12/2025 01:38, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers.

What do you mean "once again"? Have you had this problem before?

It's been cropping up routinely, a day or so after updating the system.

How did you solve it then?

Simply continuing to update as updates were offered. Last time this
occurred the issue was resolved in a couple of weeks, IIRC.

... and why upgrade to Bookworm? Trixie (Debian 13) is the current version.

Bookworm is the established install on the host in question.

If there was reason to think upgrading to Trixie would help I'd try it,
but so far nobody has suggested that's the case. Bullseye seemed to work
pretty well, Bookworm somewhat less so. That trend isn't encouraging....

Far as I've seen, the _only_ problem has been with watching videos.
Otherwise the system is well-behaved.

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers. The video starts to load, thumbnails
keep coming but the playback doesn't start and there's no sound.

I've tested it on the New York Times, YouTube, Netflix and some homemade videos that used to work. Now nothing plays, failing in the same way.

When you start Firefox from a terminal does it complain about any
missing libraries? Do video files play in other programs using
libavcodec (mplayer, ffplay)?

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 07/12/2025 15:49, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

If there was reason to think upgrading to Trixie would help I'd try it,
but so far nobody has suggested that's the case. Bullseye seemed to work pretty well, Bookworm somewhat less so. That trend isn't encouraging....

No, I don't think there's any particular reason to prefer Trixie over
Bookworm if Bookworm works for you. Support for Debian "oldstable" is
usually pretty good from Debian (though I think the Raspberry Pi people
tend to concentrate on "stable", which would be Trixie at present).

Some third-party software works well with the RaspiOS that is current
when it is released, and may only slowly (if ever) be updated for newer releases -- I'm thinking of support for some of Pimoroni's devices.

OTOH things like the Pi camera software is intended for "stable", and
newer features/cameras may not work at all with older distros.

Far as I've seen, the _only_ problem has been with watching videos. Otherwise the system is well-behaved.

I'm not aware of any major differences in video support between distros.
There IS a difference in hardware video support between Pi4 and Pi5 (I
forget the details ... Pi4 has support for H.264 (and H.265?) but Pi5 -
being much faster - expects you to do it in software? Something like
that.). Of course, with a Pi5 you need a release that supports the Pi5,
and I think Bookworm is the minimum.

--
Cheers,
Daniel.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers. The video starts to load, thumbnails
keep coming but the playback doesn't start and there's no sound.

I've tested it on the New York Times, YouTube, Netflix and some homemade
videos that used to work. Now nothing plays, failing in the same way.

When you start Firefox from a terminal does it complain about any
missing libraries? Do video files play in other programs using
libavcodec (mplayer, ffplay)?

If I point firefox at www.youtube.com the controlling terminal reports a series of

[GFX1-]: Couldn't sanitize GL_RENDERER "V3D 7.1.7.0"
[GFX1-]: Couldn't sanitize GL_RENDERER "V3D 7.1.7.0"
GetShaderInfoLog() ->
0:2(12): error: extension `GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod' unsupported in fragment shader

GetShaderSource() ->

#extension GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod: require
void main() {}

[GFX1-]: Couldn't sanitize GL_RENDERER "V3D 7.1.7.0"
[GFX1-]: Couldn't sanitize GL_RENDERER "V3D 7.1.7.0"
GetShaderInfoLog() ->
0:2(12): error: extension `GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod' unsupported in fragment shader

GetShaderSource() ->

#extension GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod: require
void main() {}

Starting chromium causes the controlling terminal to emit
[I cancelled a request to set a keychain password right off the bat]

bob@raspberrypi:~/Downloads$ chromium www.youtube.com [833661:833661:1207/193840.050998:ERROR:components/dbus/xdg/request.cc:164] Request ended (non-user cancelled).
[833661:833703:1207/193854.893048:ERROR:google_apis/gcm/engine/registration_request.cc:292] Registration response error message: DEPRECATED_ENDPOINT
[833661:833661:1207/193855.098334:ERROR:mojo/public/cpp/bindings/lib/interface_endpoint_client.cc:732] Message 0 rejected by interface blink.mojom.WidgetHost
[833719:833719:1207/193902.233304:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_factory.cc:928] Could not find SharedImageBackingFactory with params: usage: Gles2Read|RasterRead|DisplayRead|CpuWriteOnly|CpuRead, format: (Y_UV, 420, 8unorm, ExtSamplerOff), share_between_threads: 0, gmb_type: shared_memory, size: 360x640, debug_label: MediaGmbVideoFramePoolMappableSI_Pid:833752_Pid:833752
[1207/193902.250822:WARNING:third_party/crashpad/crashpad/snapshot/linux/exception_snapshot_linux.cc:263] fpsimd not found
[833719:833719:1207/193902.272407:ERROR:gpu/ipc/service/shared_image_stub.cc:206] SharedImageStub: Unable to create shared image
[833719:833719:1207/193907.651407:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_factory.cc:928] Could not find SharedImageBackingFactory with params: usage: Gles2Read|RasterRead|DisplayRead|CpuWriteOnly|CpuRead, format: (Y_UV, 420, 8unorm, ExtSamplerOff), share_between_threads: 0, gmb_type: shared_memory, size: 360x640, debug_label: MediaGmbVideoFramePoolMappableSI_Pid:0_Pid:0
[833719:833719:1207/193907.652464:ERROR:gpu/ipc/service/shared_image_stub.cc:206] SharedImageStub: Unable to create shared image
[833719:833719:1207/193907.655955:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_manager.cc:393] SharedImageManager::ProduceSkia: Trying to Produce a Skia representation from a non-existent mailbox.
[833719:833719:1207/193907.930707:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_manager.cc:393] SharedImageManager::ProduceSkia: Trying to Produce a Skia representation from a non-existent mailbox.
[833719:833719:1207/193913.095313:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_factory.cc:928] Could not find SharedImageBackingFactory with params: usage: Gles2Read|RasterRead|DisplayRead|CpuWriteOnly|CpuRead, format: (Y_UV, 420, 8unorm, ExtSamplerOff), share_between_threads: 0, gmb_type: shared_memory, size: 360x640, debug_label: MediaGmbVideoFramePoolMappableSI_Pid:0_Pid:0
[833719:833719:1207/193913.095521:ERROR:gpu/ipc/service/shared_image_stub.cc:206] SharedImageStub: Unable to create shared image
[833719:833719:1207/193913.328449:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_manager.cc:393] SharedImageManager::ProduceSkia: Trying to Produce a Skia representation from a non-existent mailbox.
[833719:833719:1207/193916.390039:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_factory.cc:928] Could not find SharedImageBackingFactory with params: usage: Gles2Read|RasterRead|DisplayRead|CpuWriteOnly|CpuRead, format: (Y_UV, 420, 8unorm, ExtSamplerOff), share_between_threads: 0, gmb_type: shared_memory, size: 360x640, debug_label: MediaGmbVideoFramePoolMappableSI_Pid:0_Pid:0
[833719:833719:1207/193916.390923:ERROR:gpu/ipc/service/shared_image_stub.cc:206] SharedImageStub: Unable to create shared image
[833719:833719:1207/193916.397921:ERROR:gpu/command_buffer/service/shared_image/shared_image_manager.cc:393] SharedImageManager::ProduceSkia: Trying to Produce a Skia representation from a non-existent mailbox.
[833661:833703:1207/193921.825240:ERROR:google_apis/gcm/engine/registration_request.cc:292] Registration response error message: DEPRECATED_ENDPOIN

I've not paid any attention to controlling terminals on RasPiOS recently,
so I don't really know what to expect. It certainly looks like both Firefox
and Chromium have things to complain about.

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Re: Re: Chromium & Firefox can't play videos again
By: bp to All on Mon Dec 08 2025 10:00:01

If there was reason to think upgrading to Trixie would help I'd try it,
but so far nobody has suggested that's the case. Bullseye seemed to work pretty well, Bookworm somewhat less so. That trend isn't encouraging....

Far as I've seen, the _only_ problem has been with watching videos. Otherwise the system is well-behaved.

I have no idea if this is related or not, but I sometimes have problems with the sound disappearing, and IIRC this started with the Bookworm upgrade a couple of yrs back. It isn't just raspbian but happens in the parent OS also.

Rebooting, and making sure the HDMI monitor is plugged in and turned on, usually fixes it -- even if the monitor was on the first time!

IMHO rasp/debian has developed some issue where it has trouble sensing the state of the HDMI monitor and, if it gets it wrong it does weird things.

If your monitor isn't HDMI then it could be a completely different issue but I thought I would mention it just in case it was helpful.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in >>>> both Firefox and Chromium browsers. The video starts to load, thumbnails >>>> keep coming but the playback doesn't start and there's no sound.

I've tested it on the New York Times, YouTube, Netflix and some homemade >>>> videos that used to work. Now nothing plays, failing in the same way.

When you start Firefox from a terminal does it complain about any
missing libraries? Do video files play in other programs using
libavcodec (mplayer, ffplay)?

I have a locally-recorded video at http://www.zefox.net/~bp/ampinvt/2nd_inverter/browser_viewable_2nd_inverter.mp4

It plays remotely using the default vlc media player that comes with RasPiOS, but without sound (there isn't much, just some background noise).

It does not play, nor advance the progress bar, using chromium or firefox.

On YouTube the progress bar advances and thumbnails display, but the
normal video window remains blank when using chromium or firefox.

Copying a YouTube URL into vlc media player causes an error, which starts with Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'https://rr2---sn-nvopjoxu-25ve.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1765254131&ei=k083aZHbLNaMlu8PvrCu0As&ip=50.1.20.31&id=o-AJ-TWnr5nbiu1saDbbnTkT--M44S09bXDdhPGEg1........
but I suppose that some deliberate access control by Youtube.

I'm still stumped and hoping this'll get by an upgrade, as in the past.

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Once again an upgrade to Bookworm on a Pi5 has killed video playback in
both Firefox and Chromium browsers. The video starts to load, thumbnails >>> keep coming but the playback doesn't start and there's no sound.

I've tested it on the New York Times, YouTube, Netflix and some homemade >>> videos that used to work. Now nothing plays, failing in the same way.

When you start Firefox from a terminal does it complain about any
missing libraries? Do video files play in other programs using
libavcodec (mplayer, ffplay)?

If I point firefox at www.youtube.com the controlling terminal
reports a series of

Well it's not complaining about missing/broken libraries like
libavcodec, so maybe that's working. Still I say again: Do video
files play in other programs using libavcodec (mplayer, ffplay)?

I've not paid any attention to controlling terminals on RasPiOS recently,
so I don't really know what to expect. It certainly looks like both Firefox and Chromium have things to complain about.

In my experience Firefox complains a lot (I don't use Chrom*), so
it's not clear if those messages are relevent to your problem, but
you could try disabling graphics acceleration in the settings since
the warnings/errors are about that.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Mike Powell <usenet@vk3heg.net> wrote:

Re: Re: Chromium & Firefox can't play videos again
By: bp to All on Mon Dec 08 2025 10:00:01

If there was reason to think upgrading to Trixie would help I'd try it, but so far nobody has suggested that's the case. Bullseye seemed to work pretty well, Bookworm somewhat less so. That trend isn't encouraging....

Far as I've seen, the _only_ problem has been with watching videos. Otherwise the system is well-behaved.

I have no idea if this is related or not, but I sometimes have problems with the sound disappearing, and IIRC this started with the Bookworm upgrade a couple of yrs back. It isn't just raspbian but happens in the parent OS also.

Rebooting, and making sure the HDMI monitor is plugged in and turned on, usually fixes it -- even if the monitor was on the first time!

IMHO rasp/debian has developed some issue where it has trouble sensing the state of the HDMI monitor and, if it gets it wrong it does weird things.

If your monitor isn't HDMI then it could be a completely different issue but I
thought I would mention it just in case it was helpful.

It's interesting, if not obviously helpful. One of my Raspbery Pis uses an
old HDMI Dell monitor with an internal audio splitter. From time to time
the audio drops out but the monitor keeps working. Occasionally the monitor seems to freeze up entirely, not even responding to the power button. Both problems tend to get fixed if I pull the power for a few seconds. The total lockup seems clearly to be a monitor problem, but maybe the audio problem
has cousins living in the Pi.

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 08/12/2025 22:28, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

I have a locally-recorded video at http://www.zefox.net/~bp/ampinvt/2nd_inverter/browser_viewable_2nd_inverter.mp4

That does play here, with sound, in Firefox on Debian Trixie (on AMD64,
not a Pi), and also on a Pi500+ running RaspiOS Trixie (no speakers, so
I can only say the video works).

Both machines have full desktop GUIs and VLC installed, I don't know
whether that makes any difference. The AMD machine is running Debian
Mate and the Pi a standard PiOS.

Oh ... probably shouldn't make any difference but I also have cheese
installed on both, because I was playing with webcams. I suppose cheese
may have brought in some extra driver support ...??

--
Cheers,
Daniel.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

A few hours ago both chromium and firefox started playing videos, both
youtube and elsewhere.

Two updates have been installed, one related to java and the other
related to png, (isn't png a graphics format?) which may have been
influential.

It does appear that YouTube viewed with Chromium can force ads onto
the screen, even with uBlock.origin Lite installed. On firefox, youtube
plays correctly and I'm not seeing ads with uBlock Origin, at least for now.

Thanks to all for paying attention!

bob prohaska


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)