Twitter is my favorite social media site because it’s much easier to be yourself and connect with others. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s much more organized than the other sites.
The only thing I didn’t like was that I couldn’t play videos on my computer for a long time. The sad part is that I suffered through it as long as I did, and all I had to do was update a few settings on my browser.
If your Twitter videos are not playing, ensure that you have a strong internet connection. If you are using the Twitter mobile app, ensure that it and your phone’s software are up to date. If you’re using a computer, ensure that Flash is enabled and ad-blocking extensions are disabled. If that doesn’t work, Twitter’s servers could be down.
If you can’t fix the issue, you may have to download the videos to watch them. But first, let’s look at the best ways to fix Twitter videos not loading.
Reasons for Twitter Videos Not Playing
1. Network Connection
The most likely reason your videos are not playing on Twitter is that your network connection is weak or not working. If the loading symbol continually spins, but the video never starts to play, it’s a good sign that your connection is the issue.
The best way to know for sure is to perform a speed test to see what your current speed is.
If your result is less than 25 Mbps, video content may not load correctly.
2. The Cache
The cache contains temporary data. The idea is that it saves certain data to help the app load faster, but it doesn’t always work that way.
The data that Twitter has stored in its cache could hold dated information that is creating a conflict. In addition, it can take up space in your device’s memory that the app needs to run correctly.
So, if it’s been some time since you last cleared Twitter’s cache, it may cause your Twitter videos not to load.
3. The Twitter App on the Device
If you’re using Twitter on an app, the problem could be related to the app.
For example, if the app isn’t updated to the most current version, there’s a good chance the old app version contains bugs that could cause the issue.
It can also cause problems like this if the software on your device has been updated but the app has not. The same is true if the app version is newer than your software.
4. Using Old Browsers
If you’re using the web version of Twitter, it may not be playing videos because the dated browser is not equipped to run newer Twitter components.
Browser updates usually include things to ensure they work with popular sites as they evolve. So, if you’re using an old browser version, it may not have the components needed to run the platform correctly.
5. Security Software and Firewall
If you have security software installed on your computer, it could be blocking your Twitter videos and preventing them from playing. This is because the software could detect something within the video that it considers a threat.
In addition, some firewall settings will cause this issue.
6. Not Compatible
Sometimes, it may just be that the video you are trying to watch was uploaded in a format that isn’t compatible with your device or the Twitter platform.
Try watching a different video. If it plays, then you were likely just experiencing a format issue with the video.
Twitter Videos Not Playing on Phone?
If you can’t play Twitter videos on your phone, it could be an issue with your app or device. However, there are a few things you can do that will likely fix the problem.
1. Check Network Strength
To play video content, you must have a strong network signal and good speed. Most videos will not stream well if your internet speed is under 25Mpbs.
You can find out the current speed you’re getting by visiting speedtest.net and tapping “Go.” If your speed is lower than your internet package provides, you’ll need to reboot your router and then your device to fix the issue.
If your speeds are consistently slow, consider contacting your provider to make them aware of the problem and see if you should upgrade to a package with higher speeds.
2. Launch Mobile Phone Browser to Check
If your internet connection is good, open your phone browser and go to https://www.twitter.com. You will need to log in to your account.
Once you’ve logged in, see if you can play videos using the browser rather than the app. If so, it will let you know that that issue is with the app.
The issue will likely be with your device or Twitter’s servers if the video does not play through the browser.
3. Check the Twitter App:
The first thing you should check with your Twitter app is that it has been updated to the latest version. You can do this quickly by opening your app store and searching for Twitter. Then, select Twitter and see if there is an option that says “update.”
If you have an update available, tap update to install it. If the option says “open” instead, your app is already up to date.
If your app is already updated, try clearing the cache.
For iOS devices, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Twitter > Offload App > Reinstall App.
For Android devices: go to Settings > Apps > Twitter > Storage > Clear Cache.
4. Phone Update
If the software on your phone is outdated, it may cause glitches that negatively affect how your Twitter app functions, including preventing videos from playing. You will have to update the software on your phone to fix this.
To update an iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update
- Your phone will automatically scan for available updates.
- If there is an update available, tap to install it.
To update an Android phone:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap System.
- Tap System Update.
- If you have an available update, install the update.
Once the update has been installed, check to see if you can play videos in your Twitter app.
5. Twitter Servers
If you’ve completed all the steps listed and still cannot play videos on Twitter, it could be that Twitter’s servers are down. This doesn’t happen often, and the good news is it doesn’t generally last long when it does.
You can check the status of Twitter’s service by using a website like DownDetector, which will let you know if the servers are presently down. It will also let you know if there has been an outage in the past 24 hours.
If the servers are down, you’ll have to wait until they’re back up to be able to play videos.
Fail to Play Twitter Video on Web Browser?
If you’re trying to play Twitter videos on a browser, the things that could cause the problem will be different. The steps below are the most promising fixes if you can’t play Twitter videos using the web version.
1. Switch Browsers
There’s a good chance that your browser could be causing the issue. For example, there could be a glitch with the browser that you’re using. In rare cases, it could be that Twitter doesn’t support your browser.
The best way to fix either of these is to switch to a browser supported by Twitter.
2. Restart Chrome Browser
It’s helpful to restart your browser from time to time to give it the refresh that it needs to work correctly. If you’re using Google Chrome, you can easily do this by typing chrome://restart in your search bar.
This method will not cause you to lose your open tabs, as they will restore when the browser reopens.
3. Check the Flash
Flash is what allows you to play videos or games on your computer. If it’s disabled for Twitter, you will not be able to watch videos on the site.
To check your flash:
- Make sure Twitter is in the open tab.
- Click the lock icon at the end of the search bar.
- Ensure the toggle next to Flash is green. If not, click it to enable it.
4. Update Chrome to the Latest Version
If your Chrome version is dated, it may not be equipped to run Twitter. To fix this, update to the latest version of Chrome.
To update Chrome:
- Click More (three dots stacked vertically).
- Hoover over Help.
- Click About Google Chrome.
- Click Update Google Chrome.
If you do not see the option to update Chrome, your browser is up to date.
5. Clear the Cookies
Sometimes, the data stored in the cookies can be stored incorrectly and cause the website to malfunction. You’ll need to remove the cookies from your browser to clear this data.
To clear the cookies:
- Open the browser.
- Click More. (three vertical dots)
- Hoover over More Tools.
- Click Clear Browsing Data
- Change the dropdown menu to All Time and ensure “cookies and other site data” and “cached images and files” are selected.
- Click Clear Data.
Once the data has been cleared, restart your browser before attempting to play a Twitter video again.
6. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Put simply, hardware acceleration uses the hardware in your computer to help your browser run smoother than it could on its own.
However, it doesn’t always work correctly and can cause various issues, including video playback issues. Disabling this feature could fix your problem with your Twitter videos not playing.
To disable hardware acceleration:
- Click More / ⠇
- Click Settings
- Click System
- Find “Use hardware acceleration when available” and ensure it is off.
- If the toggle is on, click it to disable the feature.
- Click Relaunch.
It’s essential that you click relaunch because the changes will not take effect until the browser is relaunched.
7. Disable Plugins in Chrome
Some plugins, especially those designed to block ads, will prevent some videos from playing. The best way to fix the issue is to disable any plugins installed on your browser.
To this, simply type chrome://extensions into the toolbar of a new tab. Then, click the toggles on any plugins that are enabled to turn them off.
8. Download Twitter Video
If all else fails, you may be able to watch the video if you download it to your phone or computer.
To download a video from Twitter:
- Find the video you want to watch.
- Open Twitter Video Downloader in another tab.
- Go back to Twitter and right-click on the video you want to watch.
- Click Copy Video Address.
- Switch tabs back to the downloader and paste the link in the text box.
- Click Download or scan the QR code to download the video to your device.
Conclusion
As you can see, many small things can prevent your Twitter videos from loading.
The most common of these issues is a poor internet connection.
If the steps have not enabled you to play videos on Twitter, consider contacting Twitter’s support team. They may be able to provide further troubleshooting steps or let you know if there is a known problem that could be causing the problem.
If all else fails, you can always download the video and delete it when you’re done.
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Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.