Unable to play HTML5 Videos in IE

In order to play HTML5 videos in the Internet Zone, you need to use the default settings or make sure the following registry key value 2701 under Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 is set to 0.

  • The default value is 0 = Allow
  • If set to 3 = Disallow

This key is read by the URL Action Flag that can be taken in a URL Security Zones.

Reference for URLACTION_ALLOW_AUDIO_VIDEO: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ie/ms537178(v=vs.85).aspx

" The key is for URLACTION_ALLOW_AUDIO_VIDEO 0x00002701. Internet Explorer 9. Determines whether media elements (audio and video) are allowed. For the element to appear, both the security zone of the host webpage and the media source must allow media. By default, this URLAction permits playback of resources from all zones except the Restricted Sites zone. This means that pages in the restricted zone cannot play media from anywhere, and that pages in other zones do not permit media that is loaded from restricted sites. "

There is no individual UI Setting to manage this action. These are per Zone settings and depending on what the zone is set, you will see this value change.

Example: Change the Internet Zone to High, which will set the registry Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 2701 value to 3

Here is what the registry key will look like:

The Zones key contains keys that represent each security zone that is defined for the computer. By default, the following five zones are defined (numbered zero through four):

Value    Setting
------------------------------
0        My Computer
1        Local Intranet Zone
2        Trusted sites Zone
3        Internet Zone
4        Restricted Sites Zone

Reference:

You can use Group Policy Preferences to manage these settings. GPP Registry should be fairly easy to use.

This blog has been provided to you by the IE Support team!