TechNote

Unable to view Flash content in browser after updating to QuickTime 7.2

Issue

After updating to QuickTime 7.2, any instance of a Flash SWF file in a web page may be replaced by the question mark QuickTime icon:

Reason

In some cases, updating to QuickTime 7.2 causes QuickTime to take over the Flash SWF MIME type. As a result the web browser believes that QuickTime should be playing the Flash content.

When the page loads, an instance of QuickTime Player is created for the web browser, but when that instance realizes that the content is not QuickTime (MOV), it fails and displays the question mark icon.

Solution

Mac OS X: Disable Flash MIME type in QuickTime preferences.

Select System Preferences in the Apple menu.
In the Internet & Network section, select the QuickTime System Preferences.
Select the Advanced tab.
Select "MIME Settings..."
Select the triangle to expand the category "Miscellaneous - Miscellaneous file formats".
Deselect Flash Media.
Select OK to approve the change to QuickTime System Preferences.
Restart your web browser.

Note: Users of Mozilla-based web browsers such as Firefox may need to use the more extreme solution described on the Mozillazine page, http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash. If the above steps fail for you and you are not using Internet Explorer, try the Mozilla solution.

Windows XP or Vista: Disable Flash MIME type in QuickTime preferences.

Select Start > Settings > Control Panel.
Select the QuickTime control panel.
Select the File Types tab.
Select the triangle to expand the category "Miscellaneous - Miscellaneous file formats".
Deselect Flash Media.
Select OK to approve the change to QuickTime System Preferences.
Restart your web browser.

Note: There is a related issue which QuickTime users should be aware of: "iTunes 7/QuickTime 7.1.3 update breaks Flash compatibility" (TechNote kb400909). In this issue, Flash content inside a QuickTime MOV file will not play. However, this only affects MOV content and is not directly related to the issue described above.