If you visit a webpage that requires the legacy QuickTime 7 web plug-in, your web browser might display a message that the plug-in is missing or not supported.
- This plug-in is no longer enabled in macOS Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, and Mavericks. Websites increasingly use the HTML5 web standard for a better video-playback experience across a wide range of browsers and devices.
- Recent versions of some third-party web browsers no longer support legacy web plug-ins.
Restore the plug-in, if necessary
If you can't wait for the author to update their webpage, you can restore the legacy QuickTime 7 web plug-in. Leaving legacy browser plug-ins disabled enhances the security of your Mac, so you should take these steps only if necessary.
- Make sure that you're using Safari or another browser that supports legacy web plug-ins.
- Choose Go > Go to Folder from the menu bar in the Finder.
- Type
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins
in the search field, then click Go. The Internet Plug-Ins folder opens.
- While holding down the Command (⌘) key, double-click the Disabled Plug-Ins folder to open it in a new window.
- Drag these two files from the Disabled Plug-Ins folder to the Internet Plug-Ins folder:
- QuickTime Plugin.plugin
- nslQTScriptablePlugin.xpt
- If you're asked to authenticate, click Authenticate, then enter an administrator name and password.
- Quit your web browser, then open your browser again. You should now be able to play the media.
To disable the legacy QuickTime 7 web-plug-in again, move both files back to the Disabled Plug-Ins folder.
Update your webpages to stop requiring the plug-in
If you're a web developer, update your webpages to replace any <embed>
tags that call the legacy QuickTime 7 web plug-in. You should now use the HTML5 <video>
tag, which allows your media to play back in most modern desktop and mobile web browsers, without additional software or plug-ins. Information about how to use this tag is widely available.
- HTML/Elements/video on W3.org
- "Advanced Media for the Web" WWDC 2014 session video
If you're using the legacy QuickTime 7 web plug-in to display panoramic images, use an HTML5-based panorama viewer instead. Search the web for a panorama viewer that doesn't require a web plug-in.