Digital Rights Management (DRM) is technology that enables online video and audio services to enforce that the content they provide is used in accordance with their requirements. This technology may restrict some of the things you can do in the browser. While some DRM-controlled content can be viewed using the Adobe Flash plugin, many services are moving towards HTML5 video that requires a different DRM mechanism called a Content Decryption Module (CDM).

Playing DRM-controlled content in Firefox

Firefox for desktop supports the Google Widevine CDM for playing DRM-controlled content. Firefox downloads and enables the Google Widevine CDM by default to give users a smooth experience on sites that require DRM. Firefox downloads and enables the Google Widevine CDM on demand, with user permission, to give users a smooth experience on sites that require DRM. The CDM runs in a separate container called a sandbox and you will be notified when a CDM is in use. You can also disable a CDM and opt out of future updates by following the steps below. Once you disable a CDM, however, sites using this type of DRM may not operate properly.

Disable the Google Widevine CDM without uninstalling

Disabling Google Widevine from the Add-ons Manager prevents it from running on your computer and prevents future updates from downloading. To disable this CDM plugin:

Click the menu button , click Add-ons Add-ons Plugins . In the Add-ons Manager Plugins panel, click the ellipsis (3-dot) icon next to Widevine Content Decryption Module provided by Google Inc. and select Never Activate from the drop-down menu.

You may encounter sites where content playback is not possible without Google Widevine enabled. You may always turn Google Widevine on again by selecting Always Activate in the menu next to Widevine Content Decryption Module provided by Google Inc.

Opt out of CDM playback, uninstall CDMs and stop all CDM downloads

You have the choice to globally opt out of HTML5 DRM playback. Once you opt out, Firefox will delete any downloaded CDMs from your hard drive, cease all future CDM downloads and disable DRM playback. This affects only DRM-controlled HTML5 audio and video. To opt out of HTML5 DRM playback completely, follow these steps:

Click the menu button Options . Preferences . In the General panel, go to the Digital Rights Management (DRM) Content section. Remove the check mark next to Play DRM-controlled content.

Note: You will still be able to view DRM-controlled content that requires the Adobe Flash plugin, if installed and enabled in Firefox. The Play DRM-controlled content setting only controls HTML5 DRM playback, not plugins.

You may encounter sites where content playback is not possible without DRM enabled. You can always turn DRM playback on again by opening the Firefox OptionsPreferences General panel and, under Digital Rights Management (DRM) Content, putting a check mark next to Play DRM-controlled content. After checking the checkbox, HTML5 DRM playback will be re-enabled and the Google Widevine CDM will download automatically.

Supported platforms

Google Widevine

Windows Vista and higher

Mac OS X 10.9 and higher

x86 and x64 Linux

Similar opt-out capabilities will be offered on all new platforms where Firefox supports DRM.