HLS.js Error: NetworkError - Fatal: True: How to Fix it

Your browser extensions can often cause this issue

Browsers » Chrome

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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Many users encountered hls.js error: networkerror – fatal: true – manifestloaderror while trying to play videos in their browser. Your extensions or antivirus/firewall settings can often cause this problem. Proxy and browser settings can also lead to this issue.

First, check your antivirus and make sure the website you’re trying to access is added to the exclusion list. This applies to Kaspersky antivirus. If you have VPN enabled, disable it.

How do I fix HLS network error?

1. Turn off firewalls temporarily

  1. Go to the Search box in Windows 10.
  2. Type in the keyword firewall. Click Windows Defender Firewall.
    windows firewall searc results
  3. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
    Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off windows firewall window
  4. Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall radio buttons, and click OK to confirm.
    Turn off Windows Defender Firewall  private and public networks
Note icon NOTE
In case you have installed on your device a third-party antivirus software that has a firewall incorporated, make sure to right-click the system tray icon. Next, you should select to disable the antivirus utility’s context menu to temporarily deactivate it.

2. Disable the Proxy Server

  1. Press Windows key + R. Type in inetcpl.cpl into Run and click OK.
    inetcpl.cpl in run window
  2. Next, make sure to select the Connections tab.
    internet options window connections tab
  3. Press the LAN settings button to open the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window.
    LAN settings button
  4. Go to the Use a proxy server for your LAN checkbox and deselect it.
    Use a proxy server for your LAN unchecked internet options window
  5. Select the Automatically detect settings option.
  6. Click OK to exit the Local Area Network Settings window.

3. Disable your extensions

  1. Open Chrome and click the Menu button. Choose Extensions and then Manage Extensions.
     manage extensions chrome menu
  2. Click the toggle icon next to the extension name.  Do this for all extensions.
    noplugin extension disable chrome
  3. After doing that, check if the problem is resolved.

Go ahead and enable extensions one by one until you manage to find the source of the problem. Many users reported that JShelter extension caused the problem, so look out for it.

4. Clear Chrome’s browser data

  1. Click the Menu button at the top right of the browser’s window. Select the More Tools and then select Clear browsing data.
    clear browsing data chrome menu
  2. Select the All-time option on the drop-down menu.
    all time clear browsing data dialog
  3. Next, select all three data options on the Basic tab for cookies, cache, and browsing history. 
  4. Click the Clear data option.

5. Reset the browser

  1. In Chrome’s URL bar type chrome://settings/
    chrome://settings in address bar in Chrome
  2. Select Reset and clean up.
    reset and cleanup sidebar chrome
  3. Now pick Restore settings to their original defaults.
    Restore settings to their original defaults chrome
  4. Restart your device.

6. Reinstall Chrome

  1. Press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and click the OK option.
    appwiz.cpl run dialog
  3. Select from the list Google Chrome.
  4. Next, click the Uninstall option for Google Chrome.uninstall chrome programs and features window
  5. Click Yes on confirmation prompts.
  6. Restart Windows when you’ve uninstalled Chrome.
  7. Go to the official page and download the Chrome browser on your device.
  8. Reinstall it and restart your device as well.

This isn’t the only video issue, and many users reported that YouTube freezes on Chrome, but we covered that in a separate guide.

Many also encountered Your browser doesn’t support video playback and Your browser does not support MP4 videos errors, but we have dedicated guides for them.

More about the topics: Google Chrome Errors

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.

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