Overview
If you are viewing a dual-video Mediasite presentation (presenter video + slide feed) in Safari and see a black screen where the slides should appear, you are experiencing a known Safari playback issue.
This issue is usually caused by strict browser privacy settings, specifically blocked third-party cookies or the "Prevent cross-site tracking" feature. Other common causes include outdated cache, high-bandwidth demand, or content protection (HDCP) mechanisms on newer Mac laptops.
The most effective and reliable solution is to simply open the presentation in a different web browser.
Symptoms
You may notice the following behaviors specific to Safari and its playback settings.
- The presenter video plays, but the slides are black.
- When scrubbing along the timeline, you can see thumbnails of the slides, but they don't display onscreen.
- Sometimes both videos load, other times only one loads.
- Refreshing the browser window does not consistently fix the issue.
Recommended Solution (Best & Fastest Fix)
Step 1: Open a new Internet Browser
If you do not already have one installed, download and install Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge on your device.
Step 2: Copy the Mediasite Link
Highlight the full presentation URL in Safari’s address bar. Right-click and select "Copy" (or press ⌘ + C).
Step 3: Paste the link into the new Internet Browser
1. Open a new Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge browser window.
2. Paste the presentation URL into the address bar (⌘+ V).
3. Press "Enter". Your slides should now display normally when you play back the Mediasite presentation.
Verification / Expected Result
After opening the Mediasite presentation in Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge:
- Both the presenter video and slide feed load.
- Slides advance normally.
- No black screen appears in the slide area.
When to Contact Support
Please open a "Report Mediasite Issue" ticket with us if:
- The presentation does not load in any browser.
- You receive an access or login error.
- The video fails to play entirely.
Please be sure to include the following in the ticket:
- The presentation link
- The lecture or event title
- The browser you are using
- The version number of the browser you're using. If you're not sure how to do this, please refer to the appropriate directions below:
- Find your Mozilla Firefox browser version: Click the icon in the top-right of the browser window Help About Firefox
- Find your Google Chrome browser version: Click the icon in the top-right of the browser window Help About Google Chrome
- Find your Microsoft Edge browser version: Click the icon in the top-right of the browser window Help and feedback About Microsoft Edge