Bug Description
1. Summary
When running a Web app (such as those built previously for Samsung, LG, VIZIO, etc. TVs) in a WebView, video playback is being constrained by typical Chromium autoplay rules. Autoplay does not work using plain vanilla video tags, VideoJS, or Shaka within the WebView unless audio is muted. This makes sense for non-TV context but for TVs (since this is meant to replace native FireTV Android apps) autoplay unmuted should not be restricted.
It is a very common use case for a video service to have a video stream start on app load such as for 24/7 linear channels.
App Name:
Still in development
Bug Severity
Select one that applies
- X Impacts operation of app
- X Blocks current development
- Improvement suggestion
- Issue with documentation (If selected, please share the doc link and describe the issue)
- Other
2. Steps to Reproduce
Load a simple HTML page with a video tag within WebView element.Attempt to autoplay an HLS stream without being muted.- Playback will not start
3. Observed Behavior
Explain what actually happened, noting any discrepancies or malfunctions.
Playback does not start automatically unless the player is muted
4. Expected Behavior
Describe what you expected the SDK to do under normal operation.
Since this is designed for TV use cases where the user would absolutely expect video players to NOT be muted, it should allow autoplay without mute.
4.a Possible Root Cause & Temporary Workaround
Fill out anything you have tried. If you don’t know, N/A is acceptable
Root cause is Chromium restrictions for desktop and mobile web browsers being applied to TVs erroneously.
5. Logs or crash report
Logs not required
6. Environment
Please fill out the fields related to your bug below:
-
SDK Version: 0.22.5850
-
App State:
Foreground -
OS Information
Please ssh into the device viakepler exec vda shelland copy the output fromcat /etc/os-releaseinto the answer section below. Note, if you don’t have a simulator running or device attachedkepler exec vda shellwill respond withvda: no devices/emulators foundNAME="OS" OE_VERSION="4.0.0" OS_MAJOR_VERSION="1" OS_MINOR_VERSION="1" RELEASE_ID="14" OS_VERSION="1.1" BRANCH_CODE="TV Ship day60" BUILD_DESC="OS 1.1 (TV Ship day60/10503430)" BUILD_FINGERPRINT="1.0.50343.0(9a1d8dfa7da5d600)/10503430N:user/dev-keys" BUILD_VARIANT="user" BUILD_TAGS="dev-keys" BUILD_DATE="Fri Dec 19 17:22:49 UTC 2025" BUILD_TIMESTAMP="1766164969" VERSION_NUMBER="1402060343030"
7. Example Code Snippet / Screenshots / Screengrabs
Include any relevant code or component setup in React Native that can help reproduce the bug.
Unnecessary
Playback Issues
If this is a playback issue, please provide your content URL, any pre-conditions (like geo-location), and let us know if it’s x86 or arm7.
Autoplay does not work unless muted until the user interacts with the page.
Please share the following details in addition:_
- Player SDK:
Vanilla Video Tag, VideoJS, Shaka all have same issue - Player SDK Version:
All versions- Audio Codecs:
AAC - Video Codecs:
H264 - Manifest Types:
m3u8
- Audio Codecs:
Q: If applicable, please provide your media/content url
If this is created dynamically, tokenized, etc please provide a way for us to access it
Cannot provide
Q: Are there any special headers required to reproduce the issue you are facing?
N/A
Additionally please provide the following if possible
Provide Screenshots / Screengrabs / Logs. Please include as much information as you can that will help debug.
Not necessary
Additional Context
Any Additional Context you would like to provide?
Add any other relevant information, such as recent updates to the SDK, dependencies, or device OS that may affect the bug.
N/A