Youtube embedded videos replaced by white box

  • Bug
  • Thread starter Ryan_m_b
  • Start date
In summary, when embedding a YouTube video, the author noticed that the video appeared as a white box with no video, and found a thread where another user had the same problem. The author tried different methods to get the video to show up, but finally found the answer by copying and pasting the URL of the video.
  • #1
Ryan_m_b
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I've noticed that when I try to embed youtube videos instead there is a white box in the post with no video, I've tried it a few times only to edit the video out of the post and replace it with a link. Today I found a thread where another user is having the same problem https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=3424633#

I'll embed something below to show what I'm talking about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-Vl-LTk2U

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
 
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  • #2
Hmm, let me have a try, using PF's YouTube button:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI

I can see this video, but I can't see the video in your post. Are you sure you're doing it correctly? When you look at the actual URL of a YouTube video, part of it looks like this:

watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI

Take the "gibberish" string after "v=" (up to but not including the following "&" in the URL), and wrap it between [ YOUTUBE ] and [/ YOUTUBE ] tags (remove the spaces). This is what the TV-set icon gives you in the message-composition screen.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
jtbell said:
Hmm, let me have a try, using PF's YouTube button:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI

OK looking at how you wrote that did you copy and paste the code at the end of the URL? what I've been doing is taking a video and wrapping the URL like this (I'm using "{" instead of "[" for illustration)
{YOUTUBE}http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI{/YOUTUBE}

Which comes out like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI

But perhaps if I try this

{YOUTUBE}tQjuSw6ZOcI{/YOUTUBE}

(i.e. copying and pasting the URL and deleting everything but the code at the end http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjuSw6ZOcI

Right that seems to work! I didn't realize that's what we had to do, thanks.

EDIT: Didn't see your edit before I wrote this, yeah I was doing it wrong.
 
Last edited:
  • #4
OK, you got it. :smile:

I don't remember how I found out how to do it correctly. If it isn't in the forum documentation or FAQs somewhere, we need to add it.
 
  • #5
I've never seen an FAQ or tutorial on the little confusing facet's like this, still if someone needs help they can always ask like this and get it sorted in no time. Cheers again
 
  • #6
Whenever you see a post that makes you think "I wonder how they did that?", hit the Quote button and you will see exactly how they did that.

(And then hit your browser's "back" button in order not to post an actual reply.)
 

1. Why are my YouTube embedded videos showing up as a white box?

There could be a few reasons for this issue. One possibility is that there is a problem with the embed code, which may have been changed or removed by the user who uploaded the video. Another possibility is that there may be an error with the connection between the video and the website where it is embedded.

2. How can I fix the white box issue with my embedded YouTube videos?

If the issue is with the embed code, you can try generating a new code from the YouTube video and replacing the old code on your website. If the issue is with the connection, you can try refreshing the page or clearing your browser's cache. You can also check for any updates or plugins that may be causing conflicts with the video.

3. Is this a common problem with YouTube embedded videos?

While it is not a common problem, it does occur from time to time. This issue can be caused by various factors such as changes in YouTube's coding or updates to the website where the video is embedded. However, it is usually a minor issue that can be easily resolved.

4. Can I prevent my YouTube embedded videos from turning into a white box?

Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to prevent this issue from happening. However, you can reduce the chances of it occurring by regularly checking your embed codes and making sure they are up-to-date. You can also stay updated on any changes or updates to YouTube's coding and make adjustments if necessary.

5. Will my viewers be able to see the YouTube video if it shows up as a white box?

In most cases, if the video is showing up as a white box, it means that the video cannot be played. This may be due to a connection error or the video being removed by the uploader. If the issue is resolved, the video should appear normally for viewers. However, if the video has been deleted or made private, it will not be viewable by anyone.

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