How to Fix Safari “Media Could Not Be Loaded” Error

Quick Tips

• Open Settings > Safari > Extensions > relevant extension > disable the extension.
• Go to Safari settings > disable Block Pop-ups toggle. Then, tap on Clear History and Website Data > restart Safari.
• Open Settings > your profile > iCloud > Private Relay > turn the toggle off.

Basic Fixes:

• Check the internet connection: If you have slow data speeds, the Safari browser may fail to load media. If you own a dual-band Wi-Fi router, consider switching the iPhone to a 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency band for faster speeds and wider bandwidth.
• Open the same tab in Private mode: Browsing Safari in Private mode hides your browsing history and disables all installed extensions on your phone. So, you can open the Private mode in Safari to start browsing without prying eyes.
• Check for unsupported/outdated file format: If the format of the file you’re trying to load or open in Safari is not supported, you might see the “Media could not be loaded” error. Try opening the file in another browser to check.
• Update Safari browser: Safari is a part of iOS on iPhone. An outdated iOS build can lead to issues like media could not be loaded error in Safari. So, install the latest Safari build via an iOS update on your iPhone.

Fix 1: Turn off Safari Extensions

Safari has rich extension support on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. One of the installed extensions may prevent Safari from loading media on your phone. Here’s how to disable unnecessary extensions on Safari.

Step 1: Open Settings > tap on Safari > Extensions.

Step 2: Tap on the relevant extensions and disable them as required.

Also Read: How to turn off AdBlock in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Fix 2: Disable Block Pop-Ups

By default, Safari blocks pop-ups on all websites. This function can be aggressive at times and may also block media. Follow the steps below to disable the function.

Step 1: Open Settings → Safari. Disable the Block Pop-ups toggle.

Fix 3: Clear Safari History and Website Data

Safari also collects cache and website data to store user information. The idea is to improve the overall user experience by quickly loading your frequently visited websites. If the Safari cache is outdated or corrupt, the browser may not load media as expected. In this case, here’s how to clear the Safari cache.

Step 1: Open Settings → Safari. Tap on Clear History and Website Data. Restart Safari and check.

Fix 4: Disable Private Relay for Safari

Private Relay is part of an iCloud+ subscription that hides your IP location and browsing activities from advertisers. It helps protect your unencrypted internet traffic from Apple and others. However, issues with iCloud Private Relay may prevent in-browser media playback. Disable it using these steps.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on your profile. Then, tap on iCloud.

Step 2: Tap on Private Relay and turn off the toggle.

Wait a while and try opening the relevant media or file again in Safari. After a while, if required, you can also enable Private Relay on your iPhone using the above steps.