Fix “Can’t Play Content on This Browser Version” in Chrome

If you’re seeing this message while trying to stream video content, it usually means Chrome is outdated or incompatible with the platform you’re trying to access. Here’s how to fix it and get back to watching.

1. Check and Update Chrome

Update Chrome

a. Open Chrome
b. In the address bar, type chrome://settings/help
c. Chrome will check for updates automatically. If one is available, it will start downloading
d. Click Relaunch when the update finishes

Make sure you’re running the latest version. Many streaming services won’t work with outdated versions.

2. Disable Compatibility Mode (Windows only)

a. Right-click the Chrome shortcut
b. Select Properties
c. Go to the Compatibility tab
d. Make sure “Run this program in compatibility mode” is unchecked
e. Click Apply, then OK

Running Chrome in compatibility mode can trigger “older browser” detection errors.

3. Reset User-Agent Override

If you’ve manually changed the browser’s identity (user-agent), some sites might block it.

a. In the address bar, type chrome://flags
b. Search for “User-Agent Client Hints”
c. Set it to Default
d. Relaunch Chrome

You can also check if an extension is faking your user-agent. Try disabling all extensions and restarting Chrome.

4. Clear Site Data

Chrome Clear Cache

Corrupt or outdated cookies can cause detection issues.

a. Open the website that showed the error
b. Click the padlock icon in the address bar
c. Select Site settings
d. Click Clear data

Reload the page and see if it works now.

5. Try Incognito Mode

Chrome Incognito Mode

Some extensions or settings might interfere with site detection. Open the site in Incognito mode (Ctrl+Shift+N). If it works, the issue is likely tied to a specific extension.

6. Check Hardware Acceleration

Some media playback problems are caused by hardware acceleration.

a. Go to chrome://settings/system
b. Turn off Use hardware acceleration when available
c. Relaunch Chrome

If the error still appears, try turning it back on—some services require it.

This issue is usually tied to browser version or misconfiguration. In most cases, updating Chrome and clearing conflicting settings fixes it quickly.

Questions? Let me know in the comments section below.