YouTube IFrame API play method doesn't work before touch on some Android tablets

Question

We\'re developing a YouTube player and are using the IFrame API. Everything works really nice except on our Android 4.2.2 test devices.

Only on those devices (and no

Answer 1

This problem is due to browser restrictions, as explained in the doc: https://developers.google.com/youtube/iframe_api_reference#Mobile_considerations

I guess you could circumvent this restriction by simulating the user click ...

Answer 2

This is a known problem for which you have two possible solutions:

1) If you can target APi >= 17 you can rely on the new WebView and the new WebSettings api method setMediaPlaybackRequiresUserGesture()

WebSettings settings = webview.getSettings();
settings.setMediaPlaybackRequiresUserGesture(false);

2) If your target api is < 17 than you have to simulate an user's tap on the WebView at the right time (like after the page is loaded and before sending the play command):

private void emulateClick(final WebView webview) {
    long delta = 100;
    long downTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis();
    float x = webview.getLeft() + webview.getWidth()/2; //in the middle of the webview
    float y = webview.getTop() + webview.getHeight()/2;

    final MotionEvent motionEvent = MotionEvent.obtain( downTime, downTime + delta, MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN, x, y, 0 );
    final MotionEvent motionEvent2 = MotionEvent.obtain( downTime + delta + 1, downTime + delta * 2, MotionEvent.ACTION_UP, x, y, 0 );

    Runnable tapdown = new Runnable() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            if (webview != null) {
                webview.dispatchTouchEvent(motionEvent);
            }
        }
    };

    Runnable tapup = new Runnable() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            if (webview != null) {
                webview.dispatchTouchEvent(motionEvent2);
            }
        }
    };

    int toWait = 0;
    int delay = 100;
    webview.postDelayed(tapdown, delay);
    delay += 100;
    webview.postDelayed(tapup, delay);
}

Answer 3

I do not think this is possible at all. The same for iOS Safari (iPhone, iPad). User interaction is required to initiate video playback.