Solved: Having Trouble To Display Embedded YouTube Videos?

Why Display Embedded YouTube Videos

The creation of aesthetically pleasing websites that provide unique and engaging content is a primary objective for bloggers and web designers. A widely recognized method for enhancing both the readability and search engine optimization (SEO) of a post is to display embedded YouTube videos. Nonetheless, technical glitches can occur during the embedding process.

Recently, I began designing custom folder icons for various categories such as movies, TV series, and music. My creations include a set of six attractive .ICO and .PNG files suitable for Windows and Mac users. To augment the user experience, I decided to embed YouTube trailers for the movies that corresponded to each folder icon, allowing users to revisit the movie’s essence at their discretion.

Unfortunately, I observed that the embedded YouTube videos were not displaying correctly on my website, and there was only a blank space where the video should have been. Consequently, I conducted an extensive online search for solutions to this problem, but none were forthcoming. If you are visiting my website with the same technical issue, it is likely that you have experienced a similar problem.

The Solution To Display Embedded YouTube Videos:

As an individual who is not a technical expert, I believe that identifying the root cause of any problem requires starting from the basics. I have come to realize that frequently, issues with website appearance are a result of outdated settings or themes and plugins in WordPress. Initially, I decided to disable all plugins, and as a result, the display embedded YouTube videos reappeared where they were supposed to be. It was amusing to have resolved the problem on the first attempt.

My next step involved activating each plugin individually until the issue reappeared. (It is essential to avoid activating caching plugins during the troubleshooting process and enable them in the end.) To my surprise, I discovered that the plugin responsible for disabling the videos was “Smush – Compress, Optimize and Lazy Load Images“.

The plugin in question, ‘Smush It,’ developed by WPMU DEV, is a widely used WordPress tool for optimizing and compressing images, effectively improving a website’s page speed. It offers an array of useful features, including the lazy load option, which selectively delays the loading of images until they are required. However, to my surprise, this feature proved to be the root cause of the problem as it prevented the YouTube videos from being displayed. After careful examination of the settings, I was able to pinpoint the cause of the issue.

After much investigation, I discovered that the “Smush It” plugin by WPMU DEV had the “Lazy Load” option enabled by default for the “Media Type” <iframe>. Although this option typically delays the display of videos until the user scrolls down to the section of the page where the video appears, it seemed that my theme or other code was preventing this function from working correctly. Despite my affection for the plugin and reluctance to replace it, I decided to disable the Lazy Load option for iframes. This proved to be the solution to the issue at hand, and my website was quickly restored to its previous state.

While disabling this option may potentially impact my Google Page Speed, I prioritize the functionality and aesthetic appeal of my website over its speed. It is not always necessary to prioritize speed over other important aspects of website design.

Did It Help To Display Embedded YouTube Videos?

I trust that this information proves beneficial in the event your webpage encounters issues with embedded videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or other platforms. If the Smush It plugin is not responsible, you may apply the same fundamental approach of identifying the plugin or theme that is impeding the display of embedded videos. Should this prove fruitless, you may need to scrutinize all plugin settings and the fundamental WordPress settings. Kindly let me know if this has proven helpful, and if not, I welcome you to comment below, and we can collaborate to resolve the issue.