If you are experiencing an issue where nothing happens when you click on the Play button or any episode in the podcast player, follow this guide to identify and resolve the problem.
Quick Steps to Diagnose
Check for JavaScript Errors
First, inspect the page for any JavaScript errors which might be affecting the functionality of the podcast player:
- Right-click on the page and select “Inspect” (or press F12).
- Click on the “Console” tab in the developer tools.
- Refresh the page and try clicking the Play button again.
- Any errors will appear in the console with a description and line number.
Once you’ve identified any JavaScript issues, they can give you insight into the root cause of the problem. Here are three common causes and how to resolve them:
Possible Reasons for This Issue
Reason 1: Invalid Audio URL
The audio file URL might not be valid. To test this:
- Copy the audio URL from the podcast feed or your podcast host.
- Paste the URL directly into your browser’s address bar.
- Test if the audio plays. If it doesn’t play, there’s an issue with the audio file URL or its hosting.
Reason 2: Mixed Content Error
If your website runs on HTTPS but the audio file’s URL uses HTTP, this can cause a Mixed Content Error.
How to check:
- Does your website URL start with https:// and the audio file URL start with http://?
- If yes, this mismatch causes the browser to block the audio file for security reasons.
How to resolve:
- Ensure the audio file URL uses https:// instead of http://.
- Upload the audio to a secure server or modify the URL to use a secure connection.
Once this is resolved, the audio should load correctly, and the play button should work as expected.
Reason 3: AJAX Calls Blocked by Security Settings
If the audio URL is valid and there’s no mixed content error, the issue could be related to AJAX calls on your website.
How to check:
- Go to: WordPress Dashboard > Podcast Player > Settings.
- Check the option “Minimize unintentional exposure of podcast data”.
- If this setting is enabled, try disabling it and test the player again.
- If disabling resolves the issue, your website may have restrictions on AJAX calls.
Additional Check:
- Security Plugin or Hosting Configuration: Some security plugins or your website host might be blocking AJAX calls, which are essential for the podcast player to function. Contact your hosting provider or review your security plugin settings to ensure that AJAX is enabled.
Still No Luck?
If none of the above resolves the issue, feel free to contact us with the URL of the page experiencing the problem. We’ll help you troubleshoot further to get your podcast player working properly.
This guide should help you resolve most issues with the podcast player not playing episodes when the play button is clicked.