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How do I stop QuickTime from playing audio files in my browser?

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Summary: QuickTime Player, a popular player for various formats, has a nasty habit of inserting itself into your browser, and being difficult to remove.

Why does it seem that quick time takes over playback of MP3s in Internet explorer? This phenomenon appeared after I installed iTunes. instead of my default media player, quick time seems to want to play my MP3s instead of my default. The only way the default works is if I right-click and download first.

This is one of the Most Annoying Things Ever.

Can you tell I've experienced this?

Let's look at what's happening, and what to do.

"Most annoying 'feature' ever."

Here's the scenario: you find a link to an MP3 file on a web page, and click it. The web page disappears, is temporarily replaced with the QuickTime logo:

QuickTime Logo

And then a small audio player, centered on the page:

QuickTime Audio Player

which then begins to play the audio. You have to hit Back to return to the page you were viewing, but of course that stops the audio.

Most annoying "feature" ever.

And it's not at all obvious how to get it to stop.

Turns out, it's fairly easy.

The "trick", if you want to call it that, is even if you don't actually plan to use Windows Media Player long term, set it to become the default player, then disassociate QuickTime from everything, and then go ahead and pick another media player as the default. But make sure to let Windows Media Player do the heavy lifting first.

First, exit Internet Explorer.

Run Windows Media Player, type ALT+T to get the "Tools" menu, then click on Options, and then on the File Types tab.

Windows Media Player, mp3 filetypes option

Make sure that MP3 audio file is checked. Click OK.

Now, it's also a good idea to remove QuickTime's misguided associations as well.

Fire up QuickTime Player, click on the Edit menu, Preferences item, and then the Quicktime Preferences sub-item. Click on the File Types tab:

QuickTime file type preferences

I uncheck Audio, MPEG and MP3. While I'm here I also uncheck Notify me if other applications modify these associations, so as to keep QuickTime from bugging me in the future.

Next, still in QuickTime preferences, click on the Browser tab, and then the Mime Settings... button.

QuickTime Mime Settings

Same thing here: uncheck Audio, MPEG and MP3, as well as Notify me if other applications modify these associations.

Click OK as appropriate and exit QuickTime Player.

At this point, MP3 files should play automatically in Windows Media Player, outside of your browser.

If you'd like to choose a different player you can:

  • Use that player's options to re-establish its association with MP3 files.

  • Re-install that player, which often offers to reset file associations.

  • Run the Set Program Access And Defaults tool in Windows XP, Default Programs in Window Vista and Windows 7, to set a different default media player.

Now, the bad news.

It is possible that the next time you take a QuickTime update (or an iTunes update, which often includes a QuickTime update) you might need to repeat this process. It may have gotten better, but QuickTime has a nasty reputation for taking over.

I know that Microsoft gets a lot of flak for forcing things on you because "they know better", but in my opinion Apple's no better when it comes to QuickTime. Perhaps over time they'll improve, but the fact that this has been happening for years doesn't speak well to the situation.

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Article C3872 - September 18, 2009

Recent Comments
11 Comments

In Vista go to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs > Associate a file type or protocol with a program. In there look for .mp3, click on it, then click on the Change program... button in the top right corner and set the correct program.
I don't know for Windows 7, perhaps something similar.

The reason that this is such a big issue for people is that those logical, simple steps you've just provided simply don't work in all cases. QuickTime is insidious.
Leo
20-Sep-2009

Posted by: Mike at September 19, 2009 10:03 AM

Gah! I installed Quicktime for use only within Sony Vegas to decode MOV and MP4 files. Any time Quicktime code runs outside of Vegas is unwanted. (I don't even want to be able to click on MOV files and have the player run.)

Very annoying, totally agree with you there.

Posted by: Bill P. Godfrey at September 21, 2009 5:38 AM

I actually despise QT and use a program called Quicktime Alternative that uses the Media Player Classic program to play QT files. It works well with Mozilla, which seems determined to use QT for it's default media player.
Oh also Media Player Classic will play Real Player files, another program that I would rather do without.

AG

Posted by: AG Wright at September 22, 2009 9:04 AM

Is there something wrong with the Quicktime player? If it plays the selection, what's the difference?

I find it extremely annoying that it takes over the page I was looking at, and that it consistently and repeatedly overrides my preferences.
Leo
23-Sep-2009

Posted by: duane at September 22, 2009 11:51 AM

That is because apple makes vile, invasive, and innefective software.

Posted by: Andrew at September 22, 2009 1:57 PM

Another vote for QuickTime Alternative. I haven't had official QuickTime installed since Windows 98.

Posted by: Mark at September 22, 2009 7:44 PM

An easier way is to uninstall QT.
Ant computer that I work on has QT removed (with the permission of the owner. Other software, such as GOM or VLC will do a better job without getting "in your face".

Posted by: Dave duChene at September 24, 2009 3:40 PM

Quick Time Alternative and Media Player Classic rule!
Will free you forever from Apple QT & MS's Media Player disaster.

Posted by: Mark at September 25, 2009 9:08 PM

You know what else they do that SUCKS. Every time you update iTunes/Quicktime (and why are they together - I don't even WANT Quicktime yet it is always part of the iTunes update) they put both programs back on your startup. So every time you update you have to hit "msconfig" and take them off startup. I think there should be a class action lawsuit against them for this.

Posted by: Sandy Smith at October 1, 2009 9:25 PM

here's the next logical question.. what if you bring up the preferences, and it won't let you change them!? (Vista)

Posted by: TG2 at October 3, 2009 8:19 AM

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