Check browser features after a system update

A browser feature that worked yesterday may be missing or behave differently after a system update. The change could come from the browser, a permission reset, a graphics driver, or a restriction on the page you are testing.

Use Browser Info to check the browser version, engine, permissions, codecs, and supported features. You can also check System Info for device details that may help explain a graphics or compatibility change.

Check the browser features

1. Open Browser Info in the same browser and profile where the problem occurs. If the feature needs a camera or microphone, allow the browser permission when prompted.
2. Find the supported features section and check the item related to the feature that stopped working. Also note the browser version and engine shown in the report.
3. Reload the page or test that feature again in a new tab. Keep the original site, account, and browser profile the same so you are comparing like with like.
4. If the feature involves graphics, compare the device details in System Info. Check whether the graphics information or connected display setup looks different from what you expected.
5. Try the same feature in a second, up-to-date browser. If it works there, the issue is more likely tied to the original browser, its settings, or an extension than to the system update alone.

Write down the browser version, feature status, and any error message before changing settings. That gives you a useful before-and-after record if you need to ask for help.

What the result means

The feature is still listed as supported

The browser reports that it can provide that feature, but this does not guarantee that every website can use it. A page may require permission, a secure connection, a user click, or a particular browser context. Check the page's own error message and permissions before treating the system update as the cause.

The feature is no longer listed as supported

The current browser does not report support for that feature in this environment. The update may have changed the browser version, disabled an interface, or affected a driver or system component the browser relies on. Check whether the browser itself updated at the same time as the operating system.

The feature is supported, but the website still fails

Support in Browser Info is a capability check, not a full test of a particular website or app. The site may be blocked by a permission, extension, privacy setting, managed-device policy, or a limitation in the page. Test the same feature on a simple page or in another browser before changing more system settings.

Browser Info looks normal, but graphics work fails

A feature can appear available while the browser is using a different graphics path or has trouble with its driver. System Info can show basic graphics and screen details, but a browser-based report cannot diagnose a faulty graphics card or prove that every driver component is working correctly.

How to fix it

1. Close and reopen the browser. A restart makes the browser reload its components after an update. Reopen the affected page and run Browser Info again.
2. Check the page permission. Select the site controls beside the address bar and review permissions for the feature in question. If the feature uses the camera or microphone, make sure the site is allowed to use it. Reload the page after changing a permission.
3. Check system privacy access. For camera or microphone features on Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera or Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. Enable access for apps and desktop apps as appropriate. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera or System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow your browser.
4. Update the browser. In Chrome or Edge, open the browser's settings and look for its About page to check for updates. Safari updates with macOS, so check System Settings › General › Software Update. Restart the browser after updating.
5. Check for extensions or profile restrictions. Temporarily disable extensions that block scripts, media, or device access, then retest. If the computer is managed by work or school, an administrator may have turned off a browser feature. Do not remove work policies or security software without approval.
6. Check graphics settings and drivers. If a graphics feature is involved, review the browser's graphics or performance settings and restart it after any change. On Windows 11, check Settings › Windows Update for available system and driver updates. On macOS, use System Settings › General › Software Update for supported system updates.
7. Retest in a clean browser setup. Use a fresh browser profile if possible, then repeat the feature check. If the feature is absent in multiple updated browsers, but returned after the system update, contact the device or browser support team with your notes before reinstalling software.

Why feature reports can differ

Browser features are not the same as installed apps or add-ons. They are interfaces built into a browser, and their availability can depend on the browser version, operating system, permissions, security context, and device hardware. An operating system update can also reset privacy choices or change a graphics driver without changing the browser's feature list.

Private browsing, an extension, or a managed work profile can produce different results from a regular browser window. For a fair comparison, use the same browser profile, network, and page, then change one setting at a time. A browser report shows what the browser exposes, not whether a website's code uses it correctly.

Browser Info checks the browser running on your device, while System Info provides device context. Neither tool can repair a missing browser feature or confirm that a system component is physically healthy.