I saw this in another thread a while ago, that clicking the page doesn't remove the focus from the plugin. The only workaround I found in that case was to remove focus from the tab completely, either using Alt+Tab and then Alt+Tab back, or clicking another tab/window and then returning to the tab. Then it was possible to click on the page outside Flash. Very inconvenient.

I'm not sure why we aren't getting more reports. Maybe it's specific to particular configurations?

I haven't tested in Firefox's Safe Mode, but you could try it. It's a standard diagnostic for possible add-on issues.

First, I recommend backing up your Firefox settings in case something goes wrong. See Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles. (You can copy your entire Firefox profile folder somewhere outside of the Mozilla folder.)

Next, restart Firefox in Firefox's Safe Mode (Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode) using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

In the Safe Mode dialog, do not check any boxes, just click "Continue in Safe Mode."

Does the Flash plugin behave any better?

I am having the exact same problem and it it is really annoying. The same problem happens to me in Youtube only. When I play a video and I click on the pause button or anywhere on the video, then the touchpad scrolling won't work and my up and down keys start to adjust the volume. This issue began when I upgraded the flash player today so the problem may be there. Need help with this issue please. By the way, i tried using Firefox in safe mode and the problem is still there.

Yeah, safe mode hasn't helped. I guess it must be an issue with the newest version of Flash. But even being able to Alt+Tab out of it is a big improvement. Obnoxious, but it sorts it in just a couple of moments.

I have the same problem. When I click on youtube video to play/pause/rewind etc., touchpad or keyboard scrolling stop working. For now Alt+Tab is an option (I always clicked on another tab and then back to get scrolling to work) but hope this gets fixed soon. I also tried safe mode, the same happens again. And yes, for me this is firefox problem and it started when I updated firefox to version 13 and v.14 didn't fix the problem either, I am pretty sure it started then, and I think I hadn't updated flash player in those days, so flash isn't to blame. I remember having the problem in some other websites too, but I checked one video site that came to my mind and there were no problems with scrolling, so for now I can say that this only happens with youtube. If anyone could tell me where I can get firefox 12, I would be grateful and I think I could understand whether this is firefox problem or flash problem.

p.s. why there is no coooperation with adobe to fix firefox's flash problems once and for all? is that because they don't support free web? :))

Hi samir1453, Mozilla and Adobe (and Real) have been working together closely to iron out Flash 11.3 issues in Firefox such as crashes and media not playing. I don't know whether this issue is on their combined radar.

I sure hope they're working on a fix. I have this same problem and it's super annoying.

Hi macsez2u, there was an update to RealPlayer earlier this month. You might need to download it manually if RealPlayer (the application, not the plugin) doesn't update itself.

Hi, and thanks for the tip; however, I don't use RealPlayer, nor do I have its plugin. I am using Flash 11.3 and FF 14.0.1 on a Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit laptop. I know it took ages for FF to address the issue of the touchpad not working in a tab when another tab was displaying a pdf; does this look like it's going to take a long time to be addressed too?

Hi macsez2u, I didn't read up the thread far enough before posting. Yes, there is a problem with YouTube videos keeping control of the keyboard and not letting you click outside the Flash plugin to regain control. I haven't seen anyone post a solution to this annoying problem yet.

Other known workarounds:

(1) Full screen the video and then switch back

press f then Esc - focus will move back to the page

(2) Switch to another application window and then back

press Alt+tab then Alt+tab - focus will move back to the page

(3) Click on a different tab then click back - focus will move back to the page

The YouTube video problem with Firefox for me is breaking the page scrolling after pausing a video or clicking on ANYTHING inside the video, has been going on since July. I've had it with two computers and two version of the touch pad, including the latest one. The touch pad scrolling is disabled as well as the arrow keys for me also.

It's not caused by addons, restore points and reinstalling Firefox don't fix it, and it also happens with several Adobe Flash versions, including the current 11.5.502.110. and 10.3 Rolling back to Adobe Flash 10.3.183.43 for BOTH Firefox and Internet Explorer Active X version, allows you to click on the page to reenable scrolling but you shouldn't even have to do that.. All other trouble shooting steps are useless. Clicking on the page alone doesn't work. This NEVER happens with IE9 or Chrome 23. It also happens if you change anything in the video.... clicking on replay, or changing the resolution.

Workarounds:

1. Install Adobe Flash 10.3 for BOTH Firefox and the Active X Flash version for Internet Explorer.

     To Uninstall Adobe Flash:  
           http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

     To Install Flash 10.3.   Click on the the link below and on the page that opens  click on the link for each browser. Firefox is the one "for other browsers".
            http://forums.adobe.com/thread/889580
      
     2.With Adobe 11.5.   Flash Player 10.3 for Internet Explorer Either click on the desktop and then click on the page, which is definitely the easiest, or:

      3.Switch tabs and then back, or:
     
      4. click on another application and then back, but that's reasonable only if you're doing that normally, otherwise it's much too awkward. 

I posted a very detailed  bug about this on Bugzilla on 11/16 but so far no one's picking it up to work on it as of 11/20. I've also reported this in Suggestions as a complaint. I've posted this same issue on another thread weeks ago, all to no avail.

The Developers need to understand that experienced users like me are going to put up with just so much of this garbage and then .we switch to Chrome. The average user doesn't even hang around that long and many of them never come back. is there never going to be a fix for this? I promise you one thing- if there isn't, people are going to be eventually switching Chrome in droves! Staff is just ignoring this and it's not the first time I've seen them with their heads in the sand. Their infamous "Support" articles cannot help with an obvious Developer issue, but that's all they seem to be willing to do. How about they contact the Developers, and get this fixed - is that too much to ask after four damn months?

The Developers really need to coordinate this with Adobe's Engineers. It certainly doesn't seem like they're doing that, and if they are, then Staff needs to come down from their ivory tower and tell us.