Videojs Warn Player.tech--.hls Is Deprecated. Use Player.tech--.vhs Instead ((link)) <2026>

Sometimes, simply switching to .vhs is not enough, particularly if you are writing custom plugins or accessing internal technology structures directly. You may receive console errors suggesting you should not access the technology directly.

var vhs = player.tech().vhs; console.log(vhs.playlists.main); // Note: 'master' is often now 'main' Use code with caution. 2. Update Initialization Options

[System] player.tech--.vhs initialized. Legacy handler laid to rest.

Some Video.js plugins (e.g., videojs-ima , videojs-ads , or custom quality selector plugins) may internally reference player.tech_.hls . Check your plugin versions and update them. If no update is available, you can temporarily suppress the warning (not recommended for production) by overriding the console warn method, but better to open an issue on the plugin’s repository. Sometimes, simply switching to

At first glance, this message can be puzzling—especially if your video player appears to be working just fine. However, ignoring deprecation warnings in a production video application can lead to unexpected breakage when you upgrade Video.js or its plugins. In this long‑form guide, we’ll break down exactly what this warning means, why the Video.js team deprecated the old hls tech, what vhs is, and how you can safely migrate your code to eliminate the warning and future‑proof your video streaming implementation.

If you are passing options to the player during setup, update the key from hls to vhs . javascript

If you are maintaining a web application that relies on Video.js for video playback, you may have recently noticed a persistent warning in your browser’s developer console: Some Video

yourself, a plugin like a quality selector or resolution switcher may be outdated. Check for updates for those specific libraries on 4. Critical Considerations Native vs. VHS : In some browsers like Safari, player.tech().vhs

As web streaming evolved, the Video.js team developed a newer, more robust engine called . VHS was designed to handle not just HLS, but also DASH streams, using a unified architecture. VHS eventually replaced the old contrib-hls plugin entirely and became bundled directly into Video.js core.

The exact fix depends on how you are initializing your Video.js player. Below are the most common scenarios and how to migrate away from player.tech--.hls . const currentLevel = player.tech_.hls.currentLevel

const currentLevel = player.tech_.hls.currentLevel; console.log(`Current bitrate level: $currentLevel`);

);

Fixing the warning requires updating your codebase to use the modern VHS tech instead of the deprecated HLS tech. Here's a systematic approach:

First, determine whether the warning comes from your own code or a third-party plugin. Check the stack trace in the browser console. It will show which function or file triggered the deprecation.