Media loading/accessing problems

[ssantosgr]

Steps to reproduce

I'm running the matrixdotorg/synapse image with postgres (or sqlite3, it doesn't matter) and element-web.

If i open Chrome browser (133.0.6943.98) or Firefox's latest version (it doesn't matter either), access the element-web instance and try to send an image or a video, they are not loading. This happens in both public and private rooms (encrypted and unencrypted). It is possible to send other types of files (e.g pdf), but if anyone tries to open or download these, there is an undefined error.

I've also tried with other web-based clients (e.g. Cinny) and the situation is the same. Some clients report the following: matrix {"errcode":"M_MISSING_TOKEN","error":"Missing access token"}. I also tried with older Chrome browser versions

Trying to read any logs (browser, docker logs, etc.) didn't got me anywhere.

The only way to overcome this is to visit the URL with "localhost" on the same machine that the containers are running. If i even type the IP of the machine instead of "localhost", media don't work. That is where i concluded.

In http://localhost everything works.
Visiting anything else not.

(not sure if relevant) Setting the enable_authenticated_media to either true or false doesn't help either.

Outcome

What did you expect?

What happened instead?

Operating system

any

Browser information

any

URL for webapp

No response

Application version

latest

Homeserver

No response

Will you send logs?

No

[t3chguy]

Without logs there is nothing to look at. Sounds like your Matrix homeserver requires authenticated media, which on Element Web and most other web Matrix clients requires service-worker support, so make sure your browser supports service workers. If logs won't be provided this issue will be closed.

[ssantosgr]

Thanks for the answer.

I'm using latest versions of both Chrome and Firefox which should support service workers.

Also, as mentioned before, everything works fine when visiting any client under localhost and not its IP or domain name.

I have set the enable_authenticated_media to false in my homeserver.yaml.

Can you please tell me which logs should i provide?

[t3chguy]

I have set the enable_authenticated_media to false in my homeserver.yaml.

Well if your server is still requiring auth then it sounds like an issue for https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/

Can you please tell me which logs should i provide?

[ssantosgr]

Another really strange thing (which i believe is related) is the fact that by visiting localhost, element pops up immediately. But if i try to visit it by typing anything else (host's IP or domain name), the warning for the browser appears. Again, i'm trying from Chrome or Firefox latest version and i even tried older ones (like Chrome 131)

[t3chguy]

You're using http which disables a lot of features including service workers, encryption, and many more forcibly in your browser, the exception is localhost. This is a feature of your browser https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security/Secure_Contexts