Firefox desktop · Research guidance. Instructions are based on publisher guidance; a UK IPTV account was not tested on this platform.
The same key can serve another task
Arrow keys are not exclusively video controls. Firefox can provide a movable text cursor for navigating and selecting webpage content. If pressing an arrow moves through text rather than seeking a programme, inspect the browser’s navigation state before concluding that the player has stopped accepting every keyboard command.
Recognise Caret Browsing
Mozilla documents the preference to use cursor keys within pages and the F7 toggle for Caret Browsing. In that mode, a visible text cursor can move through web content and PDFs. The presence of that cursor is useful evidence about the browser state; it is not an insertion point for editing the streaming website itself.
Check focus as a separate condition
A search field, page text and a custom player control can each respond differently to keys. Click or navigate to the intended control using the website’s supported method and observe focus. Avoid testing a player shortcut while typing in a form. A key that edits text in the active field is following another task, even if a video is playing nearby.
Make one deliberate comparison
If Caret Browsing is not wanted for this task, use Mozilla’s documented toggle and repeat the same interaction. Preserve the preferred accessibility state afterwards. Do not disable a feature someone relies on merely to match another person’s keyboard habits. The relevant result is whether this mode and focus explain the observed action.
Report the exact route
Include the key, active field or control and whether a page cursor was visible. Website-defined access keys and player shortcuts are not universal across services. This small amount of context prevents a browser navigation preference from being misreported as a service account issue or a complete lack of keyboard support.
Questions, answered
Can F7 affect arrow-key navigation in Firefox?
Yes. Mozilla documents it as a Caret Browsing toggle.
Does a playing video automatically receive all keystrokes?
No. The active focus and browser mode matter.