> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.addpipe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The New Video Recording Prompt for HTML Media Capture in iOS9
- URL: https://blog.addpipe.com/the-new-video-recording-prompt-for-media-capture-in-ios9/
- Published: 2015-08-11T20:55:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-21T08:33:30.000Z
- Author: Octavian
- Tags: Technology, HTML Media Capture, #Import 2026-05-22 13:18

iOS 9 is scheduled to be released this autumn and it brings many changes, but today we’re going to look at one of the lesser known ones: the change to the [HTML Media Capture](https://addpipe.com/html-media-capture-demo/) prompt used by Safari for video.

For those who don’t know, HTML Media Capture is the standard way to capture video, audio, or a photo on your website from mobile devices.

In iOS 8 (pictured in the featured image above) you basically had 3 options:

1. Take Video
2. Photo Library
3. Cancel

**Take Video** opened up the Camera app in video mode (with no option to switch to photo) while the **Photo Library** option opened the Photos app showing all albums containing videos.

That’s all the same in iOS 9 ([we’ve used iOS 9 beta 5](http://www.macrumors.com/2015/08/06/ios-9-beta-5-tidbits/)). There are however, some significant changes:

- new iCloud Drive and OS X Server options
- the ability to add other sources including Dropbox
- icon for each option
- bigger Cancel button

Here’s how the new prompt looks (with Dropbox source activated):

![The expanded HTML Media Capture prompt in iOS 9](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2374.png)

**Dropbox**

Selecting this option brings up your Dropbox folder with all folders and files sorted alphabetically and with unsupported files (images, documents and some videos) greyed out:

![Folders and files in Dropbox](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2377.png)

To test what video files are supported I’ve placed 8 different video files in a Dropbox folder and tried to upload them to Pipe using HTML5’s Media Capture standard.

As you can see *mkv* and *webm* were greyed out which means some kind of filtering takes place in real time. From my set of files Safari (on iOS9 beta 5) allowed me to upload *3gp*, *flv* , *mp4*, *mov* and even *wmv* and *avi* files:

![Dropbox folder with different types of videos](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2376.png)

Supported video files:

- mp4
- mov
- flv
- avi
- wmv
- 3gp

Others that I have not tested might be supported too.

At least the following are not supported:

- mkv
- Google’s webm

Notice how Dropbox created a preview image for all of them?

**iCloud Drive**

Touching this option brings up your iCloud drive with unsupported files and the Keynote, Pages and Number folders greyed out:

![iOS 9 iCloud Drive and HTML Media Capture](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2379.png)

Going into the folder with my 8 test videos allowed me to select the same supported files:

![iCloud folder with different types of videos](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2378-577x1024.png)

Notice how there’s no preview thumbnail for each of the videos? That could become annoying in a folder with many videos but at least you get a list view and the option to sort by Date and Name:

![iOS 9's iCloud list view and sort by Date](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2381.png)

**More…**

Clicking the more button allows you to select the sources available on the initial prompt. The only option that showed up for me was Dropbox. I had both Copy for iOS (similar to Dropbox) and [Dubsmash](https://itunes.apple.com/app/dubsmash/id918820076) (create funny videos) installed but none showed up as a possible source:

![Selecting other sources for videos in Safari's HTML Media Capture Prompt on iOS 9](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2380.png)

**Capturing audio only doesn’t work (still)**

Unfortunately capturing audio only still doesn’t work with the iOS 9 Safari prompt allowing you to select a video or a photo which is strange because Apple’s [Voice Memos](http://www.macworld.com/article/2048983/get-to-know-ios-7-voice-memos.html) app is included by default since iOS3.

![iOS 9 Safari HTML Media Capture Prompt for Audio](https://blog.addpipe.com/content/images/2015/08/IMG_2382.png)