Stop video autoplay Facebook

Youre sitting on the bus or a waiting room and casually scrolling through Facebook. All of a sudden all eyes turn towards you as the sound of a loud video on your device starts to play. The embarrassment is almost too much. At some point or another most of us have fallen victim to autoplay videos offered by Facebook. While the content can occasionally coincide with your interests, more often than not the feature is an inconvenience.

Whats more, sometimes autoplay content can even be harmful and offensive to you or others. For these reasons it is vital to know how to switch this feature off.

Its important to bear in mind that the process to switch off autoplay differs depending on which device you are using. Luckily for you, in this article, weve highlighted just how to do that.

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook on a Windows PC

Facebooks decision to feature autoplay videos in timelines has caused mixed reactions. Among concerns raised are that the feature takes up too much space and distracts from other content on the desktop.

If you are using the web version of Facebook, heres how to put an end to autoplay.

1. Go to the account menu by clicking the account icon on the top right corner of Facebook.
   
2. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
   
3. Scroll until you see the option for Videos.
   
4. Look for the Auto-Play Videos option and select Off.
   

Note: Changing the settings for autoplay on your desktop browser does not automatically update settings on your mobile Facebook app. There are many browsers that let you turn off autoplay as well as some that dont. Google Chrome, for instance, does not have a function to switch off autoplay. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Safari, however, do.

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook on a Mac

Deactivating the autoplay function on a Mac is a relatively easy process. Were here to make it even more so by guiding you through it every step of the way. Heres what you need to do:

1. Open Safari and click on Preferences which is located on the top menu bar.
   
2. Click on Websites.
   
3. Select Autoplay in the side menu.
   
4. When you see the drop-down menu on the bottom-right of the window, select Never Autoplay.
   

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook on the iPhone App

Autoplay can be particularly annoying when navigating a smartphone as it may be harder to avoid certain videos you dont wish to see [*cough* Baby Shark *cough*]. To deactivate the autoplay feature on your iPhone you can do the following:

1. Open the Facebook app on your iOS device.
   
2. Click the menu button located at the bottom of your screen.
   
3. Tap Settings & Privacy and then Settings.
   
4. Scroll down until you see Media and Contacts, then tap Videos and Photos.
   
5. When you see Autoplay you will be presented with the option to switch it off.
   

If you have the latest version of iOS13 installed on your iPhone, you can also disable autoplay through your Accessibility settings. Heres how:

1. Tap Settings.
   
2. Tap Accessibility.
   
3. Tap Motion.
   
4. You will see an option for Auto-Play Video Previews with a green bar next to it. Swipe the bar to the left to switch off autoplay.
   

How to Turn Autoplay on Facebook Off on the Android App

To deactivate the Autoplay feature on your Android follow these steps:

1. Press the three-lined icon in the top right corner of your Facebook app.
   
2. Select the Settings & Privacy option, and then Settings.
   
3. Scroll until you see Media and Contents then tap Videos and Photos.
   
4. Tap Autoplay and set to Never Autoplay Videos.
   

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook on an iPad

To disable autoplay on your iPad you need only do the following:

1. Open the Facebook app.
   
2. Tap Settings & Privacy then tap Settings.
   
3. Scroll to Preferences then tap Media.
   
4. Scroll to Autoplay and select Never Play Autoplay Videos.
   

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook Stories

Facebook has now included this feature on Facebook Stories. Since they have opened their Stories feature to Pages, companies are now able to insert videos with sound into advertising content via autoplay. To avoid this feature simply follow the instructions below.

From your desktop:

1. Log into Facebook.
   
2. Click the downward-facing arrow in the toolbar and click Settings.
   
3. Click Videos.
   
4. Next to where it says Autoplay Videos select Off from the drop-down menu.
   

FAQs

What Is the Purpose of Autoplay?

The purpose of autoplay is to get the users attention. The videos usually contain promotional content and an attempt to hook viewers in with sound and visual stimulation.

The feature is particularly good for brands who wish to get their products out there on a wider platform.

Is Autoplay Only for Advertisements?

The answer is no. Facebook has enabled its autoplay function for video content shared by any user. This leaves room for a vast amount of content to be shared on the platform by anyone including companies.

Final Thoughts

With the rising popularity of video sharing over the last few years, consumers are faced with more video content than ever before. Additionally, the growing popularity of apps such as TikTok and Instagram [and its Reel feature] may push a company like Facebook to think outside the box. By making the autoplay feature a default across its platform, Facebook apparently hopes to compete with other apps and keep its community engaged.

Do you believe Facebook is taking the right steps to engage with its audience? Could there be an alternative to autoplay? If so, what is it? If you have an answer for any of these questions or perhaps wish to pose your own, please leave a comment below.