How to Disable Autoplay Videos on Facebook

You sit on the bus or in a waiting room and casually scroll through Facebook. All of a sudden, all eyes are on you as the sound of a loud video on your device starts playing. The embarrassment is almost too much. At one point or another, most of us have fallen victim to autoplay videos offered by Facebook. While the content can sometimes coincide with your interests, more often than not the functionality is a downside.

Moreover, sometimes autoplay content can even be harmful and offensive to you or others. For these reasons, it is essential to know how to deactivate this function.

It's important to keep in mind that the process for disabling autoplay differs depending on the device you're using. Luckily for you, in this article we have explained how to do it.

How to Disable Autoplay on Facebook on Windows PC

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

If you're using the web version of Facebook, here's how to stop autoplay.

1. Access the account menu by clicking the account icon in the top right corner of Facebook.
   
2. Go to “Settings and privacy”, then “Settings”.
   
3. Scroll down until you see the "Videos" option.
   
4. Look for the “Autoplay videos” option and select “Off”.
   

Notes: Changing the autoplay settings on your desktop browser does not automatically update your Facebook mobile app settings. There are many browsers that allow you to disable autoplay as well as others that do not. Google Chrome, for example, doesn't have a feature to disable autoplay. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Safari, however, do.

How to Disable Autoplay on Facebook on a Mac

Disabling the AutoPlay feature on a Mac is a relatively simple process. We're here to make it even better by guiding you every step of the way. Here's what you need to do:

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

How to Disable Facebook Autoplay on iPhone App

Autoplay can be particularly annoying when browsing on a smartphone because it can be more difficult to avoid certain videos you don't want to see (*cough* Baby Shark *cough*). To turn off AutoPlay on your iPhone, you can do the following:

1. Open the Facebook app on your iOS device.
   
2. Click on the menu button located at the bottom of your screen.
   
3. Tap on “Settings and privacy” then on “Settings”.
   
4. Scroll down until you see "Media & Contacts", then tap "Videos & Photos".
   
5. When you see "Autoplay," you'll have the option to turn it off.
   

If you have the latest version of iOS13 installed on your iPhone, you can also disable AutoPlay through your "Accessibility" settings. Here's how:

1. Tap “Settings”.
   
2. Tap on “Accessibility”.
   
3. Tap "Motion".
   
4. You'll see an option for "Autoplay video previews" with a green bar next to it. Swipe the bar to the left to turn off autoplay.
   

How to Disable Facebook Autoplay on Android App

To turn off autoplay on your Android, follow these steps:

1. Tap the three-line icon in the top right corner of your Facebook app.
   
2. Select the “Settings and privacy” option, then “Settings”.
   
3. Scroll down until you see 'Media & Content', then tap 'Videos & Photos'.
   
4. Tap "Autoplay" and set to "Never autoplay videos".
   

How to Disable Autoplay on Facebook on an iPad

To turn off AutoPlay on your iPad, just do the following:

1. Open the Facebook app.
   
2. Tap on “Settings and privacy”, then on “Settings”.
   
3. Scroll down to 'Preferences', then tap 'Media'.
   
4. Scroll down to "Autoplay" and select "Never play autoplay videos".
   

How to Disable Autoplay on Facebook Stories

Facebook has now included this feature on Facebook Stories. Since opening their Stories feature to Pages, businesses are now able to insert videos with sound into ad content via autoplay. To avoid this feature, just follow the instructions below.

From your office:

1. Log into Facebook.
   
2. Click the down arrow in the toolbar and click "Settings".
   
3. Click on “Videos”.
   
4. Next to where it says "Autoplay videos," select "Off" from the drop-down menu.
   

FAQ

What is the purpose of AutoPlay?

The purpose of autoplay is to grab the user's attention. Videos usually contain promotional content and an attempt to hook viewers with sound and visual stimulation.

This feature is especially great for brands that want to get their products out on a wider platform.

Is autoplay only for ads?

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

Latest Thoughts

With the growing popularity of video sharing over the past few years, consumers are faced with more video content than ever. Additionally, the growing popularity of apps like 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 on its platform, Facebook apparently hopes to compete with other apps and keep its community engaged.

Do you think Facebook is taking the right steps to engage with its audience? Is there an alternative to AutoPlay? If yes, what is it? If you have an answer to any of these questions or maybe want to ask your own, please leave a comment below.