Having videos automatically play in the background while scrolling through Facebook can be annoying for many users. Fortunately, Facebook provides settings to control this behavior and stop videos from playing automatically.
Quick Answer
To stop videos in Facebook from playing automatically in the background:
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook.
- Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
- Click on “Videos” in the left sidebar.
- Under “Autoplay Videos”, toggle the setting to off or “Only On Wi-Fi”.
This will prevent videos from playing automatically while scrolling on cellular data or stop autoplay entirely. The setting applies across Facebook and Messenger.
Turning Off Autoplay Videos in Facebook App
If you primarily use Facebook on your mobile device through the Facebook app, you can adjust the autoplay video settings there as well:
- Open the Facebook app and tap on the three-line “hamburger” menu icon in the top right.
- Choose “Settings & Privacy” then select “Settings”.
- Tap on “Media and Contacts” in the settings options.
- Under “Videos”, toggle “Autoplay Videos” to the off position or select “Wi-Fi Only” to allow autoplay only when connected to Wi-Fi.
This prevents videos from playing automatically as you scroll through your feed on your mobile device. The setting change applies to both Facebook and Messenger in the app.
Stopping Video Autoplay on Computer
To stop autoplaying videos on Facebook while browsing on a computer:
- Click on the down arrow at the top right of the Facebook window from a computer browser.
- Choose “Settings” from the menu that appears.
- Click on “Videos” in the left column of the Settings page.
- Uncheck the box next to “Autoplay Videos”.
This will completely disable autoplay so videos do not start playing automatically as you scroll through posts or open videos in your timeline.
Why Videos Autoplay on Facebook
Facebook automatically plays videos as users scroll through the feed in order to:
- Create a more immersive and engaging experience on the platform.
- Increase view counts and interaction rates on videos.
- Surface popular and relevant videos based on user interests.
- Drive more traffic to websites linked in video posts.
Autoplaying videos catches users’ attention, makes them more likely to watch, comment and share the video. This benefits content creators and advertisers who pay to promote video content on Facebook.
Reasons to Turn Off Autoplay
While autoplaying videos can be beneficial for engagement, many users may want to disable the setting for reasons like:
- Preventing unwanted video noise while scrolling quietly.
- Saving mobile data usage and bandwidth.
- Avoiding data charges for watching videos on cellular networks.
- Focusing on reading text posts rather than watching videos.
- Stopping inappropriate or explicit videos from playing automatically.
Controlling autoplay prevents unexpected video playbacks and creates a better Facebook browsing experience for those who prefer to view videos only when intentionally opened.
Autoplay Settings for Wi-Fi Only
If you want to limit video autoplay to save mobile data but don’t mind autoplaying on Wi-Fi, choose the “Wi-Fi Only” option in video settings. This allows videos to play automatically when connected to Wi-Fi networks while preventing autoplay on cellular data where bandwidth is limited.
Some benefits of the Wi-Fi only setting include:
- Saving mobile data costs on cellular plans.
- Preventing data overage charges when on limited mobile plans.
- Enjoying uninterrupted video autoplay at home or work networks.
- Avoiding unwanted video noise when out and about without Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi only option essentially provides the best of both worlds – autoplay when unlimited data is available, and disabled when on restrictive mobile connections.
Autoplay for Messenger
Changing the autoplay video settings in Facebook also applies to Messenger. When autoplay is disabled in your Facebook settings, videos will not play automatically in Messenger chats or stories either.
Reasons users may want to stop autoplaying videos in Messenger include:
- Preventing videos sent in chats from playing sound unexpectedly.
- Avoiding obscene or disturbing videos in group chats.
- Data usage and battery life concerns on mobile.
- Focusing on text conversations without distraction.
Whatever settings are chosen in the Facebook Video settings will carry over to Messenger as they are linked services. This provides a consistent experience across the platforms.
Check Video Settings on Facebook Lite
The Facebook Lite app has its own settings that may need to be adjusted to disable video autoplay. Facebook Lite is designed for areas with slower internet speeds and has some unique options:
- Open Facebook Lite and tap the “More” tab.
- Go to “Settings” then choose “Media and Contacts”.
- Tap on “Video Settings”.
- Disable the “Autoplay Videos” option here.
This will stop autoplay specifically within the Facebook Lite app on your mobile device. Ensure the setting is adjusted in both the regular Facebook app and Facebook Lite for full control.
Stop Videos Automatically Playing on Facebook Pages
In addition to your personal news feed, videos may also autoplay when visiting Facebook pages for brands, celebrities, media outlets and other organizations. Page admins can choose to enable autoplay for videos they post.
To prevent these videos from playing automatically on Facebook pages:
- Click on the page’s Profile Picture icon.
- Select “Turn Off Video Autoplay” from the dropdown menu.
This will disable autoplay just for that specific page rather than your entire Facebook account. Do this for each page where you want to stop autoplaying videos.
Using Mute Settings
If you don’t want to fully disable autoplay but wish to control the audio of videos, make use of Facebook’s mute settings:
- In Settings under Videos, choose “Always Mute Videos”
- Alternatively, mute individual videos by clicking on the video while it plays then selecting mute.
- On mobile, tap the volume icon in the bottom corner of the video and mute.
Muting provides a middle ground so videos can autoplay silently as you scroll. Just remember to unmute videos you actually want to hear.
Third-Party Apps to Stop Autoplay
Some third-party web browser extensions and mobile apps also provide options to block autoplay videos on Facebook:
- AdBlock Plus – popular Chrome extension for blocking ads and autoplaying videos.
- Video Blocker – Firefox add-on specifically for disabling videos.
- AutoplayStopper – Android app for stopping video across multiple sites.
Research different extensions and apps to find one that works best to control Facebook videos in your preferred browser or device.
Adjust Notification Settings
While autoplay controls how videos behave as you scroll Facebook, your notification settings determine if you receive alerts about new videos. To manage video notifications:
- Go to Settings > Notifications in the Facebook menu.
- Click “Videos” under the notification categories.
- Adjust notification frequency and toggle categories on or off.
This limits video notifications to only those you want to be alerted about based on your preferences.
Conclusion
Disabling autoplaying videos on Facebook provides a more peaceful scrolling experience for those who don’t wish to view videos at every turn. Adjust the video play settings in Facebook’s Settings menu according to your preferences – whether fully disabling autoplay, only allowing it on Wi-Fi, or muting all videos. Changes apply across Facebook platforms so you maintain consistent control over unwanted video playbacks as you browse different accounts and apps.
Video Autoplay Flow Chart
| Facebook Settings | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Autoplay on | Videos play automatically as you scroll |
| Autoplay off | No videos will play automatically |
| Wi-Fi only autoplay | Videos only autoplay when on Wi-Fi |
| Mute videos | Videos autoplay silently |
Pros and Cons of Facebook Video Autoplay
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increased engagement and views for videos | Can be disruptive and annoying |
| Surfaces interesting videos based on user preferences | Uses more data and drains phone battery |
| Provides a more immersive browsing experience | Risk of inappropriate videos autoplaying |
| Drives traffic to linked websites | Harder to focus on text content |
Related Questions
Can I stop autoplay for only certain videos?
There is no setting to disable autoplay for only specific videos. The autoplay setting applies globally to all videos as you scroll Facebook. The only exception is you can stop autoplay from a specific page rather than your entire account. Overall autoplay can only be fully on, fully off, Wi-Fi only, or muted.
Why does Facebook autoplay videos with the sound off?
Facebook will sometimes autoplay videos silently, with no audio, even when the autoplay setting is enabled. This happens because Facebook’s algorithm detects the video may not be relevant to you based on your interests. Silent autoplay allows short context to be provided without disrupting your browsing. If you click on the muted video, the full audio will play.
Can I download videos to stop autoplay?
Downloading a video from Facebook will let you view it offline and prevent autoplay. On mobile, tap the three dots icon at the top right of the video post and select “Save Video”. On desktop, click the down arrow and choose “Save Video”. Note that downloading videos solely to stop autoplay will take up storage space on your device.
How do I complain to Facebook about inappropriate autoplay videos?
If a video autoplays on your Facebook feed that contains inappropriate, graphic or abusive content, you can report it to Facebook for review. Click the three dots icon in the top right corner of the post, choose “Find Support or Report Post” then follow the on-screen instructions to file a report.
Can I prevent audio previews from autoplaying in Facebook Watch?
In Facebook Watch, short audio previews may autoplay as you browse shows. To disable this:
- Go to the Watch tab in Facebook.
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Toggle off “Play audio preview for videos”.
This will prevent sound previews from autoplaying as you scroll through Watch content.
How do I stop autoplay on Facebook if I don’t have an account?
If you access Facebook without an account, you won’t have access to change settings. However, you can install browser extensions like AdBlock Plus or Video Blocker to prevent videos loading at all. On mobile, you would need to use a third-party app like AutoplayStopper to block video if unregistered.
Can I revert back to classic Facebook to control autoplay?
The classic Facebook layout does not provide any different options for controlling autoplay. Settings like autoplay and mute need to be adjusted in the same way as the regular Facebook interface. Reverting to classic mode is purely a visual change and does not impact available video settings.
Why do some videos still autoplay even when the setting is off?
In rare cases, videos may still autoplay randomly even with the setting disabled. This is likely due to a glitch or bug in Facebook. Try reloading the page or app to trigger your autoplay preferences again. If issues persist, report the problem to Facebook directly for troubleshooting.
Can I control autoplay on Facebook for a Page I manage?
If you manage a Facebook Page, you can control autoplay for videos you publish through Creator Studio settings:
- Open Creator Studio then select “Settings”.
- Choose “Media” from the left menu.
- Toggle “Autoplay Videos” to on or off as desired.
This will set the autoplay default for your Page’s videos. Individual users can still block autoplay if they wish.
In summary, Facebook offers customizable video autoplay settings that provide control over an otherwise disruptive default experience. Adjust options to suit personal preferences and browsing style for both Facebook and Messenger. Consider third-party apps for even more ways to tailor autoplay functionality.