Facebook video ads can be annoying and distracting when you’re trying to browse your News Feed. The good news is there are a few different ways to stop or limit Facebook video ads from playing automatically in your feed.
Why am I seeing video ads on Facebook?
Facebook relies heavily on advertising revenue, so video ads are very common on the platform. Advertisers choose Facebook because it has a massive audience and advanced targeting capabilities. Facebook video ads tend to get higher engagement as well.
Some of the reasons you may be seeing more video ads lately include:
- Facebook is pushing video content more overall
- Video ads tend to be more attention-grabbing than static ads
- Video ads may target your demographic and interests
- Advertisers may be increasing their Facebook video ad budgets
How to stop video ads on Facebook using Ad Preferences
The easiest way to stop Facebook video ads is to use your Ad Preferences. This allows you to hide ads from specific advertisers or categories that you don’t want to see. Here’s how:
- Click on the three line “hamburger” menu in the top right of Facebook.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” then click on “Settings”.
- Click on “Ads” in the left menu.
- Under “Ad Settings” click on “Ad Preferences”.
- Click on “Hide ad topics” to hide ads from broad categories.
- Click on “Hide ads from advertisers” to hide ads from specific brands.
You can tailor your Ad Preferences by selecting topics, advertisers, social issues and more that you want to hide. This is an easy ongoing way to see less video ads without completely eliminating them.
How to disable video autoplay on Facebook
Another option is to stop videos from playing automatically as you scroll through your News Feed. Here’s how to disable video autoplay on Facebook:
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner and select “Settings & Privacy”.
- Click on “Settings”.
- Click on “Media and Contacts” in the left menu.
- Turn off the “Autoplay Videos” setting.
With autoplay disabled, you’ll still see video ads but they won’t start playing unless you click on them. This gives you more control over your Facebook video experience.
Use a browser extension to block Facebook video ads
Another option is to install an ad blocking browser extension that can remove video ads from Facebook automatically. Some popular options include:
- Adblock Plus
- uBlock Origin
- AdBlock
These extensions work by blocking requests to ad servers and hiding ad elements on pages. Most allow you to customize filter lists and settings. Do keep in mind ad blockers can sometimes block more than just ads.
Adjust News Feed preferences
You can also use News Feed Preferences to see fewer video ads in your feed:
- Go to the “News Feed Preferences” section under Facebook Settings.
- Adjust preferences for fewer posts, ads and videos.
- Prioritize content from friends and pages you care about.
Tweaking your News Feed settings can help reduce the number of video ads you see overall. But it also affects other content so use this option carefully.
Why you may want to keep some video ads
Before you completely block all Facebook video ads, consider this:
- Video ads support Facebook’s free services and help connect people.
- Some video ads can be entertaining or informative.
- Interest-based video ads may surface new products/services you like.
- Advertisers pay a premium for video ads, reducing other ads you see.
You may want to use limiting options like autoplay settings and Ad Preferences rather than completely hiding all video ads.
Other ways to reduce Facebook video ads
In addition to the main options covered already, here are a few other things that may help you see fewer Facebook video ads:
- Update your Facebook interests to better reflect topics you want to see ads about.
- Hide ad categories like Entertainment, Cooking, Fashion if you get too many video ads from them.
- Report an ad as inappropriate or spam if you feel the ad shouldn’t be running.
- Spend more time engaging with the posts of friends and pages so the algorithm shows you more of that content.
- Turn off Facebook notifications to check it less often and see fewer ads overall.
Conclusion
Facebook video ads can be disruptive but are an essential part of the platform. Using Ad Preferences, autoplay settings, and News Feed adjustments you can control video ads while still supporting Facebook.
Keep in mind that completely eliminating video ads may lead to seeing more repetitive static ads. Finding the right balance takes some experimentation based on your personal preferences.
With so many people watching billions of videos daily on Facebook, video ads are here to stay. But you can still take back control over when and how often you see them.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Preferences | – Can hide specific advertisers or categories | – Doesn’t prevent all video ads |
| Disable Autoplay | – Stops auto-playing videos | – Videos still appear in feed |
| Ad Blocker | – Completely blocks many video ads | – May block other non-ad content |
| News Feed Preferences | – Reduce video ads and posts | – Limits other content you may want to see |