Key takeaways:
- Facebook autoplays videos in the News Feed by default, which can be annoying and consume data
- You can disable autoplay on Facebook.com, the Facebook mobile apps, and most web browsers
- Turning off autoplay can save you from seeing unwanted content and help reduce data usage
Facebook’s News Feed is a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but the auto-playing videos can be a major annoyance. Not only do they start playing without your consent, but they can also eat up your data plan and slow down your phone. Fortunately, it’s easy to disable this feature and take back control of your Facebook experience.
Table of Contents
- Why You Should Turn Off Autoplay
- How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook.com
- How to Turn Off Autoplay on the Facebook Mobile App
- Disabling Video Autoplay in Web Browsers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I disable autoplay for specific videos or pages on Facebook?
- Will disabling autoplay also stop ads from playing automatically?
- If I disable autoplay, will videos still preload in the background?
- Can I disable autoplay for Facebook Live videos?
- Will turning off autoplay affect the video quality when I do watch videos on Facebook?
Why You Should Turn Off Autoplay
There are several reasons why you might want to stop videos from automatically playing in your Facebook News Feed:
- It can be disruptive: Unexpected video and audio can be jarring, especially if you’re in a quiet environment or trying to focus on something else.
- It consumes data: If you’re not on Wi-Fi, autoplaying videos can quickly eat up your mobile data allowance.
- It drains your battery: Playing videos requires more power than displaying static content, so autoplay can reduce your device’s battery life.
- It may show unwanted content: With autoplay enabled, you may be exposed to violent, offensive, or otherwise undesirable videos without warning.
By disabling autoplay, you can browse Facebook at your own pace and only watch the videos you actually want to see.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook.com
If you use Facebook in a web browser on your computer, here’s how to disable autoplay:
- Click the down arrow in the top-right corner of the Facebook homepage
- Select “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings”
- In the left sidebar, click “Videos”
- Next to “Auto-Play Videos,” click the dropdown menu and select “Off”
- Click “Save Changes”
Now, videos will no longer autoplay as you scroll through your News Feed. You’ll need to click on a video to start playing it.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on the Facebook Mobile App
The process for disabling autoplay is slightly different on the Facebook apps for iOS and Android:
iOS
- Tap the three-line “Menu” icon in the bottom-right corner of the app
- Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings”
- Scroll down to “Media and Contacts” and tap “Videos and Photos”
- Tap “Autoplay” and select “Never Autoplay Videos”
Android
- Tap the three-line “Menu” icon in the top-right corner of the app
- Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings”
- Scroll down to “Media and Contacts” and tap “Autoplay”
- Select “Never Autoplay Videos”
With these settings, videos will no longer automatically start playing as you scroll through your feed in the Facebook mobile apps.
Disabling Video Autoplay in Web Browsers
In addition to adjusting your Facebook settings, you can also disable video autoplay in your web browser to prevent videos from automatically starting on other websites you visit.
Browser | Steps to Disable Autoplay |
---|---|
Chrome | 1. Open Settings 2. Click “Privacy and security” 3. Click “Site Settings” 4. Click “Additional content settings” 5. Click “Sound” 6. Turn off “Sites can play sound” |
Firefox | 1. Open Options 2. Click “Privacy & Security” in the left sidebar 3. Scroll down to “Permissions” 4. Click “Settings” next to “Autoplay” 5. Select “Block Audio and Video” |
Safari | 1. Open Preferences 2. Click “Websites” 3. Click “Auto-Play” in the left sidebar 4. Select “Never Auto-Play” |
Disabling autoplay in your browser will give you more control over your web browsing experience and can help conserve data and battery life on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable autoplay for specific videos or pages on Facebook?
No, Facebook’s autoplay settings apply to all videos in your News Feed. You can’t currently disable autoplay for individual videos or pages.
Will disabling autoplay also stop ads from playing automatically?
Yes, turning off autoplay will prevent both organic videos and video ads from automatically playing in your News Feed.
If I disable autoplay, will videos still preload in the background?
Disabling autoplay only stops videos from automatically starting to play. Facebook may still preload video content in the background to provide a smoother experience if you do choose to watch a video.
Can I disable autoplay for Facebook Live videos?
Facebook’s autoplay settings also apply to Live videos. If you have autoplay disabled, Live videos will not automatically start playing in your News Feed.
Will turning off autoplay affect the video quality when I do watch videos on Facebook?
No, disabling autoplay only affects whether videos automatically start playing. It does not impact the resolution or quality of the videos themselves.
By following these steps to disable video autoplay on Facebook and in your web browser, you can take control of your browsing experience and avoid unexpected disruptions or data usage. Enjoy a calmer, more intentional Facebook experience without autoplaying videos getting in the way.