How to Disable Autoplay for Videos on Social Media and Streaming Apps

 

How to Disable Autoplay for Videos on Social Media and Streaming Apps

Autoplay videos can be a nuisance, especially when you're scrolling through social media feeds or browsing websites. They can eat up data, disrupt your concentration, and even startle you with unexpected sound. Thankfully, most platforms and browsers offer ways to disable autoplay. This guide will show you how to take control of your viewing experience on popular browsers, social media apps, and even YouTube.

On Browsers

Here's how to disable autoplay for videos on major browsers:

• Chrome:

  

  
  

  1. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select "Settings."
  2. Scroll down and click "Advanced."
  3. Under "Privacy and security," locate "Site settings."
  4. Click "Videos" and toggle off "Autoplay."

• Firefox:

  

  
  

  1. Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select "Settings."
  2. Scroll down and click "Privacy & Security."
  3. In the "Permissions" section, find "Autoplay" and choose "Block audio and video."

• Microsoft Edge:

  

  
  

  1. Click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner and select "Settings."
  2. Click "Advanced settings."
  3. Under "Startup and shutdown, homepage, new tabs," locate "Open new tabs with."
  4. Disable the toggle next to "Play media automatically."

• Safari: (For macOS users):

  

  
  

  1. Open Safari and go to "Preferences."
  2. Click on the "Websites" tab.
  3. Select "Autoplay" in the left sidebar.
  4. Choose "When a user taps to play" or "Never Auto-Play" depending on your preference.

Note: For mobile browsers, settings might differ slightly. Consult your specific browser's settings menu to locate autoplay options.

Social Media

Now, let's tackle autoplay on popular social media platforms:

• Facebook:

  

  
  

  1. Open the Facebook app and tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines).
  2. Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings."
  3. Under "Media," locate "Videos and Photos."
  4. Choose "On Wi-Fi Connections Only" or "Never Autoplay Videos" based on your preference.

• Instagram: (Currently, Instagram doesn't offer a universal autoplay toggle within the app. However, there's a data-saving workaround):

  

  
  

  1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
  2. Tap "Settings" and then "Cellular Data Use."
  3. Toggle on "Use Less Data." This will reduce autoplay of videos on cellular data.

• X (née Twitter):

  

  
  

  

  1. Open the Twitter app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
  2. Select "Settings and privacy," then "Data usage."
  3. Under "Autoplay video," choose "Never play videos automatically" or "Wi-Fi only" depending on your needs.

• YouTube: (While YouTube doesn't have a complete autoplay shutoff, it offers ways to manage it):

  

  
  
  

  1. Open YouTube and play a video.
  2. Tap the next video preview at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Toggle off "Autoplay" next to "Up next."

Remember: These are general instructions, and the exact steps might vary slightly depending on the app version and your device.

FAQs

Q: Can I disable autoplay for all websites at once (on browsers)?

While some browser extensions claim to offer this functionality, it's generally not recommended. Disabling autoplay entirely can break some websites that rely on it for core functionality.

Q: What if my social media app doesn't have the options mentioned above?

Unfortunately, some apps may not have built-in autoplay toggles yet. You can check the app's settings menu or the developer's website for updates that might include autoplay controls.

By following these steps, you can silence the autoplay madness and browse or scroll through your social media feeds and websites at your own pace. Remember, you're in control of your viewing experience!