How to enable autoplay video on facebook

How to Autoplay Facebook Videos?

Facebook Video Maker - Wondershare Filmora

Provide abundant video effects - A creative video editor

Powerful color correction and grading

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

Facebook is known among the top-grossing social media platforms of all time. From being a platform where people could share their thoughts about their daily lives, Facebook eventually became everything people utilized to connect with the world. From messaging to sharing your stories, Facebook provided personal and professional features across the platform, making billions of users interact.

Videos are a common part of the platform where people consider this visual form of communication as a proficient way to express anything. From an idea to something that would make you laugh, Facebook caters to all kinds of videos across its social media platform. While going through Facebook, you prefer the video to play automatically to make it easy for you to go through the platform.

For this, the Facebook Autoplay feature provides you an impressive option to automatically play videos for yourself; without tapping any post to watch them. This article features the Facebook video autoplay feature and provides users with a detailed guide on autoplay on Facebook.

In this article

Part 1: What is Facebook Autoplay

Part 2: Guide on How to Autoplay Facebook Videos

Part 3: How Autoplay Feature Can Bother You in Using Facebook?

Part 1: What is Facebook Autoplay

Facebook believes in efficiency and human-friendliness. The platform provides features of different contexts driven by efficiency and human-friendliness. While allowing users to add videos to Facebook with its proficient tools under a few restrictions, Facebook also believes in making things simpler for its viewers. For this, the Facebook autoplay feature plays a pivotal role in providing ease to the viewers in going through videos.

The autoplay feature on Facebook explains as the tool that automatically plays the video for the users across the page it appears. Rather than tapping and letting it load, Facebook does this automatically for you, enabling the prolific display of the video without waiting for it to load. Autoplay provides many benefits to its users in multiple ways. From getting a teaser of the video before watching it in its entirety to making your scrolling efficient, Facebook video autoplay has proved to be quite effective.

While realizing the purpose of autoplay across Facebook videos, the user can specify several options to make the feature effective according to their requirements. When using the Autoplay feature on Facebook, users can set four different options according to their discretion. To make the tool effective, you can set it up across mobile data and Wi-Fi. However, you can turn towards the Wi-Fi-only option to save the internet.

The autoplay feature is not a mandatory option for users to manage. This feature can be easily turned off, giving people control over what and what not to play. On the other hand, using autoplay on Facebook also provides users with playing the video with sound. However, this is completely under the hands of the user, who select the best option according to their requirements.

Following this, Facebook autoplay potentially works if the device's battery is up and running. Facebook automatically turns off this option to optimize battery life on a low battery.

Part 2: Guide on How to Autoplay Facebook Videos

This part provides users with a guide on autoplay a video on Facebook across multiple devices. Being an Android, iOS, or Chrome user, you can look into any of the following step-by-step guides to get a clear knowledge of using autoplay across Facebook.

Autoplay Facebook Video on Android

To consume different options on Android across Facebook, you need to go through the following points. Facebook provides users with an effective platform, allowing them to take their measures. Android users who want to turn on Autoplay across their Facebook should cover the following steps.

Step 1: Open Facebook on your Android device and tap on the three-bars option on the top-right of the home screen. This turns towards the “Menu” of Facebook. Lead into the “Settings & Privacy” option on the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: A new set of options appear on the screen. Tap on "Settings" to lead to a new window. Next, tap on "Media" to access different video and audio options.

Step 3: You will observe an Autoplay section within the window. Select any of the options showing "On mobile data and Wi-Fi" or "On Wi-Fi only" to turn on the Autoplay feature on Facebook. You can also turn on the "Videos start with sound" slider according to your discretion.

Autoplay Facebook Video on iPhone

iPhone users can have the similar opportunity of turning on the autoplay option across their Facebook application. To understand how to perfectly turn it on without going across the application in search of the right options, you need to look into the following steps.

Step 1: Access Facebook on your iPhone and tap on the three-bar icon on the bottom right of the screen. This leads you into the “Menu” options of Facebook. Find out the “Settings & Privacy” option by scrolling down the menu.

Step 2: Select "Settings" from the options that appear after clicking the screen. A new window opens up with different options for managing Facebook across iPhones. Select "Media" among the provided options.

Step 3: This option can subjectively change different audio and video options. Users can turn on the autoplay feature across the "Autoplay" section. Select "On mobile data and Wi-Fi" or "On Wi-Fi only" according to your discretion. You can also turn on the audio for this case as required.

Autoplay Facebook Video on Chrome

Users who are on their desktop or such devices can also consider using the autoplay feature on the platform. Facebook provides them with the option of turning on Facebook autoplay. To cater to this, you need to look into the steps provided as follows.

Step 1: Open Facebook across Chrome on your desktop and tap on the arrow-like icon on the top-right of the window. Select the option of “Settings and Privacy” to lead to the next drop-down menu.

Step 2: Tap on "Settings" from the next menu to open a new window. Find the " Videos " option across the left-hand panel on the next screen. This opens the different video settings on the same screen.

Step 3: Select the option adjacent to the ‘Autoplay videos’ section and turn it on. This turns on the Autoplay feature across your desktop.

Part 3: How Autoplay Feature Can Bother You in Using Facebook?

Facebook autoplay is a very useful tool that can be effective in many ways for users. However, there are some drawbacks to utilizing this feature. Some users do not prefer turning this feature across their devices for specific reasons. To understand why autoplay on Facebook can bother you, you need to look across the following reasons in detail.

Putting in Awkward Situations

Facebook video autoplay makes video run automatically while scrolling down the platform. There are several instances where you may feel uneasy about listening to sounds after every other video passes by. For example, if you are sitting in a library and going through Facebook for some reason, the sound of the video can surely make things very awkward for you.

It is highly advisable that users can turn off the autoplay feature under such circumstances, as it would allow them to stay out of situations that would make them confused while sitting anywhere.

Use of Data

There are cases where the autoplay feature across Facebook is turned on in conditions that consume unnecessary mobile phone data. If you have restricted access to mobile data with a limit, having the feature turned on across mobile data would even consume MBs, putting you in complicated situations.

In other cases, this can potentially cost your extra mobile services, which can turn out to be monetarily expensive.

Consumption of Battery

The mobile data turned on across your device can consume your battery faster. The unnecessary play of the video consumes the battery and can leave you in situations where you may not have any access to a battery source. To avoid discrepancies under such circumstances, it is advised to turn off the Facebook autoplay feature as it would save battery for you, keeping your device turned on for a longer time.

Conclusion

This article has addressed the autoplay feature of Facebook in detail. Many options are provided across this feature while ensuring that it is available across every device. Users have a mixed opinion over the use of this feature, which can be explained for several reasons.

This article has been a comprehensive display of the Facebook autoplay feature and its discussion. Users can read out the article to get a detailed explanation of the system as it would potentially help them decide on the use of this feature.

Try It Free Try It Free

How to turn off autoplay videos on Facebook, Twitter, Firefox, and more

• Tech/
• How to/
• Mobile

/

Turn off this annoying and potentially harmful feature

By Cameron Faulkner and Barbara Krasnoff

Updated Apr 15, 2021, 9:40 PM UTC|

Share this story

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

You’ve probably been caught off guard by videos that play automatically on Facebook, Twitter, or just across the internet in general. They begin playing as soon as you load a page or (if they’re more deviously implemented) when you start scrolling through a page.

Automatic video play is a feature that, while nice to have when it’s surfacing content that’s related to your interests, can be pretty annoying. Autoplay videos can be harmful, too, exposing you to violent, offensive, or otherwise unwanted content that you shouldn’t have to see by default.

Whether you just want to put an end to autoplay videos on social media platforms or are looking for a more comprehensive fix, we’ve got some tips. Keep in mind that you’ll need to adjust these settings for every device that you use, since your preferences on, say, your phone do not automatically push to your PC.

Illustration by James Bareham / The Verge

Facebook

If you’re using Facebook on your browser, you can turn off autoplay videos this way:

• Go to the drop-down menu at the top right of the page.
• Select “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings.”
• Look for the “Videos” listing on the left-hand menu. Inside of that option is a toggle where you can turn off autoplaying videos.

Facebook has similar options available for its iOS and Android apps:

Using the iOS app

• Click the menu button on the bottom of your screen.
• Once you’re there, tap “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.”
• Scroll down until you find “Media and Contacts,” then tap “Videos and Photos.”
• Finally, once you find “Autoplay,” you can turn off the feature.

Using the Android app

• Click the menu button at the top right of your screen.
• Once you’re there, scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.”
• Scroll down until you find “Media and Contacts” and tap on it.
• Tap on “Autoplay” and set it to “Never Autoplay Videos.”

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Twitter

• Click on “More” in the left-hand menu, and then on “Settings and privacy.”
• Select “Accessibility, display, and languages” > “Data usage”
• Click on the “Autoplay” setting. You can then switch off the autoplaying of videos on your feed.

Using the iOS and Android apps

• Click the profile picture at the top of your phone screen.
• Select “Settings and privacy” in the menu.
• Navigate to “Data usage,” tap on “Video autoplay” and set it to “Never.”

Instagram

Instagram doesn’t allow for autoplay videos to be turned off, so you’ll have to tread carefully here. Videos won’t autoplay with sound if you use Instagram on your browser. Stopping autoplay on mobile devices is possible, but a little roundabout.

Using a mobile app

• Go to your profile page and tap on the three lines in the upper right corner
• Go to “Settings” > “Account” > “Cellular Data Use”
• For Android: toggle the “Data Saver” on and tap on “High Resolution Media.” If you then select “Never,” then media such as videos won’t load in advance.
• For iOS: toggle on “Use Less Data”

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Reddit

Reddit, like most sites that host video, autoplays videos by default. However, it’s pretty easy to turn it off.

Using the newest design

• Click your username in the upper-right corner and select “User settings” in the menu.
• Select the “Feed settings” tab at the top of the page, and toggle off the “Autoplay media” switch.

Using the legacy version

• Click “Preferences” next to your username in the top right of the window.
• Under “Media,” look for and uncheck “Autoplay Reddit videos on the desktop comments page.”
• You’ll need to hit “save options” at the bottom of the screen to put the changes through.

Using the mobile app

• Tap the icon next to the search bar, then hit “Settings.”
• You’ll see “Autoplay” near the top of the page, and you can easily choose to turn it off.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Desktop browsers

There are a variety of desktop browsers out there — some of which let you turn off video autoplay and some of which don’t.

Using Google Chrome

If you use Google Chrome and want to turn off video autoplay — you can’t. There used to be an experimental command-line flag that allowed you to turn them off (you can find the flags by typing chrome://flags/ into Chrome’s address field), but it’s disappeared.

You can turn the sound off (which might help a bit):

• Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner
• Select “Settings” > “Site settings” > “Sound”
• Toggle sound off. You can add exceptions for specific sites here.

Using Microsoft Edge

Interestingly, Microsoft’s Edge browser, which is also based on the Chromium open-source design, does let you turn off — well, at least, limit — video autoplay:

• Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Settings.”
• In the left-hand column, click on “Site Permissions,” and then scroll down to and select “Media autoplay.”

You can either allow audio and video to play automatically or limit it. According to the instructions, whether autoplay will work or not will depend on “how you’ve visited the page and whether you interacted with media in the past.”

Using Firefox

Firefox has a similar feature that lets you turn off autoplay, for the most part.

• Click on the three lines in the upper right corner of the browser and select “Preferences.”
• In the left-hand column, click on “Privacy & Security.”
• Scroll down to the section headed “Permissions” and look for “Autoplay.” Click on the button marked “Settings.”

A drop-down menu will let you allow audio and video, block audio, or block audio and video. You can also specify sites that you want to differ from your defaults — for example, if you block audio and video as a default, but you want to allow it for, say, The Verge.

Using Safari

Safari makes it simple to disable autoplay. In fact, it assumes that you want the feature disabled to begin with. However, if it hasn’t been disabled — or if you want to make some exceptions to the rule — here’s what you do:

• While in the app, go to Safari > Preferences in the top menu.
• Click on “Websites” in the top menu.
• Look for and select “Auto-Play” in the side menu.
• Look for the drop-down menu at the bottom right of the window and select “Never Auto-Play.”

As with Firefox, you can whitelist any sites that you want to be an exception to the rule.

Update September 4th, 2020 5:11PM ET: This article was originally published on March 15th, 2019. Most of the entries have been updated.

Update April 15, 2021 5:30PM ET: Additional entries have been updated.

Most Popular

1. The golden age of the streaming wars has ended

---

2. Valve answers our burning Steam Deck questions — including a possible Steam Controller 2

---

3. A plasma physicist explains what’s next after this week’s nuclear fusion breakthrough

---

4. Where are all the new Macs?

---

5. Apple is seriously screwing up its big play for an Oscar

---

How do I turn off autoplay for videos in Facebook Feed?

 that video viewing has become our primary source of content consumption. We don't just play Youtube and Netflix videos to watch content, we also end up watching the videos we come across when we scroll through our social media account.