Make It Stop: How to Turn Off Autoplay Videos on Social Media, Streaming Apps

Autoplay might not be as grating as autotune, but it sure is annoying. Social networks have been quick to add the so-called feature to their offerings, but it’s not always welcome.

On mobile, the constant looping can eat into your data and drain your battery—not to mention causing the embarrassment of an ill-timed video that springs to life on your phone. And some videos have disturbing content that you might not want to see without a warning.

The good news is that you can turn autoplay off on most major services. Here’s how.

Browsers

(Credit: Google)

Chrome

Although you can’t stop videos from autoplaying in Chrome, you can make sure their audio doesn’t blare from your speakers.

• Open the browser and click the three dots on the right.

• Select Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings.

• Scroll to Additional Content Settings and open the menu.

• Select Sound, then select the button that says Don’t Allow Sites to Play Sound.

When you do want sound, right-click the tab that has the site open and select Unmute Site.

Firefox

(Credit: Firefox)

With Firefox, you can stop autoplay in its tracks.

• Click on the hamburger menu in the upper-right of the browser window, then select Settings.

• In the left nav, click on Privacy & Security.

• Scroll down to Permissions and click on the Settings button next to Autoplay. A box will pop up, and you can choose Block Audio and Video from a drop-down for all sites or adjust settings to your liking in the box below.

Microsoft Edge

(Credit: Microsoft)

You can limit autoplay in the Edge browser.

• Click on the three dots in the upper-right browser window.

• Select Settings, and then in the left nav, click Cookies and Site Permissions.

• Scroll down and click Media Autoplay.

• You’ll see Control if audio and video play automatically on sites. From the drop-down next to it, select Limit.

Safari

(Credit: Apple)

Nix Autoplay completely in Apple’s browser.

• Go to Settings > Websites

• Select Auto-Play from the left nav, then Choose Settings for All Websites and go to the bottom of the screen. You’ll see When Visiting Other Websites.

• Select the drop-down next to it, then choose Never Auto-play.

(Credit: Meta/PCMag)

Facebook

Video views equal revenue, so Facebook is unlikely to turn off autoplay. But you can.

• On Facebook.com, click your profile photo in the upper-right corner, and select Settings & Privacy > Settings.

  
  
  

  

  Get Our Best Stories!

  Get the Most Out of Your Technology
  

  
  

  Sign up for the Tips, Tricks, and How-To newsletter for all of our best expert advice.

  Sign up for the Tips, Tricks, and How-To newsletter for all of our best expert advice.

  By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

  Thanks for signing up!

  Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

• On the left menu, select Media, toggle the button next to Autoplay animations to off.

• On the Facebook app, navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Media. Under Autoplay in Feeds and Stories, tap Never.

Instagram

(Credit: Meta/PCMag)

When you open Instagram, the sound on autoplay videos is automatically off. But if you tap the sound on for one video, every other video in your feed will play sound until you tap that screen again. Once you close out of an Instagram session, the app is reset to silent for the next time you open the app. Instagram doesn’t provide the option to completely disable autoplay. But you can use less data, which is helpful for those with limited bandwidth each month.

• On mobile, go to your profile, select the hamburger icon on the top right.

• Scroll down to Your app and media and tap Media quality.

• Toggle on Use Less Cellular Data.

X (née Twitter)

(Credit: X)

You can turn off autoplay videos on X.com or on mobile.

• On X.com, in the left nav, navigate to where it says More with three dots to the left of it and click Settings and Privacy.

• Click Accessibility, Display, and Languages > Data Usage.

• Select Autoplay and set it to Never, which will prevent videos and GIFs from automatically playing as you scroll.

• On iOS and Android, click your avatar and select Settings and Privacy > Accessibility, Display, and Languages > Display and Sound and toggle off Media Previews.

(Credit: X/PCMag)

Bluesky

(Credit: Bluesky/PCMag)

On mobile, tap the hamburger menu at the top left, select Settings > Content and media > Autoplay videos and GIFs, and toggle it off. On desktop, click Settings on the left and select Content and media > Autoplay videos and GIFs, and uncheck the box.

YouTube

(Credit: YouTube/PCMag)

Google is not one to give up any sweet, sweet video views, so it too has enabled autoplay on YouTube. To disable it:

• On YouTube.com, look for the small slider with a play icon. Click it to disable autoplay.

• On mobile, tap the video you’re watching and look for the same prompt; tap to toggle off.

Streaming Services

(Credit: Disney)

Disney+

Hulu

(Credit: Hulu)

Hulu has lots of great offerings, but that doesn’t mean you want to watch them back to back.

• On a web browser, while a show or movie is playing, click the gear icon on the bottom-right and toggle Autoplay to off.

• On mobile, select your user icon, then Settings, where you can toggle off Autoplay Next Video and Autoplay Previews.

• On a Roku, Chromecast, or other streaming devices, select your user icon and then Settings. Under Autoplay, move the slider to the off position.

Netflix

(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix autoplays video in two ways: the binge-feeding autoplay that happens with the next episode when you’re watching a series, and preview autoplays. To turn off both, you need to log into your account from a browser.

• On the top-right, click your profile icon, and select Account.

• Scroll down to Edit settings > Playback Settings, where you can adjust settings for autoplaying the next episode and previews.

Peacock

(Credit: Peacock/PCMag)

• Click on your account, then the pencil icon below it.

• Scroll to Autoplay Preferences and choose whether to Autoplay Next Video and Autoplay Previews.

Prime Video

(Credit: Amazon/PCMag)

With the Next Up feature, a little box appears at the bottom of the screen at the end of a TV episode that lets you quickly start the next episode.

On your phone:

• Tap your profile avatar on the top right and select the settings gear

• Scroll down and tap Auto Play.

• Toggle Allow Auto Play on this device to off.

To change this feature when you use Prime Video in a browser:

About Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme. 

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

Read Chandra’s full bio

Read the latest from Chandra Steele