You are not alone who wants to know how to switch off autoplay on Facebook. Autoplay lets videos automatically start playing as you scroll your feed. This can waste mobile data, battery, and even become distracting very quickly.
The good news is that Facebook lets you turn off autoplay on both mobile apps and desktop browsers. You do not need to install any third-party apps or extensions.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for every device.
Turn off Autoplay on Facebook mobile app (iOS and Android)
This method stops videos from playing automatically in your Feed, Stories, and Reels.
- Open the Facebook app on your phone.
- Tap the menu icon (three lines). It appears at the bottom right on iPhone and top right on Android.
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
- Scroll to the Preferences section and tap Media.
- Under Autoplay, select Never.
The change applies instantly. Your videos will no longer start playing as you scroll.
Turn Off Autoplay on Facebook desktop (Web browser)
You can also disable autoplay when using Facebook on desktop.
- Go to facebook.com and log in to your account.
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
- From the left sidebar, choose Media.
- Turn Autoplay off.
Your settings are saved automatically. Now, videos will only play when you click them.
Stop Autoplay in Facebook watch
If you want to stop continuous reel-style videos, follow these steps.
- Open the Watch tab (TV icon) on the Facebook app or website.
- Tap the three dots in the corner.
- Select “Stop moving to the next reel automatically”.
This does not allow Facebook to automatically jump to the next video.
How to turn Autoplay back on
If you change your mind later, you can re-enable autoplay.
- Open Facebook Settings.
- Go to Media.
- Tap Autoplay.
- Choose one of the following options:
- On mobile data and Wi Fi
- On Wi Fi only
Wi-Fi only is a good option if you need to save mobile data.
FAQs
What is autoplay on Facebook?
Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos, animations, and reels in your Feed, Stories, and Watch tab.
How do I stop autoplay on the Facebook app?
Go to Settings, tap Media, and select Never.
Why does Facebook keep autoplaying videos?
Facebook uses autoplay to increase engagement and viewing time.
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