Turn Off Video Autoplay on Facebook for Android

Turning off video autoplay in Facebook for Android stops videos from starting automatically as you scroll, which can reduce unwanted noise and mobile data use. You can usually change this in Facebook’s media settings; the exact labels may vary slightly by app version.

What You’ll Need

• An Android phone or tablet with the Facebook app installed.
• Access to the Facebook account whose settings you want to change.
• An internet connection if you need to update or reopen the app.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Facebook. Launch the Facebook app and sign in if prompted. Make sure you are using the account where you want autoplay disabled; the preference may be associated with that account rather than your device.
2. Open the menu. Tap your profile picture or the three-line Menu icon. Depending on your app layout, the Menu icon may appear at the top or bottom of the screen.
3. Go to Settings. Scroll through the menu and tap Settings & privacy, then tap Settings. If you see a search field within Settings, you can search for “Media” or “Autoplay” to find the relevant option faster.
4. Find the media controls. In Settings, look for Preferences and tap Media. Some versions show Media directly in the settings list, or group it under a section with a similar name. Open the media settings rather than settings for notifications or video quality.
5. Change the autoplay option. Find Autoplay or Videos start with sound and inspect the available choices. Select Never autoplay videos if that option appears. This is the setting that prevents videos from starting by themselves.
6. Check that the change took effect. Many versions apply the selection as soon as you tap it, without a Save button. Return to the Facebook feed and scroll past a video without tapping it. It should remain stopped or show a play button rather than playing automatically.

If you do not see “Never autoplay videos,” choose the closest option that disables automatic playback. Facebook sometimes changes the wording or available choices. Avoid selecting a setting that says videos autoplay on Wi-Fi if you want autoplay off on every connection.

Common Mistakes

• Changing sound instead of autoplay. A control such as “Videos start with sound” affects audio, not whether a video begins playing. Muted autoplay is still autoplay. Choose the option that explicitly says videos never autoplay.
• Choosing Wi-Fi only. This limits autoplay to Wi-Fi; it does not turn the feature off. Videos may still start automatically while connected to Wi-Fi.
• Looking in Android system settings. Facebook’s autoplay preference is normally inside the Facebook app. Android’s app settings can control permissions, data use, and battery behavior, but they may not provide this specific feed setting.
• Assuming the setting covers every video surface. The preference is intended for videos in Facebook, but behavior can differ for particular features, ads, or content opened in another app or browser. A video you tap will still play.
• Expecting an account change to affect every signed-in device instantly. Settings can take a little time to sync, and another device or account may have a different preference. Verify the setting on the device where you see the problem.

Tips

• Use Settings search, when available, and search for “autoplay” if you cannot find Media by scrolling.
• If your main goal is to save mobile data, choose “Never autoplay videos” rather than an option that allows autoplay over Wi-Fi. You can still play a video manually when you want to watch it.
• Keep the Facebook app reasonably current. Menu names and locations can move after updates, even when the underlying preference remains available.
• Check the video’s playback controls separately if it plays sound unexpectedly. Turning off autoplay does not necessarily change sound settings for videos that you start yourself.
• When testing, use a video in the regular feed and do not tap it. Tapping a preview or opening a video is a manual play action, not autoplay.

Troubleshooting

The Media option is missing: Open the Menu, tap Settings & privacy, then Settings, and look through the available preference categories. Try the Settings search field with “Media” or “Autoplay.” If the app’s layout has changed, check for a media or video section rather than relying on an older guide’s exact screen position.

Videos still start automatically: Return to the autoplay control and confirm that Never autoplay videos is selected—not “On Wi-Fi” or a similar limited option. Close and reopen Facebook, then test again in the feed. Confirm you are signed into the account you changed and that the app is not showing content in a separate browser or another video feature.

The selection does not stay changed: Make the selection again while connected to the internet, wait briefly, and reopen the media settings to see whether it persisted. If it keeps reverting, restart the app and check for an available update through Google Play. You can also restart the phone. Avoid clearing app data unless necessary: it can sign you out and remove locally stored app information, so note your login details first.

The app behaves differently after an update: Facebook may reorganize Settings or change the wording. Search within Settings for “autoplay” and use the option whose description says videos will not start automatically. If no such control appears, check Facebook’s in-app help or wait for the updated setting to become available for your app version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off autoplay stop every Facebook video?
It should stop videos from starting automatically in the feed where the preference applies. Videos you tap or choose to play will still run, and some surfaces may behave differently.

Will this prevent videos from using mobile data?
It can reduce data use from videos playing automatically. Manually playing a video still uses data unless you are on Wi-Fi or otherwise have a suitable connection.

Is “Never autoplay videos” the same as muting videos?
No. Muting changes sound while a video plays; disabling autoplay stops it from starting on its own.

Can I turn autoplay off only on mobile data?
Some app versions offer a Wi-Fi-only option, which allows autoplay on Wi-Fi but not mobile connections. For autoplay to be off everywhere, select the option that says never autoplay.

Do I need to repeat this on every Android device?
The preference may sync with your Facebook account, but do not assume it has updated everywhere. Check the setting on another device if videos continue to autoplay there.

Why can’t I find the same menu names?
Facebook updates its layout and tests interface changes, so labels or locations can differ. Use Settings search for “autoplay” or “media,” and look for the option that controls whether videos start automatically.

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