Videos autoplay when you don't want them to

Symptoms

• Videos start playing automatically when a page loads
• Sound plays unexpectedly from a background tab
• Autoplay happens even after disabling it once
• Only happens on certain sites, not all

Likely causes

• CommonBrowser's default autoplay setting allows itMost browsers allow autoplay by default unless changed.
• CommonSite-specific permission previously grantedSome browsers let you allow or block autoplay per website, and a past click can stick.
• PossibleVideo ads embedded separately from the main contentAd autoplay can be controlled by different settings than content autoplay.
• Less commonApp or extension overriding browser settingsSome extensions inject their own video players that ignore browser autoplay rules.

What to do

1. Open your browser's site settings and find the Autoplay or Media permission section.
2. Set the default autoplay behavior to block sound or block autoplay entirely.
3. Check for a per-site override on the specific site giving you trouble and change it to block.
4. Clear the site's stored permissions if reset options don't seem to take effect.
5. Install a reputable ad blocker or content blocker if unwanted ad videos specifically are the issue.
6. Update the browser to the latest version, since autoplay controls have improved over time.

Safety