How to Disable AutoPlay Videos on Social Media Apps

Ever been scrolling through your phone just chilling, and suddenly a loud video starts blasting out of nowhere?? Yup, same. Autoplay videos on social media are kinda the worst sometimes — especially when you’re on slow internet or trying to save data… or, idk, just don’t wanna see random ppl dancing on your screen.

So if you’re like me and want to turn that stuff off, here’s a guide for how to disable autoplay videos on some of the biggest social media apps.

1. Facebook

Meta loves autoplaying stuff (ugh), but good news — you can stop it.

For Android:

1. Open Facebook App

2. Tap the 3 lines menu (top right)

3. Scroll down → tap Settings & privacy → then Settings

4. Scroll to Media or Media and Contacts

5. Tap on Autoplay

6. Select Never Autoplay Videos

For iPhone:

1. Tap Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings

2. Scroll to Media under Preferences

3. Choose Autoplay → Select Never Autoplay Videos

Boom. Peace and quiet

2. X (formerly Twitter lol)

Honestly, I still call it Twitter but whatever Elon

On Android/iOS:

1. Open the X app

2. Tap your profile pic → go to Settings and privacy

3. Tap Accessibility, display, and languages

4. Go to Data usage

5. Tap Video autoplay

6. Choose Never

Done. Now no more videos randomly starting when you scroll.

3. Instagram

Okay so here’s the tea — Instagram doesn’t fully let you disable autoplay but there’s a lil trick to limit it.

Option 1: Use Data Saver

1. Go to your Profile

2. Tap ≡ menu (top right) → then Settings and privacy

3. Scroll down to Data usage and media quality

4. Turn ON Use less mobile data

This doesn’t totally stop autoplay but slows it down a LOT, especially on mobile data.

Option 2: Mute Your Phone lol

(Not a joke. Instagram is stubborn. Still better than getting jump scared by a Reel )

▶️ 4. YouTube

Autoplay on YouTube is extra annoying when it just keeps playing random stuff when you didn’t even ask for it.

On App:

1. Open YouTube

2. Tap your profile icon (top right)

3. Go to Settings

4. Tap Autoplay

5. Toggle OFF the Autoplay next video option

Also:

You can turn off Autoplay on Home if you’re tired of vids playing while you just scroll.

Settings → General → Toggle off Muting videos on Home feed and Autoplay on Home

5. TikTok

Bad news… you can’t really disable autoplay here

TikTok is built for autoplay, it’s like its whole thing. But you can do a few things:

• Turn ON Data Saver in settings

• Mute your phone if you just want to scroll quietly

• Set screen time limits if you’re trying to avoid getting sucked in lol

Pro Tip for ALL apps:

If you’re really over autoplay and want full control, just use the web versions of these apps (on a browser). Some of them (especially Facebook and Twitter/X) are better behaved on desktop and let you block autoplay completely.

Or — extreme version — use third-party tools or apps that strip videos out entirely. A bit nerdy, but works.

Final Thoughts (a little ranty sorry)

Autoplay is one of those things that started as “oh cool!” and quickly turned into “why are you yelling at me??” Not to mention it eats up your mobile data like a monster and can be awkward in public if you forgot to mute your phone.

So yeah, turning it off is a smart move. Not just for peace and quiet, but also for saving battery, data, and honestly — your sanity.