Alex Ruben
How To Disable Autoplay Sound on Facebook Videos: A Complete Guide
Autoplay videos on Facebook can be super annoying, especially when they suddenly start talking without warning. Usually, it’s just a minor nuisance, but on some devices, it feels like an endless loop of surprise sound attacks. Figured out a way to turn that sound off, so videos can remain silent until you decide to play them. Not sure why Facebook doesn’t make this easier, but after messing around a bit, it’s manageable. Here’s what tends to work.
How to Disable Auto Sound on Facebook Videos
Accessing the Facebook App Settings
First, open the Facebook app. Make sure you’re logged in to get to the settings, because, of course, the app needs to know who you are. Tap on the Menu icon, which is usually three horizontal lines (☰) or a grid at the top right of the screen. Sometimes this is fiddly, especially on smaller phones, but you’ll get used to it.
Navigating into Settings & Privacy
Scroll down through that menu and find Settings & Privacy. Tap on it. From there, select Settings. Might seem simple, but Facebook sometimes hides options in weird places, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a couple of taps to get there.
Finding the Media Options
Once inside Settings, scroll down until you see the Media section. This is where Facebook controls video playback and audio behaviors. It’s usually located towards the bottom but can differ based on app version. If you see something like Video and Photo settings, that’s a good indicator you’re in the right spot.
Turning Off Autoplay Sound
In the Media settings, look for toggles labeled Videos start with sound and Stories start with sound. Turning these off is the key. Tap on the toggles to disable sound at start — on one setup it worked immediately, on another, it took a reinstall or app restart to stick. It’s kind of weird, but it seems Facebook sometimes doesn’t save your choices right away, especially after app updates.
- Videos start with sound — prevent videos from blasting sound as soon as they load.
- Stories start with sound — same idea for stories, which can also autoplay with sound.
More often than not, that’s enough to keep noise at bay, but if videos still autoplay with sound, you might need to toggle the Autoplay videos setting itself, found under the same section or in a sub-menu like Video settings. Disabling autoplay can save embarrassment or just keep the phone silent when you’re in a meeting.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
Sometimes, Facebook updates reset your settings or mess with options, so it’s good practice to double-check every once in a while. If the toggles refuse to stay off, try closing the app completely (remove from recent apps), then restart your device. Clearing app cache can also help — head to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Facebook > Storage & Cache and hit Clear Cache. Note that clearing cache doesn’t delete your login or data, just temporary files.
When that doesn’t help, uninstalling and reinstalling Facebook isn’t a bad idea — makes sure you have the latest version, especially since interface layouts can shift pretty often.
Summary
- Open Facebook app, go to Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Scroll to Media and turn off Videos start with sound & Stories start with sound
- Optional: disable Autoplay videos for extra control
- If weird stuff happens, restart the app or device, or clear cache
Wrap-up
Getting video sound under control on Facebook for Android isn’t rocket science, but it’s a bit hidden. After messing with the settings, most people can keep videos silent unless they tap to listen. Just remember to check those toggles once in a while after updates. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of frustration for someone out there. Fingers crossed this helps.