Tired of videos and GIFs automatically playing on your social media feeds, draining your data and disrupting your browsing experience? You're not alone. Many users want more control over their online consumption, whether to conserve data, minimize distractions, or simply avoid unwanted content. This comprehensive guide shows you how to disable autoplay on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Bluesky.
**Facebook:** To disable autoplay on Facebook, access your profile settings. On desktop, find your profile picture icon in the top right corner; on mobile, it's usually in the bottom navigation bar. Navigate to "Settings & Privacy," then "Preferences," and finally "Media." Here, you'll find options to control video playback in your feed and stories. Select "Never" to completely disable autoplay.
**Instagram:** On Instagram, tap your profile picture in the bottom right. Then, tap the three-line menu icon in the top right. Go to "Settings and activity," then "Your app and media," and finally "Media quality." Enabling "Use less cellular data" will significantly reduce autoplay, although it's not a complete solution. Note that Instagram also generally avoids autoplaying sounds unless you manually interact with a post.
**X (formerly Twitter):** To control autoplay on X, access your profile settings. On desktop, this is via the sidebar; on mobile, it involves tapping the three dots for more options. Look for "Settings and privacy," then "Accessibility, display, and languages," and finally "Data usage." Disable "Video autoplay." For a more thorough approach, navigate back to "Settings and privacy," select "Display and sound," and toggle off "Media previews."
**Bluesky:** On Bluesky, the settings menu is accessed via a three-line icon (usually in the upper left corner on mobile and via the sidebar on desktop). Select "Settings," then "Content and media." There, you'll find the option to toggle "Autoplay videos and GIFs" off.
While most major platforms allow you to manage autoplay, it's worth noting that some emerging platforms may still be lacking this feature. Always check the app's settings menu for the latest options and updates to manage your viewing experience and data usage effectively.
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Originally published at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/10/how-to-turn-off-autoplay-on-your-social-media-feeds/
