Turning off autoplay videos in Safari can significantly improve your browsing experience, conserve data, and reduce distractions. The method to disable autoplay depends on whether you're using Safari on a Mac or an iOS/iPadOS device. Safari on Mac offers more direct and granular control over autoplay settings.
Stopping Autoplay Videos on Safari for Mac
Safari on your Mac provides comprehensive settings to manage how websites handle autoplaying media, allowing you to set a default for all websites or customize behavior for specific sites.
Configure Autoplay for All Websites
To stop videos from automatically playing across most websites by default:
- Open the Safari app on your Mac.
- From the top menu bar, choose Safari > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
- In the Settings window, click on the Websites tab.
- In the sidebar on the left, click Auto-Play.
- At the bottom of the window, next to "When visiting other websites," click the dropdown menu and select Never Auto-Play.
This setting will prevent media from playing automatically on any website not specifically listed with different autoplay preferences.
Customize Autoplay for Specific Websites
You can also override the global setting for individual websites that you frequent, offering more flexibility:
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Follow steps 1-4 from the section above to navigate to Safari > Settings > Websites > Auto-Play.
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In the main pane, you'll see a list of websites you have open or previously visited.
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Select a specific website from this list.
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Next to the selected website, click the dropdown menu and choose your preferred autoplay behavior for that site:
- Allow All Auto-Play: Videos will play automatically without any restrictions.
- Stop Media with Sound: Videos will play automatically, but their audio will be muted by default until you click to enable it.
- Never Auto-Play: Videos will not play automatically; you will need to manually click to start playback.
For more detailed information on managing website settings in Safari, you can refer to Apple Support: Change Websites settings in Safari on Mac.
Here’s a quick overview of the autoplay options available in Safari for Mac:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Allow All Auto-Play | Videos, including those with sound, will start playing automatically without any user interaction. |
| Stop Media with Sound | Videos will start playing automatically, but the audio will be muted until you manually unmute it. Useful for visual content without sudden sound. |
| Never Auto-Play | Videos will not play automatically. You must click on the video player to initiate playback, providing full control. |
Managing Autoplay on Safari for iPhone and iPad
Unlike Safari on Mac, Safari on iOS and iPadOS devices does not feature a direct, global "Auto-Play" setting in the Safari preferences that allows you to universally disable video autoplay across all websites. Autoplay behavior on these devices is often managed on a per-website basis by the site itself, or through other indirect methods.
Recommended Approaches on iOS/iPadOS
While there isn't a single toggle, you can try these methods to minimize unwanted autoplay:
- Use Reader View: When available for articles, tap the Reader View icon (four horizontal lines) in the URL bar. This often strips away videos and ads, focusing on text content.
- Utilize Content Blockers: Install a reputable third-party content blocker app from the App Store. These apps can block scripts and elements that cause autoplay videos and ads. Once installed, enable them in Settings > Safari > Extensions.
- Check Website-Specific Settings: Some websites offer their own internal settings to manage autoplay preferences. Look for a settings icon or menu within the video player or on the website itself.
- Enable Low Power Mode: Occasionally, enabling Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode) can prevent some videos from autoplaying, as it reduces background activity and visual effects. However, this is not a guaranteed solution for all autoplay scenarios.
- Clear Website Data: While not a permanent solution, clearing website data for a specific site in Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data can sometimes reset its autoplay preferences, though this might also log you out of the site.
For general Safari settings on your iPhone or iPad, you can consult Apple Support: Change Safari settings on iPhone.
