Stop videos from autoplaying

Basically, if you want to stop most all auto playing web videos, you need to not only block Flash and Javascript, but also disable HTML5 auto-play. There are a number of browser plugins for the former, not so much so for the latter.

In Firefox, it's very easy. Just go into about:config, and type media.autoplay.enabled in search. Double click to set to false. Close and re-start Firefox.

Chrome has a free browser extension available Stop HTML5 Video Autoplay.

I don't know of a direct way of disabling HTML5 auto-play in IE?

Unfortunately, its way too easy to set a web video to auto-play, and effectively lock the player controls preventing a user from stopping it manually.

For example, click the above video to watch this funny commercial(3.5MB). The top video is set to auto-play. Try stopping the video? Disabling Javascript or Flash has no effect, as it's HTML5 embedded video?

In contrast, the bottom video is the same commercial, but without auto-start and with standard browser playback controls. What's the difference?

The top video was placed in its own "div" set to "z-index:-1;", so its on a layer below the other video. But since nothing is blocking it, you can watch the top video, just don't have access to the player controls. Like walking on a glass floor which allows you to see the level below you.

Firefox has an available add on that blocks Flash from playing - wherever there is Flash video, a play arrow will appear on the screen instead. If you want to see the Flash video you click on the button - if not, ignore and it doesn't play.

DancinCampers wrote:
In my Firefox, tools, addons, I changed the default action on java, quicktime and shockwave to Ask To Activate.

Actually, Javascript. But none of these will necessarily stop HTML5 based video from playing.

HappyKayakers wrote:
I'm in the same boat you are. I use Chrome for most of my web surfing. They have an option in advanced settings so you have to click to play.

I do note a little speaker shows up in the tab telling me which tab has a video running. But would like to not let them start on their own as will be going back on the road with my Datastorm.

I did find this link How to stop autoplaying ads, videos and media on web pages: stop videos autoplaying in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer

Read more: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/internet/3497991/how-stop-autoplaying-ads-videos-media-on-web-pages/#ixzz321qMY2vf

Tried it it works... what you can't find doing a Google search.

While AdBlock is a great plugin and I suggest installing it, it will just block ads which will help conserve some bandwidth, but it wont stop most videos from playing, just most advertising.

Flashblock will block like 95% of videos since almost all use flashplayer. You can selectively white list sites where you WANT video too like youtube, etc..

ScriptBlock is another option, it will block 100% of videos, but it also blocks a lot more stuff you will probably want, it can get super annoying at times.

I'm in the same boat you are. I use Chrome for most of my web surfing. They have an option in advanced settings so you have to click to play.

In my Firefox, tools, addons, I changed the default action on java, quicktime and shockwave to Ask To Activate.

Are these ads playing on your phone or on your attached computer?

On the computer, use Firefox for a browser, then look under the tools tab, select "Add-ons". Click "get add-ons" on the left menu, and add the "Addblock Plus" add-on.

That will stop most of them.