Home autoplay

Stop what started playing on its own

If a page starts playing sound or video unexpectedly, use the bookmark to pause its current audio and video elements without removing their controls.

On a computer, drag the button below to your bookmarks bar. Then open the page you want and use the bookmark.

Turn autoplay off

On a phone or without a bookmarks bar? See the other ways to use this shortcut below.

How it works and when to use it

How can I use this shortcut on my phone?

On a phone, you can try saving the code as a bookmark address. Copy the code below first.

iPhone (Safari): bookmark any page, touch and hold the bookmark, choose Edit, and replace its address with the copied code.

Android (Chrome): bookmark a page. Open Bookmarks, tap the three dots beside it, choose Edit, and replace its address with the copied code.

Then open the page you want to change and use the bookmark. If it does not run from the bookmarks menu, type the bookmark's name in the address bar and select its suggestion.

Bookmark address

javascript:void(function(){var media=document.querySelectorAll("video,audio");for(var i=0;i<media.length;i++){var m=media[i];m.autoplay=false;m.removeAttribute("autoplay");try{m.pause();}catch(e){}}}())

Support varies by browser and version. Some websites also block this kind of shortcut.

Another iPhone option: the Shortcuts app

In Shortcuts, create a shortcut with the Run JavaScript on Webpage action and paste the code below. Show it in the Share Sheet for Safari webpages. If prompted, allow running scripts in Shortcuts settings. Then open the page in Safari, tap Share, and choose your shortcut.

Code for the Shortcuts app

void(function(){var media=document.querySelectorAll("video,audio");for(var i=0;i<media.length;i++){var m=media[i];m.autoplay=false;m.removeAttribute("autoplay");try{m.pause();}catch(e){}}}());completion();

How can I use the console on a computer?

Open the page you want to change. In Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + Option + J (Mac), paste the code below into the console, and press Enter.

Console code

void(function(){var media=document.querySelectorAll("video,audio");for(var i=0;i<media.length;i++){var m=media[i];m.autoplay=false;m.removeAttribute("autoplay");try{m.pause();}catch(e){}}}())

The effect applies to the open page. Check what any code does before running it in the console; your browser may show a security warning.

The button does not delete the player. It pauses what is on the page and removes the autoplay attribute. You can still press play afterward.

What happens to the player?

It walks through video and audio. On each one, it removes autoplay and calls pause.

The player stays on the page. The sound stops. If you want to listen, the player's own control is still there.

A script on the page can ask for play again after the click. If the sound returns, click once more.

Open the page and stop it

Open the page, wait for the unwanted sound, and click the bookmark. What is already playing pauses.

To take the player off the screen, use the video tool. This one leaves the player and holds automatic play.

What it does not promise

It does not change the browser setting or the account on the site. It applies to this page, on this load.

An ad in an iframe without a video element can continue. The button only reaches video and audio.