# Can I pre-emptively disable auto-play videos on websites ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pre-emptively-disable-auto-play-videos-on-websites/758239 "2016-06-24T15:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pre-emptively-disable-auto-play-videos-on-websites/758239/1 "2016-06-24T15:14:21Z")
It seems a lot of websites now have various things that are activated when you open the site. The two that come to mind are videos and pop-ups that block what you’re trying to view. They annoy me mightily. Is there some way to set my browser or computer so that they will not activate? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pre-emptively-disable-auto-play-videos-on-websites/758239/2 "2016-06-24T16:07:17Z")
Yes you can! Here’s instructions on how to do it in various common browsers: [How to stop autoplay videos | PCWorld](http://www.pcworld.com/article/2858421/internet/how-to-stop-autoplay-videos.html). Note the article is over a year old so some of it may not be exactly as described. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pre-emptively-disable-auto-play-videos-on-websites/758239/3 "2016-06-24T16:42:09Z")
I’ll check that out. Thank you.