How to disable Autoplay videos on Facebook (and a couple other data-saving hacks)

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 12 July 2021

Autoplay on Facebook videos can be annoying, but it’s also a data drainer. Downloading and watching videos on your device can be a data-intensive exercise, so if you’re scrolling through your feed and you’re not connected to WiFi - watch out.

If you’re keeping an eye on your data usage, or you’re just getting annoyed at hearing the 5 Minute Crafts background music chiming in as you scroll, then we’ve got the quick fix for you.

Disable Autoplay for Facebook videos

You really can fall into a hole when it comes to Facebook videos. You start off watching one cooking vid, and suddenly it is 3am and you’re well down the rabbit hole and someone has just made a candle out of crayons.

Want to try and quell these wormholes of time and data? Well switching off Autoplay is a great start.

Switch off Autoplay on the Facebook app

Using your iOS or Android app on any device, the steps to turn off Facebook Autoplay are as follows:

Open your Facebook app
Go to Menu
Scroll down to Cellular Data Usage
Under Autoplay, select Never Autoplay Videos

Switch off Autoplay on Facebook on desktop

If you’re using the browser Facebook site, then you can switch off Autoplay by:

Go to Facebook.com
Click on the drop-down menu in the top right corner
Select Settings
On the left-hand side column, scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Videos
Change the Autoplay video setting from default to Off

Always going over your data limit?

It might be time to look for a plan with more data. The average Australian uses 24.4GB per month on their mobile phone so if your plan doesn’t have at least 25GB, you may be cutting it thin.

There are the cheapest SIM-only plans available right now, with at least 25GB per month.

#1	Pivotel	Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $11.45/mth for first 6 months, then $22.90/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45 Go to Site	$11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45	Go to Site
#2	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#3	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 23 SIM Only 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#4	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#5	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick Unlimited Plan S 50GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: $15 for first 6 renewals when you activate this plan. Offer ends 31.12.26. T&Cs apply $15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#6	OnePass mobile	OnePass mobile 28 Day Plan - 32GB 32GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Save $15 - Get 32GB for only $15 for the first 6 recharges! Recharges $30/32GB. New customers only. T&Cs apply $15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#7	iiNet	iiNet 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#8	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#9	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Small Monthly Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network $23.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$23.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Yomojo	Yomojo Starter 29GB Plan 29GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

Offline your music

When you’re out and about, listening to tunes and avoiding eye contact with strangers is the highest form of self-care. Unfortunately, streaming music on Spotify or Apple Music can use up a lot of data - especially if you’ve opted in for Lossless Audio with Apple.

To save your data without sacrificing your you-time, just offline your music instead. If you’ve got a subscription to Spotify or Apple Music you’re able to download a good chunk of music to listen to offline. Just make sure you’re connected to WiFi when you press download.

Turn down your video streaming quality

Like to watch Netflix on the go? Great! But… not so great for your data allowance. Streaming Netflix on your mobile device can cost you up to 3GB per hour. Yikes.

A simple way to cut back on your data dollars is to tone down your streaming quality. On mobile you can choose from Auto, Save Data, or Maximum Data - we would recommend using Save Data mode. With this enabled you’ll use as little as 170MB per hour. That’s a huge difference.

Change Netflix streaming quality on mobile

To tone down your Netflix stream on any mobile device;

Open the Netflix App
Once in your profile click on your avatar in the top right-hand corner
Scroll down and tap on App Settings
Tap on Mobile Data Usage
Select Save Data and OK

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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