Web/API/HTMLMediaElement/autoplay

The HTMLMediaElement.autoplay property reflects the autoplay HTML attribute, indicating whether playback should automatically begin as soon as enough media is available to do so without interruption.

A media element whose source is a MediaStream and whose autoplay property is true will begin playback when it becomes active (that is, when MediaStream.active becomes true).

Note: Sites which automatically play audio (or videos with an audio track) can be an unpleasant experience for users, so it should be avoided when possible. If you must offer autoplay functionality, you should make it opt-in (requiring a user to specifically enable it). However, autoplay can be useful when creating media elements whose source will be set at a later time, under user control.

For a much more in-depth look at autoplay, autoplay blocking, and how to respond whena autoplay is blocked by the user's browser, see our article Autoplay guide for media and Web Audio APIs.

Syntax

HTMLMediaElement.autoplay = true | false;

var autoplay = HTMLMediaElement.autoplay;

Value

A Boolean whose value is true if the media element will begin playback as soon as enough content has loaded to allow it to do so without interruption.

Note: Some browsers offer users the ability to override autoplay in order to prevent disruptive audio or video from playing without permission or in the background. Do not rely on autoplay actually starting playback and instead use play event.

Examples

...

<video id="video" controls> 
  <source src="https://player.vimeo.com/external/250688977.sd.mp4?s=d14b1f1a971dde13c79d6e436b88a6a928dfe26b&profile_id=165">
</video>

*** Disable autoplay (recommended) ***
      false is the default value
        document.querySelector('#video').autoplay = false;

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'HTMLMediaElement.autoplay' in that specification.	Living Standard	No change from HTML5
HTML5The definition of 'HTMLMediaElement.autoplay' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`autoplay`	Chrome Full support 43	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.5	IE Full support 9	Opera Full support 30	Safari Full support 6	WebView Android Full support 43	Chrome Android Full support 43	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support 30	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

Legend

Full support: Full support