Chrome already blocks many sound-on autoplay attempts, but sites you have interacted with before may still play video with sound. The built-in fix is to block sound for one site or for all sites by default. That stops noisy autoplay even if the video itself still starts silently.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Google Chrome on Windows or Mac when videos start playing with sound before you click them. Mobile Chrome has fewer autoplay controls, but some site sound permissions may still be available.
Mute sound on a specific site
This is the quickest fix for a site you visit often.
- Open the site where autoplay sound is a problem.
- Click the lock, tune, or information icon to the left of the address.
- Open Site settings or Permissions for this site.
- Find Sound.
- Change it from Allow to Block or Mute.
- Reload the page.
Videos may still autoplay silently. You can usually turn sound back on manually in the player when you want it.
Block autoplay sound on every site by default
Use this if you want Chrome to start from a muted-by-default position.
- Click the three-dot menu and open Settings.
- Choose Privacy and security > Site settings.
- Open Additional content settings.
- Choose Sound.
- Select Do not allow sites to play sound.
- Add trusted sites under the allowed sound list if you want music or streaming services to play normally.
More control
Chrome may still allow silent autoplay
Chrome built-in controls mostly target sound. Silent autoplay can still use data and attention. A dedicated autoplay-blocker extension can go further if you need videos stopped until clicked.
Ad players may need stronger blocking
Some noisy media comes from embedded ad players. Combining Chrome sound blocking with a reputable ad or content blocker can catch more cases.
Mobile Chrome has fewer controls
On mobile, tap the site icon and check Permissions for Sound if available. Otherwise, lowering media volume or muting the device before opening video-heavy sites is the practical workaround.
Check the site own autoplay setting
YouTube, Netflix, and similar services have autoplay controls inside their own player or account settings. Those are separate from Chrome site permissions.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help – Change sound settings for a site (2025)
- Google Chrome Help – Manage site settings (2025)
- Chromium Project – Autoplay policy documentation (2025)