Maximization and video

Autoplay: how the video starts on its own

Autoplay starts the video muted, as browsers require, and shows a prompt for the visitor to turn the sound on.

5 min read

How it works

Autoplay starts the video without the visitor clicking. Browsers require it to start muted. While it's muted, the player shows a prompt to turn the sound on. When the visitor clicks the video, sound turns on and the play counts as a play with sound.

The default VSL Max player already has autoplay on, with the wait before the prompt turned on and a preview that loops the first 30 seconds.

Browsers and phones

Each browser decides whether to allow muted autoplay. Most do. Some, because of a device or browser setting, block even muted autoplay. When that happens nothing breaks: the video waits for a click and shows the blocked-playback text you set. The visitor's click plays the video as usual.

How to set it up

  1. In your video library, click the video and go to the Settings tab.
  2. In the AI Maximization card, open Advanced settings and go to Autoplay.
  3. Click New autoplay or edit one from the list.
  4. Under Autoplay type, choose Template (one of the ready-made designs) or Upload (your own image or GIF).
  5. Adjust the prompt and save.

A video can have several saved autoplays, but only one is active at a time. That lets you keep versions around and switch without starting over.

Prompt templates

With the Template type, pick the design for the Prompt to turn sound on: Card, Square, Dark, Full screen or Bar. Then adjust the size, the top and bottom text, the colors, the border and the entrance animation. With the Upload type, send an image or GIF (PNG, JPG, WebP or GIF, up to 5 MB, GIFs up to 10 MB).

The prompt isn't a small button: the visitor can click anywhere on the video to turn the sound on.

Behavior

  • Wait before the prompt: waits 2 seconds before showing the invitation.
  • Text when the browser blocks playback: the text that invites a click when the browser blocks even muted autoplay.
  • Restart when sound is turned on: someone who joined halfway through the muted video doesn't miss the opening.
  • Preview loop (seconds): while muted, the video loops just the first few seconds until the visitor turns the audio on. Use 0 to play straight through.

Autoplay and the AI

Autoplay is one of the settings AI Maximization tests, because it directly affects play rate. With the AI on for this setting, the fields are locked. To edit it yourself, turn off the AI maximization switch inside Autoplay.

Common issues

  • The video didn't start on its own on my phone. The browser or the device's power saving mode blocked autoplay. The video still plays with a click.
  • The video keeps repeating the beginning. That's the preview loop. It stops once the visitor turns the sound on. Set it to 0 if you'd rather play straight through.
  • Upload won't save. Send the prompt's image or GIF before creating the autoplay.

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