In most video-enabled sections of Out of the Sandbox themes, there is an option to have the video automatically begin playing when the page loads. However, there have since been compatibility changes in how browsers render autoplay videos.
Due to this being related to changing standards for how browsers render video we aren't able to guarantee videos will autoplay. However, this article will explain the issue in greater detail and provide some tips to help increase the likelihood of your videos playing automatically.
Common Limitations
There are some key restrictions to this feature, however, especially on mobile devices.
Browsers can block autoplay
Many browsers, particularly the most recent versions, automatically block videos from automatically playing, particularly ones with audio.
Mobile device settings can block autoplay
Most mobile devices, including Apple iPhones, Apple iPads and many Android and Microsoft devices do not support the video autoplay feature so your video will not play automatically if a visitor is on one of these devices.
Also, most mobile devices do not support videos playing behind other elements in Out of the Sandbox themes, so when the user taps the play button, the video will "take over" the entire screen.
Device or browsers may delay autoplay
In some cases, even when the device and browser are compatible with autoplay, the video may not start playing immediately. Typically this is because the rest of the page assets are loading or the video file is still loading or buffering. In most cases, once enough of the page content or video clip has loaded to ensure smoother viewing, the video should begin playing.
Avoid Customizing Theme Files
While there may be workarounds to the limitations outlined above, Out of the Sandbox does not advise investing in custom code changes to overcome them. In our experience, many of these solutions do not work consistently across all devices and also involve adding code that may interfere with the functionality of the rest of your theme.
If having your videos automatically play on mobile devices is crucial to your site, you will need to hire a third-party developer to explore solutions.
Consider Disabling Autoplay
There are also several factors to consider when using an autoplay video. This blog post has an overview of autoplay limitations and more tips on using video effectively.
Embed on a page instead
Video can be an excellent way to explain your store, products, or story. However, these types of videos may be better embedded in a page, without autoplay enabled. This lets users play them when they chose.
Autoplay popularity
Many users find autoplaying videos, especially those with audio, to be unappealing, which could affect your bounce rate or conversion rates.
Some customers may be visiting your site from a location where they cannot watch or listen to videos due to connectivity issues. Some users may also be browsing from a public place or office where audio cannot be played. Because of this, it can be a good idea to make sure your message is conveyed with on-screen text or other imagery.
File weight
Be sure to pay close attention to the overall file size of the video. For larger files, the video may not play right away or stop or "stutter" during playback, also resulting in a less than ideal user experience. Large videos can also affect bounce rate and conversion rates.
Background videos, without audio, are a great way to grab customer attention, but again be sure to pay close attention to file sizes as larger files can affect performance and user experience.