Opening a fixed mini player automatically is a feature offered by the website and is created via JavaScript if the main player is scrolled out of view. A lot of websites now have a fixed (pop-up) mini player in one the corners once you start playing a video that stays visible if you scroll the page. This website mini player shouldn't be confused with the Firefox PiP (picture-in-picture) feature (you likely see the Firefox PiP icon if you hover the mini player).

You can look at these prefs on the about:config page to see what settings work for you to block autoplay.

• media.autoplay.default = 5 [0:allow;1:blockAudible;5:blockAll]
• media.autoplay.blocking_policy = 2
• media.autoplay.allow-extension-background-pages = false
• media.autoplay.block-event.enabled = true
• media.block-autoplay-until-in-foreground

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

Thank you! I have used about:config to tweak Firefox the way I want it, but wasn't aware of media autoplay options. I followed your recommendation and my problem is solved. Appreciate your help.

What, exactly, in about:config did you change to stop these stupid miniplayer things. I also find them SUPER annoying and this is the first I've found that explains it's not firefox, it's the stupid web designers. I guess a lot of folks do like this miniplayer thing but to me it's just plain distracting besides just being annoying. Thanks.

This is what I did in about:config and it has worked for me:

media.autoplay.default = 5 media.autoplay.blocking_policy = 2 media.autoplay.allow-extension-background-pages = false media.autoplay.block-event.enabled = true media.block-autoplay-until-in-foreground = false

Does not work for me. I'm on iMac (Monterey 12.6.8), FF 119.0.1 w/ uBlock Origin extension.

I have all the autoplay prefs in about:config set as above, but the problem persists on multiple sites, like here: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/pets/heres-what-every-new-pet-owner-should-know/news-story/da2a0bf89c7a929c1a8c532ea8f1a5eb It also happens on facebook.

RE: "Opening a fixed mini player automatically is a feature offered by the website and is created via JavaScript if the main player is scrolled out of view. A lot of websites now have a fixed (pop-up) mini player in one the corners once you start playing a video that stays visible if you scroll the page."

Wondering if it has something to do with the main video not being prevented from initiating a 'play countdown' - given my FF settings, the video is blocked from auto playing, but this initial countdown is not blocked! Does this perhaps mean the site detects the main video has technically 'started playing', which then triggers/enables the fixed miniplayer to popup when you scroll down?