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Q. I’m a big Facebook fan, I use it a lot, probably too much, but it’s been really annoying me lately. They’ve changed some things and I can’t figure out how to change them back.
Three things really bug me:
1. My friends keep inviting me to play Candy Crush and I really, really don’t want to. Do I have to unfriend them to make them stop or can I just block their invitations?
2. Videos on Facebook now play automatically, even if I do nothing. If I want to watch them, I can just hit the play button, no big deal. But now they play right away without me doing anything. How can I change this?
3. Lately my Facebook iPhone app makes clicking noises when I use it which is really annoying. I don’t want it to make any sounds, sometimes I check it when I don’t want anyone knowing what I’m doing. I could mute my phone or turn the sound down but then I might miss a call.
I’m getting to the point where I don’t want to get on Facebook, but I also don’t want to miss out on my friends’ posts. Can you help me make Facebook less annoying?
A. Great questions! Yes, Facebook is fun but some annoying features may be driving you away. By taking just a few minutes to tweak some settings you can make it much more enjoyable for you!
When you use Facebook then your goal is probably to interact with friends, see their posts and share your stuff with others. But a lot of annoying features can intrude on your enjoyment, making you less likely to go on Facebook.
Take back Facebook by making it your own again. In just a few minutes you can adjust your Facebook settings to make sharing with others much more pleasant. Learn how to block app invitations, stop auto-play for videos and silence the Facebook app in just a few easy steps.
Block App Invitations
If you’re overwhelmed by Candy Crush Saga notices, Candy Crush Soda invitations and other game updates, no worries, you can block these app invitations from your Facebook account. By blocking them you won’t see the app invitations or notices and you can stay friends with your BFF’s who are gamers.
Most Facebook games give bonuses to players who invite their friends to join in the fun. The temptation of extra points, coins, tokens, energy, etc. may be too much for your friends who are trying to level-up in their games. They may send app invitations to all of their Facebook friends in the hope that they will have new people to play with and earn bonuses for their efforts.
To block games, go to Facebook on your computer and:
1. Click on the down arrow ∨ in the upper right corner of the blue toolbar.
2. Click Settings.
3. In the left menu sidebar, click Blocking.
From the Blocking page you can block people from sending you invitation to apps and block apps from accessing your Facebook account.
Blocking Invitations from Friends
You can block all invitations to apps from specific Facebook friends. For example, let’s say you have a friend who is always playing the latest game and sending you invitations to play. You don’t want to unfriend the person, just stop the game invitations.
1. On the Blocking page of Settings, go to Block App Invites and type the name of your friend in the box.
2. Hit Enter.
Your friend will no longer be able to send you invitations to apps. If you change your mind later, you can always to back to the Blocking page and click Unblock next to your friend’s name.
Blocking Apps
You can also block all notices from apps. If you know you don’t want any invitations to join a game, you can block all notices from that app so none of your friends can send you an invitation from that game.
1. Go to Block Apps on the Blocking page and enter the name of the app in the box.
2. Hit Enter.
You can change your mind later by clicking Unblock next to the name of the app.
For more information about blocking apps, see the Facebook Blocking Help Page.
Stop Auto-play Videos
Facebook has enabled auto-play for videos that people share in their posts. If you’re annoyed by auto-play, on a limited data plan or don’t want your battery drained by streaming videos, you can turn off this feature so that videos only play in Facebook posts when you tap the Play button.
Facebook Website
1. Click on the down arrow ∨ in the upper right corner of the blue toolbar.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Videos.
4. Under Auto-Play Videos, click the drop-down menu and choose Off.
Facebook App
1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap the three stacked lines icon.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Videos and Photos.
5. Tap Auto-play.
6. Choose the setting of your desire:
- Use Cellular Data and Wi-Fi
- Use Wi-Fi Only
- Never Play Videos Automatically
If you choose the first setting, you can enable Smart Auto-play that lets Facebook try to optimize videos for “your country, mobile carrier, battery life and data usage.”
Find out more about video auto-play on Facebook from the Video Auto-Play Help Page.
Turn Off Sounds in the Facebook App
Many times when you’re using Facebook you want to be extra quiet. No need to alert people that you’re perusing posts instead of doing whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing.
If you want the Facebook app to make responsive sounds every time you tap the app, then you can have the app make sounds. But if you want your Facebook app to be as quiet as the moon on a wintry evening, then you can turn off sounds.
To control sounds within the Facebook app:
1. Tap the three stacked lines icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Sounds.
4. Turn In-App Sounds Off.
Your Thoughts
Have you been annoyed by any of these issues on Facebook? Have you ever unfriended anyone for too many game requests? Do you like auto-play for Facebook videos? Do you like the Facebook app to make sounds? Let us know in the Comments section below!
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*Facial animation image (edited) courtesy of David Pickett via Flickr and Creative Commons
Carolyn you must be able to read my mind. Your post could not have been more timely! I was just complaining to my husband about these clicking noises and then I scroll down and see your post! Thank you! I’m enjoying Facebook much more without the noise.
Hi Karen, Yes, I get the best article ideas from Wonder of Tech readers. Chances are if someone has a tech question, they’re not the only one! I have to confess, each one of these questions required some research, Facebook has changed the way you block games and turn off auto-play. The clicking sound was bugging me too, but I hadn’t done anything about it until the reader asked these question.
I’m so glad this was helpful to you too, Karen, and that you’re enjoying Facebook more now!
Hi Carolyn,
I am very familiar with this Candy Crush thing. That’s because I received invitations from this game in countless numbers, although I never played those games. Indeed, it is very annoying.
However, I never block my friends because of it and did not want to do it. I just ignore it. 🙂
After reading this article, I immediately go check it out on my Facebook account. Just in case, if any should I block later..hehe
Thanks for sharing this nice tips, Carolyn.
Keep up the good word and success for you!
~Nanda
Hi Nanda, Yes, you can ignore those invitations, but you don’t have to. By taking just a minute or so to block those apps, you can have them disappear from your Facebook account. That’s a much better solution!
I’m wondering if there is anyone on Facebook who has never received a Candy Crush invitation?
Hey Carolyn!
These are fabulous tips! I hate the video one but already set mine to non-auto play. These games is another peeve and like you said, I block the apps as they appear. I’m definitely passing this along as I know many will benefit from it!
Thanks!
B
Hi Bren, Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed this article. Wonder of Tech readers are amazing and give me fantastic inspiration for article topics.
Thank you so much for sharing this article, Bren, and for joining in the conversation. I hope you enjoy Facebook even more now!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Hi Victoria, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad that this article will help you enjoy Facebook more. You’re very, very, very welcome. 🙂
Hi,
I think Facebook is best social website we can connect to anyone very easily.And your 3 tips are very useful for all Facebook user.I like so much your tips. Thanks for sharing a great post.
Have a nice day!
Hi Mazid, Yes, if Facebook is your favorite social media website then these tips can help keep it that way. You won’t have to worry about any of these annoyances any more!
Very cool suggestions. FB is very much integral part of our online life, even more relevant in this time and age than email, or even phone. So little little improvement suggestions like these goes a long way 🙂
Other day, I realized one odd behavior of FB, wish there was a solution for. If person X sends me a friend request, and I have NOT accepted it (for a reason maybe), a friend of mine looks at person X’s profile, it will show X as my friend!
That’s odd!
Hi iRewardChart, Yes, Facebook makes changes frequently, some with success, others not so much. Remember when Facebook gave us all email addresses? But other new features are very cool (I’m loving the stickers!).
Features work best when we can control them but sometimes that control is buried in Settings. Facebook changes how we can adjust our Settings so it’s hard to keep up. I’m so glad this Wonder of Tech reader asked these very relevant questions because the answers have helped a lot of other readers (and me!).
Thanks so much for your visit and comment. Great to see you here again at The Wonder of Tech! The Best App Ever!
I am using facebook since long time and since last few months I am using this very less. After reading this articles and tips, I think I can use it now more often. Thank you Carolyn for wonderful tips.
regards
Hi Rohit, I’m so glad that these tips will help Facebook become more enjoyable for you again. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hi Carolyn
That is some great tips you provide here. The invites to play Candy Crush and other games has really been bothering me a lot. Also the tip about video auto start is awesome. I have just changed the behavior in my Facebook settings.
Thanks for sharing Carolyn 🙂
Hi Thomas, Yes, I’ve been getting so many Candy Crush invitations I’m actually afraid to try it. The game seems extremely addictive and I don’t need anything else distracting me from The Wonder of Tech!
I’m glad these tips are helpful to you, Thomas. I’m so grateful to the reader who asked these questions!
Hey Carolyn,
I changed the auto play on videos some time back, I find that so annoying myself.
I also block the games every time someone would send me an invitation. I don’t play games on Facebook, I never have and I’ve blocked so many it’s not even funny. They finally just quit coming thank goodness.
I don’t access Facebook from my phone so that’s not an issue for me but thank you for sharing it in case I do change my mind.
Everyone loves Facebook but only when they’re having a great experience over there. These things can definitely turn us off quickly. Appreciate the share and I’ll be sure to pass it on as well.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, That’s great you took the steps to make sure Facebook stayed enjoyable for you. Yes, if Facebook becomes too annoying people won’t use it as much.
I’d hate to see anyone drop Facebook because of these annoyances instead of taking a few minutes to adjust their settings. But sometimes people don’t know they can control these things so they suffer through. You shouldn’t have to be annoyed when you can tweak your setting easily!
Thanks so much for your visit, shares and wonderful comment, Adrienne.
Though I don’t use Facebook anymore, I’d advise using the FB Purity browser extension (fbpurity.com). It’s available for all the major web browsers, and removes many distractions from your FB page. Try it, you’ll like it.
Hi Raspal, Thanks for the tech tip! I just looked at Facebook Purity and will give it a try for a future Wonder of Tech article. I appreciate the suggestion that may help lots of other readers.
Carolyn,
Thanks so much for putting this together. All those invites for playing games drive me up the wall! And now you have taught me how to block that one out. Phew..thanks so much.
Videos that play just jam up things. Not only are they annoying, but sometimes my mac gets stuck when that happens and I have to wait. Facebook for me is something to scan through and this drives me up the wall. Now I know how to stop it…Once again…a big thank you
I think worst of all are the apps that make sounds. I often scream at my computer “shut up” but now..no more worries.
I have to say from the bottom of my heart a huge thank you for teaching me a better Facebook experience.
Hugs!
-Donna
Hi Donna, Yes, there are many ways that Facebook can be annoying but these three the reader mentioned certainly affect a lot of other Facebook users. The response to this article has been huge, so you are definitely not alone.
I agree with you about sounds. Often we’re in a place where sound wouldn’t be acceptable. Unwanted and unexpected sounds are an intrusion and shouldn’t be allowed. I am shocked when I arrive at a website with autoplay videos. Haven’t they learned that auto-play videos are rarely appreciated?
Thanks so much for your visit, Donna, and for sharing this article widely. Much appreciate, my friend!
Great Guide Carolyn!
Yes, Facebook became annoying due the problems you have mentioned in the question.
Sometimes, I get to know about new games and apps due to these annoying invitations.
Liked the solutions mentioned. I gonna right away to implement these.
Glad you wrote it Carolyn.
Hi Atish, Yes, some people appreciate the game invitations because they discover new games and connect with their friends who are fellow gamers. But if you’re not interested in gaming, you’re also not interested in getting the game invitations.
I’m glad you’re taking control of your Facebook account to make it more enjoyable for you, Atish!
Hi,
I regular top blog readers, and your blog is in my one of top blog reading list, I really love and like reading your blogs! And I really liked this post as well.. All the best keep writing.
Regards,
Dr. Debasish Mukherjee
Hello Debasish, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Wow, that’s so much for your words of praise. They mean so much to me. I write this blog to help others so it’s very rewarding to learn that you are enjoying The Wonder of Tech.
Thank you for your visit and wonderful comment, Debasish!
Hello,
This is a great information here.Your articles are so easy to understand because it is written in so easy language with images and it really helpful for all facebook user like me.
Thank you,
Hi Neha, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you for your kind words. I’m very glad you liked this article and that it helps you with Facebook. I appreciate your visit and taking the time to leave a comment.
Hi Carolyn,
Many of my Facebook friends play a lot of games and I used to get app invites very frequently which was very irritating. Like you, I figured out how to block Facebook games requests without actually unfriending any of them 🙂
Disabling auto-play and sounds in Facebook app are great tips. I will certainly use this information to good effect the next time I log in to Facebook. Thanks for the tips and you have a good day ahead!
Hi Arpit, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so pleased you were able to figure out how to block game requests before you unfriended anyone. Games give generous incentives to players who invite their friends so those invitations become very popular with players, not so much for non-players.
That’s great you’re going to stop auto-play, Arpit. I hope you enjoy Facebook even more now!
Hi Carolyn,
Blocking apps for games was one of the first things I learned on
Facebook!
Had a couple of friends addicted to several games each and if you forgot and
clicked on request…took forever to get off.
First time it happened, I even closed the browser and left Facebook with it
hanging there.
Will have to check out the one of videos, most I receive don’t auto play, but occasionally one will and it is a nuisance, especially if you are already watching one. Haven’t figured out how they do it, but those same offenders will
start up again….
Ever happened to you or have a ready answer?
Saw Adrienne and Donna talking about how helpful this post is, so
decided I’d better check it out! Useful information for a change instead of
just chit chat that is presented sometimes to just fill up space.
Thanks,
C.
Hi Cararta, I appreciate Adrienne and Donna pointing you here. Yes, turn off autoplay on Facebook and that might solve your problem.
You’re smart to turn off gaming apps if you’re not interested in playing them. No need to get invitations you’ll never accept anyway!
Thanks so much for your visit and lovely comment, Cararta.
Hi Carolyn
Serioulsy speaking, You have covered such a great issues in this article which I am facing from many days and these issues always annoys me a lot even it annoys many people like me.
I really don’t like to get unusual Candy crush or any other game request but people still invite others which is not good. Thank to you for covering such a great article with a great solution.
But You haven’t covered an issue in this article which should much be covered in it.
I am talking about ” Auto Add in Groups “.
As I am a blogger so many other bloggers used to add anyone to their newly created groups even If they don’t want to use that group. I really got annoyed with it when someone adds me to their group.
Due to this, I am not able to use those groups which I actually wants to use because there are lots of groups in the list in which I am added by others and Its been hard to find those groups which I wants to use.
Carolyn, It would be really great If you could find and share any solution by which anyone couldn’t add you to any Facebook group untill you don’t want to join that group.
Thanks for sharing this article and HAPPY BLOGGING 😉
Hi Chetan, Yes, being added to a Facebook Group can be very annoying but so far that hasn’t been remedied. Here’s an article you may find helpful: How to Leave a Facebook Group.
Absolutely! Facebook was a quiet online gathering place for real-world friends. But, now it’s a never-ending torrent of viral news articles, auto-playing videos, weekly candy crush invites and what not! And those annoying games like the Mafia game, the Spymaster game, makes the Facebook experience even worse.
Maybe its time to move on to twitter 🙂