Edge Removes The Block Option from Media AutoPlay Blocking

The latest Canary update of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser brought a change to the Media AutoPlay Blocking feature. Previously, the user could choose between Allow, Limit, and Block. Now the Block option is removed from the GUI and is hidden behind a flag.

As you may remember, the classic Microsoft Edge app had a set of features to block autoplaying media content on web pages. Starting in Edge 78.0.272.0, the same features are available in the Chromium-based version of the Edge browser. You can find the options under Settings > Site permissions > Media autoplay:

As you can see in the screenshot above, the available options were Allow, Limit, and Block.

Now, check out how it looks in the latest Canary build (see the actual versions below).

As you can see, the Block option is missing.

However, it wasn't removed completely. You still can restore it with a flag.

To re-enable the Media AutoPlay Block Option in Microsoft Edge,

1. Open Microsoft Edge Chromium.
2. Type edge://flags/#edge-autoplay-user-setting-block-option into the address bar and hit the Enter key.
3. Enable the flag Show block option in autoplay settings using the drop-down menu next to the flag name.
4. Relaunch the browser when prompted.

This will restore the option.

It's not clear what exactly made Microsoft to implemented this change. I hope to see some details with the next Dev build of Edge, which usually comes with a detailed change log.

As you may already know, Microsoft is currently using three channels to deliver updates to Edge Insiders. The Canary channel receives updates daily (except Saturday and Sunday), the Dev channel is getting updates weekly, and the Beta channel is updated every 6 weeks. The stable channel is also on its way to users.

Actual Microsoft Edge Versions

The actual pre-release versions of Edge Chromium at the moment of this writing are as follows:

• Beta Channel: 78.0.276.19
• Dev Channel: 79.0.301.2 (the change log)
• Canary Channel: 79.0.308.0

I have covered many Edge tricks and features in the following post:

Hands-on with the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge

Also, see the following updates.

• Edge Chromium: Tab Freezing, High Contrast Mode Support
• Edge Chromium: Block Third-party Cookies for InPrivate Mode, Extension Access to Search
• Microsoft Gradually Gets Rid of Rounded UI in Edge Chromium
• Edge Now Allows Disabling Feedback Smiley Button
• Block Potentially Unwanted Apps For Downloads in Microsoft Edge
• Global Media Controls in Microsoft Edge Receive a Dismiss Button
• Microsoft Edge: New AutoPlay Blocking Options, Updated Tracking Prevention
• Turn Off News Feed on New Tab Page in Microsoft Edge
• Enable Extensions Menu Button in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Remove Feedback Smiley Button in Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge Will No Longer Support ePub
• Latest Microsoft Edge Canary Features Tab Hover Cards
• Microsoft Edge Now De-Elevates Itself Automatically
• Microsoft Details Edge Chromium Roadmap
• Microsoft Enables Global Media Controls in Microsoft Edge
• How to Use Cloud Powered Voices in Microsoft Edge Chormium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium: Never Translate, Prepopulate Find with Text Selection
• Enable Caret Browsing in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Enable IE Mode in Chromium Edge
• Stable Update Channel Made its First Appearance for Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Receives an Updated Password Reveal Button
• What are Controlled Feature Roll-outs in Microsoft Edge
• Edge Canary Adds New InPrivate Text Badge, New Sync Options
• Microsoft Edge Chromium: Clear Browsing Data on Exit
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Now Allows Switching Theme
• Microsoft Edge: Support for Windows Spell Checker in Chromium Engine
• Microsoft Edge Chromium: Prepopulate Find with Text Selection
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Gets Tracking Prevention Settings
• Microsoft Edge Chromium: Change Display Language
• Group Policy Templates for Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium: Pin Sites To Taskbar, IE Mode
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Will Allow Uninstalling PWAs as Desktop Apps
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Includes YouTube Video Info in Volume Control OSD
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Canary Features Dark Mode Improvements
• Show Icon Only for Bookmark in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Autoplay Video Blocker is coming to Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium is Receiving New Tab Page Customization Options
• Enable Microsoft Search in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Grammar Tools Are Now Available in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Now Follows System Dark Theme
• Here’s how Microsoft Edge Chromium looks on macOS
• Microsoft Edge Chromium now installs PWAs in the root of the Start menu
• Enable Translator in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Dynamically Changes Its User Agent
• Microsoft Edge Chromium Warns When Running as Administrator
• Change Search Engine In Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Hide or Show Favorites Bar in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Install Chrome Extensions in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Enable Dark Mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Chrome Features Removed and Replaced by Microsoft in Edge
• Microsoft Released Chromium-based Edge Preview Versions
• Chromium-Based Edge to Support 4K and HD Video Streams
• Microsoft Edge Insider extension now available in Microsoft Store
• Hands-on with the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge Insider Addons Page Revealed
• Microsoft Translator is Now Integrated with Microsoft Edge Chromium

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