The Noisy Launch
Windows 11 features deep integration with the Microsoft Store and various native apps that utilize rich media. By default, many of these applications, particularly the Microsoft Store itself, are configured to automatically play promotional videos and trailer clips the moment you scroll past them. If you are browsing for a new productivity app in a quiet office, or if you are on a metered internet connection, having high-definition video and loud audio suddenly blast from your speakers without your explicit click is highly disruptive and wastes valuable bandwidth.
Silencing the Previews
To ensure a quiet browsing experience and stop Windows 11 from automatically playing videos inside the Microsoft Store and other native apps, you must disable the global video autoplay setting.
Press the Windows Key, type Settings, and hit Enter to open the main configuration panel. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Apps. In the right-hand panel, click on Video playback. Look for the toggle switch explicitly labelled Play videos automatically. (Note: Depending on your specific build of Windows 11, this setting might also be found under Accessibility > Visual effects). Click this toggle to turn it Off. Now, when you open the Microsoft Store and click on a game or application, the trailer will remain a static image with a play button, waiting for you to manually initiate the playback.