Google’s New Autoplay Policy: How Is This Affecting You With ScreenCloud? – ScreenCloud Studio

This article will go through Google's New Autoplay Policy and how this is affecting ScreenCloud Members.

Google’s recent update prevents Chrome playback video and audio files from playing until a user interacts with the domain (click, tap, etc.) For Digital Signage this means, your videos would not work until you plug in a mouse and click on the screen. Please note, as of August 2019, Google has pushed an update to Chrome OS that now allows the Autoplay policy by default for any devices managed by a Chrome Device Management license. You should not have any issues with video or audio playback on your devices managed by these licenses. If you're not using a Chrome Device Management license, your device will not be able to playback video and audio files automatically.

You can learn more by clicking here to view Google's support article on Autoplay policy information.

You can continue to follow the steps outlined in this article for changing the auto-play policy settings, though these may no longer be available for unmanaged devices without a license.

We recommend reviewing how to purchase and set up your Chrome devices using a Chrome Device Management license with ScreenCloud by clicking here.

Table of Contents:

Which devices are affected?
When was the update released?
What are we doing to help resolve this issue?
Steps on how to change the AutoPlay Policy on a Chrome device

Which devices are affected and which aren't?

All Chrome devices (Chromebit, Chromebox, Chromebook) with Chrome version 66 and above running in standard mode or standard kiosk mode are affected. Windows or Mac devices running the Chrome extension are also affected. As of August 2019, Google has pushed an update on the Autoplay policy that now automatically allows video and audio playback automatically for devices that are set up with Chrome Device Management licenses.

But if you are running one of the above devices in kiosk mode with kiosk mode set up using Chrome device management with a Chrome Enterprise or Chrome Kiosk license, it will not be affected. To learn how to set up a device with a Chrome Enterprise or Chrome Kiosk license, read this guide.

When was the update released?

The original Autoplay policy update limiting video and audio playback was released in early in May 2018. This would restrict devices from video and audio playback automatically unless the Autoplay policy settings were changed according to the instructions found in this article.

As of August 2019, Google released a new update that automatically allows the Autoplay policy for videos and audio files for devices managed with Chrome Device Management licenses automatically. Unmanaged devices no longer have access to Autoplay policy settings.

What are we doing to help resolve this issue?

As of the August 2019 update, any devices running on Chrome Device Management licenses are no longer affected by the Autoplay policy by default. Unmanaged devices are unable to access the autoplay settings, unfortunately, ScreenCloud does not have control over this feature as it's enforced by Google on Chrome OS devices.

If you have any additional questions on how Google's new Autoplay Policy affects you using ScreenCloud, or any other questions or feedback about ScreenCloud, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@screencloud.com or give us a call at our toll-free support line at +18885575335.

Which devices are affected and which aren't?

When was the update released?

What are we doing to help resolve this issue?

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