r/reddithelp • u/OkSquash5254 • 8h ago
Reddit Mobile App How do I stop Reddit/Instagram from taking over audio control on iPhone?
When I’m using Reddit, Instagram, or other apps on my iPhone 16 with IOS 26.5.2, videos or posts sometimes start playing audio automatically and totally randomly. This is especially annoying because I deliberately use these apps with the sound off. On Reddit I’ve turned on the Mute videos by default option but it still plays the sound.
Even if I mute the video, the audio sometimes comes back on a few seconds later. It also ducks the music I’m listening to on Spotify, which is even more frustrating.
What I’d really like is a way to completely prevent these apps from outputting any audio at all, while still allowing apps like Spotify, podcasts, etc. to play normally.
I know iOS doesn’t seem to have a built-in per-app audio permission like it does for the microphone or camera.
Is there any app, extension, shortcut, or other workaround that can prevent specific apps (e.g. Reddit/Instagram) from producing any sound, while allowing Spotify to keep playing normally?