Facebook/ Instagram Reels Keep Playing After Screen Lock on iPhone ? How to fix

Many iPhone 16,14 ,15 etc. users are noticing something strange after updating to iOS 26 — when watching a Facebook Reel and locking the screen, the audio keeps playing in the background. Before this update, the reel would pause automatically once the screen went to sleep.

Now, users report that the sound continues to play even after the display turns off, forcing them to unlock the phone and manually exit the Facebook app to stop the audio.

So, what changed?

Why It Happens After iOS 26

This behavior appears to be linked to new background-activity permissions in iOS 26. Apple’s latest update allows certain media apps to continue limited background playback if the app supports it — and Facebook’s recent app version seems to have unintentionally triggered that.

In short:

Facebook may now treat Reels like short videos or podcasts, keeping the audio active in the background.
The app is not pausing playback correctly when the phone is locked.
It could also be an unintended bug introduced by the recent iOS or Facebook update.

How to fix Facebook / Instagram Reels Keep Playing After iPhone Screen Lock

Until Apple or Meta fixes this issue, here are some quick things to try:

Force-close the Facebook app after watching Reels.
- Swipe up from the bottom (or double-press the Home button) → swipe away Facebook.
Disable Background App Refresh for Facebook:
- Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh → Facebook → Off.
Turn Off Autoplay in Facebook Reels:
- Open Facebook app → Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Media → Autoplay → Never Autoplay Videos.
Update Both iOS and Facebook:
- Make sure you’re running the latest versions, as a fix may already be in progress.

User Reactions

Many iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users have shared similar experiences online, suggesting that this behavior started right after the iOS 26 update. Some speculate it’s a background audio bug that Facebook needs to patch, while others think Apple’s new background permission system might be the cause.

Final Thoughts

If your Facebook Reels keep playing audio after the screen locks, you’re not alone. It’s most likely a software glitch or feature misalignment between iOS 26 and Facebook’s latest app version.

For now, turning off Background App Refresh or manually closing the app after watching Reels are the best quick fixes. Expect an upcoming Facebook app update to restore the normal behavior.

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