How to Disable Auto-Play in Kdenlive Project Bin

By default, Kdenlive automatically plays any video or audio clip the moment you select it within the Project Bin. While this feature is designed to preview media quickly, it can be distracting, interrupt your workflow, and consume unnecessary system resources. This article provides a direct, step-by-step guide to disabling this auto-play function in Kdenlive’s settings so you can preview your media manually.

To turn off the automatic playback feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the Configuration Window: In the top menu bar, click on Settings and select Configure Kdenlive… (If you are using macOS, click on Kdenlive in the menu bar and select Preferences).
2. Access Clip Monitor Settings: In the settings window that opens, locate the left-hand sidebar and click on the Clip Monitor tab.
3. Uncheck Auto-Play: Look for the option labeled “Automatically start playback when selecting clip” and uncheck the box next to it.
4. Save Changes: Click the Apply button in the bottom-right corner, then click OK to close the window.

With this setting disabled, clicking on a clip in your Project Bin will load it into the preview window without playing it. You can now manually control playback using the spacebar or the play controls under the Clip Monitor.