Coding⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: How to prevent "The play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()" error?

Prevent 'The play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error in web audio.

Quick Answer: Use the `n.state = 'paused'` method after pausing the sound, and then resume playback with `n.play()`.

The 'play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error occurs when an audio element's play method is called while it is currently paused. This can happen in web applications where users interact with audio elements, such as playing sounds or music on click.

This error can be frustrating for developers and users alike, as it prevents the audio from continuing to play smoothly. In this guide, we will explore the root causes of this issue and provide two primary methods for fixing it.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The main reason why the 'play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error occurs is because the `pause()` method is called before the `play()` method. When you call `pause()` on an audio element, it stops the playback of the audio and sets its currentTime property to 0. If you then call `play()` immediately after, it can cause the play request to be interrupted by the previous pause request.
  • An alternative reason for this error is if the browser has set a specific timeout or interval for the audio element's play method. In some cases, the browser may interrupt the playback of the audio due to this timeout or interval.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Preventing Audio Element Pauses by Using async/await

  1. Step 1: To prevent the 'play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error, you can use the async/await syntax to ensure that each play method call is executed only after the previous one has completed.
  2. Step 2: Create an async function that handles the audio playback and add a try-catch block to catch any errors that may occur during playback.
  3. Step 3: Inside the try block, use the await keyword to wait for the playback to complete before calling `pause()` on the audio element.
  4. Step 4: Finally, call the `play()` method inside the catch block to ensure that the playback resumes after any errors have been handled.

Using a Flag to Indicate Playback Status

  1. Step 1: Another way to prevent the 'play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error is by using a flag to indicate whether the audio element is currently playing or paused.
  2. Step 2: Create a boolean variable to track the playback status of the audio element and update it accordingly whenever `pause()` or `play()` methods are called.
  3. Step 3: Use this flag to check the current playback status before calling `play()` on the audio element, ensuring that the play request is not interrupted by a previous pause request.
  4. Step 4: This method can be particularly useful if you need to implement complex audio logic or handle multiple audio elements simultaneously.

✨ Wrapping Up

By using either of the two primary methods outlined in this guide, you should be able to prevent the 'play() request was interrupted by a call to pause()' error and ensure that your audio plays smoothly and without interruptions.

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