diff --git a/src/panels/information/phononwidget.h b/src/panels/information/phononwidget.h
--- a/src/panels/information/phononwidget.h
+++ b/src/panels/information/phononwidget.h
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@
     private:
         QUrl m_url;
         QSize m_videoSize;
+        
+        QTimer* m_autoplaytimer;
 
         QToolButton *m_playButton;
         QToolButton *m_stopButton;
diff --git a/src/panels/information/phononwidget.cpp b/src/panels/information/phononwidget.cpp
--- a/src/panels/information/phononwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/panels/information/phononwidget.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 */
 
 #include "phononwidget.h"
+#include "dolphin_generalsettings.h"
+#include "dolphinmainwindow.h"
 
 #include <Phonon/AudioOutput>
 #include <Phonon/Global>
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <QToolButton>
 #include <QDialog>
 #include <QIcon>
+#include <QTimer>
 #include <KIconLoader>
 #include <QUrl>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
@@ -79,6 +82,20 @@
     if (m_url != url) {
         stop(); // emits playingStopped() signal
         m_url = url;
+        
+        //TODO: autoplay starts (related to qtimer) even if the target file has changed before the timer has run out
+        //TODO: stop/destroy the preview once user does not highlight the item/Dolphin main window or use the window
+        //TODO: the autoplay feature should only apply to audio files, exclude video files (as it works in Caja/Nautilus)
+        
+        // Enables autoplay feature if it's enabled in Navigation Settings
+        // page. Set a single shot time delay (in msec) for media preview.
+        QTimer *m_autoplaytimer = new QTimer(this);
+
+        if(GeneralSettings::autoPlayMediaFiles()) { //If the this radiobutton is checked, then
+                connect(m_autoplaytimer, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(play()));
+                m_autoplaytimer->setSingleShot(true); // Play only once, otherwise this loops in 1 sec cycles
+                m_autoplaytimer->start(1000); // Delay to start the autoplay
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/settings/dolphin_generalsettings.kcfg b/src/settings/dolphin_generalsettings.kcfg
--- a/src/settings/dolphin_generalsettings.kcfg
+++ b/src/settings/dolphin_generalsettings.kcfg
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@
             <label>Use auto-expanding folders for all view types</label>
             <default>false</default>
         </entry>
+        <entry name="AutoPlayMediaFiles" type="Bool">
+            <label>Play media files automatically while hovering a cursor</label>
+            <default>false</default>
+        </entry>
         <entry name="ShowZoomSlider" type="Bool">
             <label>Show zoom slider in the statusbar</label>
             <default>true</default>
diff --git a/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.h b/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.h
--- a/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.h
+++ b/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 private:
     QCheckBox* m_openArchivesAsFolder;
     QCheckBox* m_autoExpandFolders;
+    QCheckBox* m_autoPlayMediaFiles;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.cpp b/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.cpp
--- a/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.cpp
+++ b/src/settings/navigation/navigationsettingspage.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@
 NavigationSettingsPage::NavigationSettingsPage(QWidget* parent) :
     SettingsPageBase(parent),
     m_openArchivesAsFolder(0),
-    m_autoExpandFolders(0)
+    m_autoExpandFolders(0),
+    m_autoPlayMediaFiles(0)
 {
     QVBoxLayout* topLayout = new QVBoxLayout(this);
     QWidget* vBox = new QWidget(this);
@@ -43,12 +44,16 @@
     m_autoExpandFolders = new QCheckBox(i18nc("option:check", "Open folders during drag operations"), vBox);
     vBoxLayout->addWidget(m_autoExpandFolders);
 
+    m_autoPlayMediaFiles = new QCheckBox(i18nc("@option:check", "Play media files automatically"), vBox);
+    vBoxLayout->addWidget(m_autoPlayMediaFiles);
+
     topLayout->addWidget(vBox);
 
     loadSettings();
 
     connect(m_openArchivesAsFolder, &QCheckBox::toggled, this, &NavigationSettingsPage::changed);
     connect(m_autoExpandFolders, &QCheckBox::toggled, this, &NavigationSettingsPage::changed);
+    connect(m_autoPlayMediaFiles, &QCheckBox::toggled, this, &NavigationSettingsPage::changed);
 }
 
 NavigationSettingsPage::~NavigationSettingsPage()
@@ -60,6 +65,7 @@
     GeneralSettings* settings = GeneralSettings::self();
     settings->setBrowseThroughArchives(m_openArchivesAsFolder->isChecked());
     settings->setAutoExpandFolders(m_autoExpandFolders->isChecked());
+    settings->setAutoPlayMediaFiles(m_autoPlayMediaFiles->isChecked());
 
     settings->save();
 }
@@ -76,5 +82,6 @@
 {
     m_openArchivesAsFolder->setChecked(GeneralSettings::browseThroughArchives());
     m_autoExpandFolders->setChecked(GeneralSettings::autoExpandFolders());
+    m_autoPlayMediaFiles->setChecked(GeneralSettings::autoPlayMediaFiles());
 }