Because of all the content available, its unfortunately too easy to go down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos and lose all track of time. Its even easier to get pulled in if you allow the platforms Autoplay feature which allows related videos to play automatically to stay on while youre watching videos.
YouTubes Autoplay feature is on by default, so youll need to physically decide to turn it off if it becomes a problem.
In addition, while the feature is meant to play videos related to the one youve just watched, some users feel it misses the mark way too often. In this article, well show you how to disable Autoplay on YouTube.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube Across Devices
The YouTube Autoplay feature was introduced to users in 2015, and it is available on all devices that support YouTube. This includes Windows, Mac, and Chromebook computers. When you click on a video, YouTube will automatically line up a similar video to play when the first one ends.
For example, if youre watching a music video, the Autoplay feature will queue up a song from the same artist. It can be a convenient option if you dont want to search on your device for a new song to play every time a video ends.
However, it can be annoying if YouTube makes what you feel is the wrong choice. So, lets see how you can disable the Autoplay on YouTube on your computer using any of the available browsers:
- Open YouTube via any browser and click on any video.
- When the video starts playing, hover over the video with the cursor.
- Youll see a Play icon that can be toggled left or right in the bottom right corner of the video screen.
- If you hover the cursor over it, a small pop-up will appear saying that Autoplay is on.
- Toggle the switch, and the off button will appear, letting you know that the Autoplay is off.
Keep in mind that YouTube recently upgraded this feature, and there used to be an Autoplay toggle switch outside of the video, at the right upper side of the screen. If youre used to seeing it there, dont worry, the function still exists. Its just been relocated.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube on iOS and Android
The Autoplay feature is available on mobile devices smartphones and tablets as well. Regardless of whether youre an Android or iPhone user, the process of turning off Autoplay will be the same:
- Launch the YouTube app on your device.
- Play any video you want.
- Tap on the video, and at the upper right corner, youll see the Autoplay toggle switch.
- Tap on the toggle switch, and it will automatically move from On to Off.
Thats all there is to it. Now, you wont have any YouTube videos playing automatically on your mobile device.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a streaming service that allows users to listen to all their favorite music from YouTube based on their preferences. The platform will automatically queue up a list of songs to play when you start listening to the music.
There isnt a way to disable this feature. At best, you can click on a single song and request it be played on a loop. You can do that by clicking on the Repeat one feature in the screens bottom right corner.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube Playlist
As with YouTube Music, you cant turn off Autoplay on YouTube when you click on a YouTube playlist. In fact, the concept behind playlists is to play videos consecutively or shuffled.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube TV
If you have a YouTube TV subscription, you can also turn off the Autoplay feature if you dont have any use for it. Heres how you do it:
- Log into your YouTube TV account.
- Click on your profile picture on the right side of the screen.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on the Autoplay on start option and toggle it on or off as you please.
Additional FAQs
How Do I Stop YouTube Videos From Playing While Scrolling
YouTube introduced the playback feature a few years ago, which allows users to see previews of videos while theyre scrolling through the home screen. They also generate captions, and you get a better idea of what the videos are about. However, this can impact your Wi-Fi and data, so you may want to turn it off. Heres how:u003cbru003eu003cbru003e Open the YouTube app and go to Settings.u003cbru003eu003cimg class=u0022wp-image-246879u0022 style=u0022width: 300px;u0022 src=u0022https://www.alphr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/8-7.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022u003eu003cbru003e Select General, followed by Muted playback in feeds.u003cbru003eu003cimg class=u0022wp-image-246880u0022 style=u0022width: 300px;u0022 src=u0022https://www.alphr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/9-5.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022u003eu003cbru003e Select Off.u003cbru003eu003cimg class=u0022wp-image-246878u0022 style=u0022width: 300px;u0022 src=u0022https://www.alphr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/7-7.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022u003eu003cbru003eThis will turn off the automatic playback while scrolling. You can also choose to opt for the u0022Wi-Fi only option to ensure it only works when youre connected to a wireless network and not while using phone data.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Leaving Autoplay Activated?
Keep in mind that whether you choose to leave the Autoplay feature, this setting will be applied every time you use the platform, regardless of the device.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThere may be times when having Autoplay on is very useful. For example, listening to consecutive episodes of podcasts. Other times, letting YouTube automatically choose the next video will not seem like a good idea. Ultimately, it will be up to the user and their own preferences.
Should You Let YouTube Choose for You?
YouTube sets the Autoplay feature on by default because they want users to spend as much time as possible on the platform. That means more subscriptions, more ads, and ultimately more revenue for the company.
And lets face it, YouTube has so much content. Theres something for everyone there, and Autoplay might just work out great for you. But if you want it off, now you know how to do it.
Do you keep Autoplay on or off? Let us know in the comments section below.