We’ve all been there. You’re watching YouTube and, once your video ends, another seemingly unrelated video recommended by YouTube begins automatically. This feature, known as autoplay, can be great for entertainment value but a time-waster productivity-wise. Let’s discuss how to turn off autoplay on YouTube.
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What is autoplay on YouTube?
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Autoplay is YouTube’s way of getting you to watch more content continuously. Instead of stopping playback at the end of the video you started watching of your own volition, YouTube’s algorithm picks either a video containing content related to your current video or a video related to your watch history. This video will then “autoplay,” or play automatically.
How to turn off autoplay on YouTube
Mobile app (within Settings)
Enabling or disabling autoplay on the app is now very easy from Settings.
To do so, tap your profile picture > Settings > Autoplay. Within the Autoplay menu, you can tap the Autoplay next video slider to enable or disable the function.
Mobile app (within a video)
To find the autoplay controls, go to any video you want and start playing it on the YouTube app. Tap anywhere on the video to reveal the controls.
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The autoplay slider is located along the top, next to the Cast, Subtitles/CC, and Settings buttons. Tap the slider to toggle the function on or off.
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Desktop
Go to YouTube and start playing a video.
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Move your mouse over the video to reveal the playback controls.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
The autoplay slider is located along the bottom, next to the Cast, Subtitles/CC, and Settings buttons.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
If the slider is on the right and it has a play triangle in the middle, then Autoplay is on. If the slider is on the left and has the pause lines in the middle, that means Autoplay is off.
Click the slider to toggle the function on or off.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
FAQs
Autoplay on YouTube is one of those functions that is often enabled by default. Follow the steps above to disable autoplay.