How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube (iPhone, Android, Desktop, and TV)

You may have noticed that whenever you finish watching a video on YouTube, another one automatically starts right after it. It’s YouTube Autoplay that starts the next recommended video without requiring you to click anything. While this can be convenient, it can also make you watch videos longer than you intended and consume more mobile data.

The good news is that YouTube offers several ways to turn autoplay off across devices. In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to stop autoplay and feed previews on YouTube using your iPhone, Android, computer, or TV.

What Is YouTube Autoplay?

Autoplay is a built-in YouTube feature that automatically starts playing another video once the current one ends. You’ll usually see a countdown timer when the video finishes. After a few seconds, the next suggested video begins automatically.

YouTube introduced this feature to keep viewers engaged and help them discover more content. The platform’s recommendation system analyzes what you’ve watched previously, the topics you frequently search for, and the channels you follow. Based on that data, it automatically queues a similar video you might want to watch next.

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Note that if you are streaming videos on a mobile network, Autoplay automatically stops after 30 minutes of inactivity, regardless of your settings. When connected to Wi-Fi, Autoplay stops after four hours.

Why You Might Want to Turn Off YouTube Autoplay

While Autoplay can help you discover new videos, many users choose to turn it off for practical reasons. The most common ones include:

• Control screen time: Autoplay can easily lead to endless viewing sessions without realizing how much time has passed. Turning it off helps you stop after finishing a video.
• Save mobile data: If you are watching videos on a mobile network, Autoplay can quickly consume your data plan by loading multiple videos automatically.
• Avoid irrelevant recommendations: Sometimes the next suggested video may not match what you want to watch.
• Reduce distractions: When videos start playing automatically, they can interrupt your focus.
• Improve browsing control: Disabling autoplay lets you choose exactly which video to watch next.

How to Turn Off YouTube Autoplay on iPhone and Android

Disabling YouTube Autoplay is simple, though the process can vary slightly depending on the device. You can turn it off in the following ways:

Method 1: Turn Off Autoplay from the Video Player

1. Open the YouTube app on your phone.
2. Start playing any video.
3. Look for the Autoplay toggle near the top of the video player.
4. Tap the switch to turn it OFF.
   

Once disabled, YouTube will stop automatically playing the next video.

Method 2: Disable Autoplay from YouTube Settings

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Go to Settings by tapping the gear icon.
4. Scroll down and tap Playback.
5. Toggle off Auto-play next video.
   

How to Turn Off YouTube Autoplay on Desktop (Web Browser)

If you’re watching YouTube on a computer, the steps are just as simple. You can also keep Autoplay enabled on your phone while disabling it on your computer.

1. Open YouTube in your browser.
2. Play any video.
3. On the right side of the video player, you’ll see the Autoplay toggle.
4. Click the switch to turn autoplay OFF.
   

After disabling it, YouTube will stop loading the next video automatically. Your preference is usually saved in your browser, so you won’t need to change it every time.

How to Disable YouTube Autoplay on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

If you use YouTube on smart TVs or streaming devices such as Roku or Fire TV, you can disable Autoplay through the app settings.

1. Open the YouTube app on your TV.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Scroll to Auto-play.
4. Select the options to turn auto-play On or Off.

This stops the platform from automatically playing recommended videos after the current one finishes.

How to Disable Video Previews on YouTube

Besides Autoplay, YouTube also uses video previews that automatically play when you hover over thumbnails. These previews can be distracting and may use extra data.

You can disable them as well.

On iPhone and Android

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Go to Settings.
4. On iPhone, tap Playback. For Android, select General.
   
5. Tap Playback in feeds.
6. Choose Off from the options.
   

This stops videos from previewing automatically while you scroll.

On Desktop and Web

1. Click your profile icon.
2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Go to Playback and Performance from the left pane.
4. Toggle off Video Previews at the bottom.
   

After disabling it, hovering over videos will no longer start previews.

On TV App

Most TV versions of YouTube also include preview autoplay.

To disable it:

1. Open YouTube on your TV.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Find Previews or Autoplay previews.
4. Turn it OFF.

YouTube Autoplay Not Turning Off? Try These Fixes

Sometimes YouTube continues playing the next video even after Autoplay is turned off. This usually happens because of app glitches, browser issues, or account sync problems.

Here are some effective fixes:

• Check the Autoplay toggle again: Occasionally, the toggle does not register correctly. Turn Autoplay on and then off again to refresh the setting.
• Refresh the page or restart the app: Temporary glitches can cause Autoplay bugs. Refresh the browser page, close and reopen the YouTube app, or restart your phone or computer.
• Clear browser cache and cookies: If you watch YouTube in a browser, corrupted cache files can cause Autoplay to behave incorrectly. Clearing them often fixes the issue.
• Disable browser extensions: Some extensions, especially ad blockers or video enhancement tools, can interfere with YouTube playback settings. Disable them one by one to identify the cause.
• Update the YouTube app: An outdated version of the app may cause Autoplay bugs. Check the App Store or Google Play Store for updates.
• Log out and sign back in: Account sync issues can sometimes reset settings. Sign out of YouTube, close the app or browser, and log in again.

If the issue continues, try opening YouTube in another browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, or test it on another device. If Autoplay works normally there, the problem is likely related to your current browser configuration.

Also Read: YouTube Showing “Something Went Wrong”? – Here’s How to Fix It Quickly

Final Thoughts

YouTube Autoplay can help you discover new content, but it can also lead to unwanted video playback and longer screen time. Thankfully, YouTube gives users full control over this feature.

By turning off Autoplay on your phone, computer, or TV, you can decide exactly when and what to watch next. You can also disable previews to make browsing calmer and more intentional.

Spending just a few minutes adjusting these settings can give you a more controlled, focused, and enjoyable YouTube experience.

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