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How to disable auto-play videos on YouTube
Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
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YouTube's auto-play feature can be annoying sometimes. If you want to control which video plays next, it's a good idea to turn off auto-play. This detailed guide will help you do that.
Using the YouTube website
Step 1: Open YouTube
First, open your web browser and visit the YouTube website by typing www.youtube.com in the address bar and pressing Enter.
Step 2: Sign in to your account
It's best to sign in to your YouTube account to permanently save your settings. Click the "Sign in" button in the upper-right corner of the page. Enter your email and password to log in.
Step 3: Find the Auto-Play toggle
Look for a toggle switch labeled "Auto-play." This switch is usually located on the right side of the video player, just above the suggested videos. When the toggle is blue or has a check mark on it, auto-play is enabled.
Step 4: Disable auto-play
To disable auto-play, simply click the toggle switch so that it turns gray or no longer shows a check mark. You have now successfully disabled auto-play for YouTube videos when using the website.
Using the YouTube mobile app
Step 1: Open the YouTube app
Start by opening the YouTube app on your mobile device.
Step 2: Go to your profile
Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen to open the account menu.
Step 3: Go to Settings
In the Account menu, tap "Settings" to open the Settings menu.
Step 4: Turn off auto-play
In the Settings menu, look for the "Auto-play" section. There will be a toggle switch next to "Next video auto-play." Tap the switch to turn it off. The switch should change from blue (enabled) to gray (disabled). This will disable auto-play on your YouTube mobile app.
Disabling auto-play in YouTube settings
Step 1: Open the YouTube website or app
As with the other methods, you'll need to open the YouTube website or app and sign in, if you haven't done so already.
Step 2: Go to Settings
If you're on the website, click your profile picture in the upper-right corner and select "Settings" from the drop-down menu. On the mobile app, you can find "Settings" in the account menu accessed by tapping your profile picture.
Step 3: Find the Auto-Play option
In "Settings," find the "Auto-play" section. On the website, it should be in the left-side menu. On the mobile app, it may be under "General" or "Playback and performance."
Step 4: Disable auto-play
Toggle the switch next to "Auto-play next video" to disable the feature. The switch should turn from blue to gray. This action will save your preferences, and auto-play will be disabled.
Disabling auto-play on smart TVs and streaming devices
Step 1: Open the YouTube app on your TV
Turn on your TV or streaming device and open the YouTube app.
Step 2: Sign in to your account
Go to the Account section using your remote and sign in to your YouTube account if you haven't done so already.
Step 3: Go to Settings
Find the "Settings" option, which should be available in the menu. Use your remote control to select it.
Step 4: Disable auto-play
In the "Settings" menu, look for the "Auto-Play" option. Use your remote to toggle the switch and disable auto-play. The switch should now indicate that auto-play is off.
Manage auto-play settings for embedded YouTube videos
If you are dealing with YouTube videos embedded on other websites, the auto-play setting may be managed differently by the website owner. However, you can influence some auto-play behavior in your browser settings.
Browser extensions
Several browser extensions can help you manage auto-play settings for videos, including those embedded from YouTube. Search for extensions related to auto-play controls in your browser's extension store.
Example of popular extensions:
- Turn Off the Lights: A versatile extension that includes options to manage auto-play settings.
- Magic Actions for YouTube: Provides various YouTube enhancements, including the ability to control auto-play.
- Adblock Plus: Despite being primarily an ad blocker, this extension also includes a feature to block auto-playing videos.
Troubleshooting: Auto-play is still enabled
If you’ve followed all the steps but auto-play is still enabled, here are some additional troubleshooting steps:
Restart your device
Sometimes, changes made to settings require a restart to take effect. Restart your web browser, mobile device, or streaming device to see if this resolves the issue.
Clear cache and cookies
Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can solve many settings-related problems. Go to your browser's settings, find the option to clear browsing data, and make sure to include cookies.
Update the YouTube app
Make sure you're using the latest version of the YouTube app. If not, update the app through your device's app store.
Reinstall the YouTube app
If updating doesn't work, try uninstalling and then reinstalling the YouTube app. This can often resolve persistent issues.
Disabling auto-play with browser developer tools
For advanced users, you can disable auto-play by directly modifying HTML elements through your browser's developer tools.
Step-by-step guide:
- Open YouTube and find a video.
- Right-click the video player and select "Inspect" or press
Ctrl+Shift+I(Windows) orCmd+Opt+I(Mac). - In the Developer Tools panel, look for an element labeled
<button aria-label="Autoplay is on">or similarly. - Change the state manually by toggling the element's class or attributes. Be careful with this step as it requires a little knowledge of HTML/CSS.
Example code:
Let's say you get the following HTML element:
<button class="ytp-autonav-toggle-button" aria-label="Autoplay is on"></button>To turn off auto-play, you can change it like this:
<button class="ytp-autonav-toggle-button" aria-label="Autoplay is off"></button>Note: This method is temporary and will reset when you refresh the page.
Conclusion
Disabling auto-play on YouTube can significantly improve your viewing experience, as it lets you control what plays next. Whether you're using the website, mobile app, or watching on your smart TV, disabling auto-play is a straightforward process. Follow the steps in this guide to easily manage your YouTube auto-play settings.
References and external links
For additional information, you can visit the official YouTube Help Center: YouTube Help Center
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