Tired of YouTube videos automatically playing one after another? Let’s walk through how to take back control of your viewing experience and turn off that pesky autoplay feature. It’s actually quite simple once you know where to look.
Finding the Autoplay Toggle
When you’re watching a video on YouTube, look to the right side of the screen where you see the “Up Next” section. At the top of this queue, you’ll spot a toggle switch labeled “Autoplay.” It usually has a blue background when it’s active. Just click that switch, and it’ll turn grey, indicating autoplay is now disabled.
Different Devices, Same Solution
On Your Computer
The autoplay switch is consistently located in the same spot whether you’re using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser. It’s always above the recommended videos list.
On Mobile Devices
If you’re using the YouTube app on your phone or tablet, the process is slightly different but just as straightforward. While watching a video, tap the screen to reveal the player controls. Look for the autoplay toggle in the top right corner of the player – it looks like a play button with a line through it.
Making It Stick
Here’s something many people don’t realize – YouTube remembers your autoplay preference across sessions, but only if you’re signed into your account. If you’re not signed in, you’ll need to toggle it off each time you visit. Consider this a good reason to sign in if you haven’t already!
Why This Matters
Turning off autoplay gives you more control over your viewing time and helps avoid that familiar scenario where you look up two hours later wondering how you went from cooking videos to conspiracy theories about ancient aliens. It’s especially useful when:
– You’re working and need background music without interruption
– You’re showing someone a specific video and don’t want others to play automatically
– You’re trying to manage your screen time more effectively
– You have limited data and want to control your usage
Pro Tip
If you’re using YouTube for music, you might actually want to keep autoplay on. But for regular video watching, having it off lets you be more intentional about what you watch. Think of it as taking back control of your viewing habits – one toggle switch at a time.
Remember, YouTube’s interface occasionally changes with updates, but this feature has remained fairly consistent over the years. If you can’t find the toggle exactly where described, a quick scan of the player controls or settings menu should reveal it.
