How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube (Every Device)

You sit down to watch one video and, forty minutes later, you're deep into something you never chose. That's autoplay doing its job. Switching it off is quick, but YouTube keeps the setting in a different place on each device, and the setting on your phone doesn't follow you to your TV. I'll show you where it lives on each one, when YouTube stops autoplay on its own, and why it's worth thinking about from the other side if you publish videos for your business.

All of this follows YouTube's help article on autoplaying videos. Menus vary by app version, so if your screen looks a little different, go for the nearest match.

Switch off YouTube autoplay in a web browser

1. Open any video's watch page.
2. Look at the bottom of the video player for the Autoplay switch.
3. Click it so it shows as off.

That's it. The next suggested video won't start by itself when this one ends.

Turning YouTube autoplay off in the Android or iPhone app

1. Tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Settings at the top right.
3. Tap Autoplay.
4. Switch it off.

YouTube's help pages give the same steps for Android and for iPhone and iPad.

The autoplay switch on the YouTube mobile player

There's a quicker way on a phone or tablet. Open any video and look at the top of the player: there's an Autoplay switch there too. Tap it to turn autoplay off without going into Settings. It's handy when you only want to stop autoplay for one viewing session and you're already watching.

Stopping YouTube autoplay on a TV, when casting and on smart displays

• TV app: open Settings in the YouTube app on your TV, scroll to Autoplay and select Off.
• Casting from your phone: tap the control bar at the bottom of your phone or tablet screen to expand the queue, then use the switch to turn autoplay off.
• Google smart display: in the Google Home app, tap your smart display, then Settings, then Notifications and digital wellbeing, then YouTube Settings. If you're voice-matched you can change it for yourself, and you can also change it for other users.

YouTube's help page notes that settings can differ between devices, so turning autoplay off on your phone won't change your TV. Do each one.

When YouTube autoplay stops by itself

Even with autoplay on, YouTube won't keep going forever. According to its help centre:

• On a mobile network, autoplay stops after 30 minutes of inactivity.
• On Wi-Fi, it stops after 4 hours of inactivity.
• The next video won't start if you scroll past the player, or start typing a comment or a search, as the current video ends.
• You can stop the next video by tapping Cancel when the countdown appears at the end of a video.

YouTube autoplay for teenagers and supervised accounts

YouTube's help page says autoplay is off by default for users aged 13 to 17, though they can switch it on themselves. For supervised accounts, a parent or guardian can turn autoplay off, and the young person may not be able to change it back. If you're a parent setting up a child's account, this is one of the settings worth checking alongside Restricted Mode.

Device	Where to find autoplay	Applies to
Computer	Switch at the bottom of the player	That browser
Android or iPhone app	Profile picture, then Settings, then Autoplay	That device
Phone player	Switch at the top of the player	That device
TV app	Settings, then Autoplay	That TV
Smart display	Google Home app, then YouTube Settings	You or all users

What YouTube autoplay means if you publish videos

If you post videos for your business, remember that some of your viewers will have autoplay off. When your video ends, nothing pulls them onwards unless you do it. That's where end screens, a clear spoken next step and well-ordered playlists matter, because they give a viewer a reason to choose your next video rather than drift away.

If your issue's the opposite one, wanting the same video to keep playing rather than moving on, read my guide on how to loop a YouTube video. You'll find more small settings like this in my YouTube tips and tricks, and my YouTube help hub gathers the rest of my channel and viewing fixes.

If YouTube autoplay keeps switching back on

• Check every device separately, since YouTube says the setting can differ between them.
• Make sure you're signed in to the same account each time. A different account carries its own settings.
• On a supervised account, the parent or guardian's choice may override yours.
• Update the YouTube app if the Autoplay option isn't showing in Settings.
• Remember the player switch and the Settings option control the same thing, so check whichever one you changed last.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off autoplay on YouTube on my phone?

Tap your profile picture, then Settings, then Autoplay, and switch it off. You can also tap the Autoplay switch at the top of the video player.

Why does YouTube autoplay keep coming back on?

The setting's stored separately on each device and account. Turn it off on each device you use, and check you're signed in to the same account.

Is autoplay off by default for teenagers on YouTube?

Yes. YouTube's help centre says autoplay is off by default for users aged 13 to 17, though they can turn it on.

Does YouTube autoplay stop on its own?

Yes. YouTube says it stops after 30 minutes of inactivity on a mobile network and after 4 hours on Wi-Fi.

How do I turn off autoplay on YouTube on my TV?

Open Settings in the YouTube app on your TV, scroll to Autoplay and select Off. If you're casting from a phone, expand the queue on the phone and use the switch there.