- What YouTube autoplay is meant to do
- Checking the Autoplay switch when YouTube autoplay is not working
- Why YouTube autoplay can be off by default
- Autoplay settings differ between your devices
- Autoplay stops when you've been inactive
- Scrolling and typing can stop YouTube autoplay
- Turning YouTube autoplay on in your settings
- When YouTube autoplay is not working because of a playback problem
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube autoplay isn't working, check the Autoplay switch on that device, because settings differ between devices. YouTube also stops Autoplay after 30 minutes of inactivity on mobile data or 4 hours on Wi-Fi, and scrolling or typing can stop the next video too.
You finish a video, wait for the next one to start, and nothing happens. Or you leave a playlist running while you work and come back to a silent screen. YouTube autoplay not working is usually not a fault at all. YouTube's own help page lists a handful of rules that quietly switch it off, and once you know them, most cases are solved in a minute.
I've gone through YouTube's Autoplay help page and its playback troubleshooting. Below are the causes in the order I'd check them, then the settings for each device, and a couple of things worth knowing if you use YouTube to keep background content running in a shop or office.
What YouTube autoplay is meant to do
YouTube says that when Autoplay is on, another related video plays automatically after a video ends. At the end of a video, the player shows what's going to play next. So if you expect a countdown and then a new video, Autoplay has to be on, and none of the conditions below can have interrupted it.
Checking the Autoplay switch when YouTube autoplay is not working
This is the obvious one, and it's where I'd start. On a computer, the Autoplay switch is at the bottom of the video player. On a phone or tablet, it's at the top of the video player. YouTube says to go to the watch screen of any video and set the switch to on.
Look at the switch itself rather than assuming. It's a small control, and an accidental tap can turn it off without you noticing.
Why YouTube autoplay can be off by default
YouTube says that for users aged 13 to 17, Autoplay is turned off by default. People of that age can turn it on or off themselves. But if you're using a supervised account, you may not have the option to change it if your parent or guardian has turned Autoplay off for you.
If you manage a household or a team account where younger people are signed in, this is a likely explanation. It's also why one person's phone autoplays and another's doesn't. For help on the age side of things, my guide to verifying your age on YouTube covers what YouTube asks for.
Autoplay settings differ between your devices
This is the cause people most often miss. YouTube says you can have different Autoplay settings on different devices. Its example: Autoplay can be on in the YouTube app on your phone and off when you watch on your computer. So if it works on one and not the other, check each device separately. They don't copy each other.
Autoplay stops when you've been inactive
Here's a rule that explains many 'it worked an hour ago' reports. YouTube says that if you're connected to a mobile network, Autoplay stops automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity. If you're on Wi-Fi, it stops automatically after 4 hours.
That means a playlist you leave running all afternoon will stop eventually, by design. If you use YouTube for background music in a shop, studio or waiting room, you'll need to nudge it, for example by tapping the screen at intervals, or by using a different player for long sessions. I wouldn't count on YouTube Autoplay to run all day.
Scrolling and typing can stop YouTube autoplay
YouTube says that if you scroll past the video player or type something, like a comment or a search, the next video won't play automatically. This holds on phones, tablets and computers. So if you finish a video, scroll to read comments and then wait for the next video, it won't come. Stay on the player, or start the next video yourself.
Related to that, YouTube's tip is that if Autoplay is on but you want to stop the next video from playing, tap Cancel at the end of a video. If you can see a Cancel button, you may have pressed it.
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Turning YouTube autoplay on in your settings
On Android and iPhone or iPad
- Tap your profile picture.
- At the top right, tap Settings.
- Tap Autoplay.
- Switch Autoplay on.
On a computer
Go to the watch screen of any video and, at the bottom of the video player, click the Autoplay switch to set it on.
On a TV or game console
- Open the YouTube app on your TV.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to Autoplay.
- Select the option to turn Autoplay on.
When casting to a TV
YouTube says that if you've connected your TV to your phone or tablet, you can use your device to control Autoplay. Connect your mobile device to your TV device and pick a video to play, then tap the control bar at the bottom of the screen to expand your queue and see your Autoplay settings. Use the switch there. Smart Displays have their own route through the Home app.
Want it off instead? My guide to turning off autoplay on YouTube covers it.
When YouTube autoplay is not working because of a playback problem
If the switch is on, the account isn't restricted and you haven't hit one of the rules above, treat it as a playback problem. For a computer, YouTube's streaming help suggests making sure the computer is up to date, closing and reopening the browser, closing most other tabs, updating the browser, using Chrome and restarting the device. On a phone, it suggests trying a different internet connection, such as Wi-Fi instead of mobile data and the reverse, and clearing the app cache on Android. On a TV, quitting and reopening the app and restarting the device are on its list. My checklist for when YouTube isn't working has more.
If it still won't behave, YouTube says you can send feedback from your profile icon, then Help and Feedback, then Send Feedback, directly after the problem happens.
Frequently asked questions
Why does YouTube autoplay stop after a while?
YouTube says Autoplay stops automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity on a mobile network, or after 4 hours on Wi-Fi.
Why is autoplay off on my account?
For users aged 13 to 17, YouTube says Autoplay is off by default. On a supervised account, a parent or guardian may have turned it off.
Can autoplay be different on my phone and computer?
Yes. YouTube says you can have different Autoplay settings on different devices.
Why didn't the next video play after I scrolled?
YouTube says that if you scroll past the video player or type something, like a comment or search, the next video won't play automatically.
Where is the Autoplay switch?
On a computer it's at the bottom of the video player. On a phone or tablet it's at the top of the player, or in Settings under Autoplay.
How do I stop the next video playing once?
Tap Cancel at the end of a video, according to YouTube's help.
