Ever found yourself staring at a black screen after a music video ends, wondering why the next track didn't start? It’s annoying. Really annoying. You’re in the middle of washing dishes or lifting weights, and suddenly the vibe just dies because the queue stopped. Learning how to turn on autoplay on YouTube seems like it should be the simplest thing in the world, yet the platform has a weird habit of moving the button or resetting your preferences every time the app updates. Honestly, it feels like hide-and-seek sometimes.
YouTube's autoplay feature is governed by an algorithm that predicts what you want to see next based on your watch history and the "Up Next" metadata. But there’s a catch. If you’re using a mobile device, a desktop browser, or a smart TV, the toggle lives in completely different neighborhoods.
The Desktop Method (The one everyone misses)
If you're on a laptop or a PC, you've likely looked for a big "Settings" menu to fix this. Don't. It's actually much more accessible than that, but also easier to accidentally click. When you are watching a video, look at the bottom of the video player frame. See that little switch that looks like a "play" icon or a "pause" icon? That’s your master switch.
Blue means it’s on. Gray means it’s off.
Interestingly, Google changed the placement of this switch a while back. It used to be on the right-hand sidebar above the "Up Next" list. Now, it sits right there in the player's chrome. If you have a cluttered browser or you're using a theater mode layout, you might miss it. Just hover your mouse over the video, and it’ll pop up near the settings gear.
One thing people often overlook is that your browser's "Autoplay" permissions can actually override YouTube's internal settings. If you’re on Safari or Firefox, the browser itself might be blocking the next video from starting with sound. You’ll see the next video load, but it won’t play until you click it. To fix that, you have to go into your browser’s site-specific settings and "Allow All Autoplay."
Mobile Struggles: iPhone vs. Android
On your phone, it’s a different beast entirely. You’ve got two ways to handle this. The first is right on the video player, similar to the desktop. Tap the video you're watching. At the very top, you’ll see a toggle switch. If it’s toggled to the right, it’s active.
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But what if that toggle isn't there? Sometimes it disappears.
When that happens, you have to dive into the deep settings. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right (or top right, depending on which version of the UI you're stuck with this week). Hit the gear icon for "Settings." Then, find the menu labeled "Autoplay." There is a single toggle there that says "Mobile phone/tablet." Flip that on.
There is a weird nuance here with data saving. If you have "Data Saving Mode" turned on in your YouTube app, it might automatically kill your autoplay to save bandwidth. Most people don't realize their phone is trying to "help" them save data by stopping the endless stream of 4K video. If you’re on unlimited data, go into the Data Saving menu and make sure "Autoplay" isn't being throttled.
Why does it keep turning off?
It’s the most common complaint: "I turned it on, but today it's off again."
There are three main culprits.
- Multiple Accounts: If you swap between a personal account and a Brand Account, the settings don't always carry over. Each profile has its own memory.
- YouTube Kids: If you are signed into a profile designated for kids, autoplay works differently—or not at all—to prevent children from spiraling into a 6-hour loop of unboxing videos.
- Incognito Mode: If you’re browsing in Incognito, YouTube doesn't remember who you are. Once you close that window, your "on" preference vanishes into the void.
Managing Autoplay on your TV or Console
Using a Roku, Apple TV, or a PlayStation? This is where it gets clunky. You can’t just "hover" a mouse. You have to navigate the sidebar. Use your remote to go to the left-hand menu, scroll down to the "Settings" gear at the very bottom. Inside that menu, scroll until you see "Autoplay."
It’s worth noting that on TV apps, the "Up Next" preview is much longer. You usually get a 10-second countdown. If you’re an impatient person like me, you probably just hit "Play Now," but if you let it run, it will eventually kick in.
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The "Autoplay on Home" Feature
This is the sneaky one. Have you ever noticed videos playing silently while you’re just scrolling through your feed? That’s called "Playback in feeds." While it’s technically a form of autoplay, it’s managed in a different menu.
Go to Settings > General > Playback in feeds.
I usually keep this on "Wi-Fi Only." It’s great for getting a "vibe check" of a video before you actually click it and ruin your watch history. If you hate it, this is the place to kill it.
The impact on your "Watch History"
Here is something the tech gurus don't mention enough: Autoplay can mess up your recommendations. If you fall asleep with autoplay on, YouTube might play 15 videos about "How to build a shed" while you’re dreaming. Suddenly, your entire home feed is shed tutorials.
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If this happens, you need to go into your "History" and delete those unintended views. Otherwise, the algorithm thinks you've developed a new obsession. It’s a delicate balance between convenience and keeping your feed clean.
Actionable Next Steps
To make sure your how to turn on autoplay on youtube efforts actually stick, do these three things right now:
- Check your Data Saving settings: If you're on mobile, ensure the app isn't overriding your choice to save 50MB of data.
- Verify your Browser Permissions: If you're on a Mac or PC, check the URL bar for a "blocked media" icon—this is usually the culprit for "autoplay" failing to actually start the video.
- Sync your Profiles: If you use a TV and a Phone, make sure you are signed into the exact same Google identity to ensure the "Autoplay" preference syncs across the cloud.
If the toggle is blue and the video still stops, try clearing your app cache. On Android, that’s in the system settings. On iPhone, you basically have to delete and reinstall the app because iOS is picky about cache management. It’s a pain, but it usually clears the "stuck" setting that prevents the next video from triggering.