Many people search for YouTube autoplay not working because it feels like such a small glitch, but it ruins the whole watching experience.
The good news is, this issue usually has simple fixes. In this post, you’ll find out why autoplay stops working on different devices and browsers, plus the exact steps to get it running again. Whether you’re on mobile or desktop, these solutions will help you get back to smooth, nonstop streaming.
Why YouTube Autoplay Suddenly Stops
- Inactivity timers: Autoplay pauses when there’s no interaction after 30 minutes on mobile data or 4+ hours on Wi-Fi.
- Account limits: Supervised/restricted accounts turn autoplay off and often grey out the toggle.
- Muted/media rules: Many browsers only allow autoplay when video is muted, and iOS 18 can mute or block autoplay when apps run in the background.
Why YouTube Autoplay May Not Work
YouTube autoplay can stop for a few common reasons. If you’re using a supervised account, parents may have disabled the feature. Autoplay also pauses automatically after 30 minutes on mobile data or after 4 hours on Wi-Fi.
Other causes include incorrect settings, corrupted cache, or browser extensions interfering with playback. Knowing these issues makes it easier to figure out the right fix.
YouTube AutoPlay Not Working
- Autoplay can stop even though the feature exists to keep similar videos playing. A simple device restart is the first thing to try.
- Built-in limits pause autoplay:30 minutes on mobile data and 4 hours on Wi-Fi.
- Common causes: the Autoplay toggle is off; browser issues (corrupted cache/data, outdated version, wrong settings, or conflicting extensions); too many videos in a playlist; Muted Playback enabled in the app; or a corrupted YouTube app installation.
- They also include a side tip about using MiniTool Video Converter to save videos (separate from the autoplay problem).
Part 1. Why Does Your YouTube AutoPlay Not Working?
YouTube AutoPlay might stop working for a few common reasons. Check the following to see if any apply to you:
- AutoPlay is not enabled.
- Muted Playback feature is turned on.
- AutoPlay time limit reached (4 hours on Wi-Fi, 30 minutes on mobile).
- Playlist has too many videos.
- Browser cache is corrupted.
- Web browser is outdated.
Part 1: Why Is YouTube Playlist Not Autoplayling?
There are several common reasons why a YouTube playlist might not autoplay. Often, the autoplay feature itself is turned off, or certain browser settings and extensions like ad blockers can prevent videos from playing automatically.
Other factors include internet connection issues, device compatibility, and video availability. For example, autoplay may stop if your playlist has too many videos, if a video is removed, private, or region-restricted, or if the Muted Playback feature is turned on. Keeping these points in mind can help you quickly identify why your playlist isn’t playing smoothly.
Why is my youtube autoplay not working
First, check that the Autoplay toggle is turned on for your device, whether on mobile or desktop. Each device needs to have it enabled separately.
Sometimes, issues come from app or browser problems, like outdated versions, corrupted cache, or interfering extensions. Adjusting these settings usually fixes the problem.
How to Fix YouTube AutoPlay Not Working?
It can be really frustrating when videos stop playing automatically. Fortunately, there are a few simple solutions you can try to get everything running smoothly again.
These quick fixes help ensure your videos continue playing without interruptions, so you can enjoy your playlists without any hassle.
Check If You Enabled AutoPlay
The most common reason YouTube Autoplay not working is simply that it hasn’t been turned on. To fix this, open any video on YouTube and check the AutoPlay toggle located just under the video timeline on the right side. Make sure it’s switched on. If it still doesn’t work, try logging out and back into your account, then test the AutoPlay feature again.
Update Your Browser
An outdated browser can prevent YouTube autoplay from working properly. To fix this, update your browser most updates are free and quick. For Google Chrome:
Step 1: Open Chrome, click the three dots at the top right, and select Settings.
Step 2: Click About Chrome at the bottom left; Chrome will automatically start updating.
Step 3: Once the update finishes, click Relaunch or restart Chrome to apply the changes.
Disable Adblock Extensions
There is a known Adblock bug that can stop YouTube’s autoplay feature from working. With that in mind, try turning off your Adblock extensions. It’s also a good idea to turn off all other browser extensions to see if they might be causing the problem.
Don’t worry you don’t need to keep them off forever. If this fixes the issue, you can turn them on one by one. Test autoplay between each extension to find the one causing the problem. That’s the only extension you’ll need to leave disabled.
To turn off browser extensions:
Step 1. Open your browser and go to the Extensions page:
- Chrome: chrome://extensions/
- Edge: edge://extensions/
- Firefox: about:addons
- Safari (Mac): Preferences → Extensions tab
Step 2. Disable all extensions and restart your browser.
Enable the YouTube AutoPlay Feature
To turn on the YouTube AutoPlay feature, open YouTube in your browser and play any video. On the right side, you’ll see a list of recommended videos to make sure the AUTOPLAY switch at the top is enabled.
Next, click the video player’s Settings icon and confirm that the AutoPlay switch matches the one you just turned on. If it still doesn’t work, try signing out of your YouTube account and checking again.
Remove Some Videos from the Your Playlist
If YouTube autoplay not working, having too many videos in your playlist might be the cause. To fix it:
- Open the YouTube Library and go to your playlist.
- Click the three dots next to a video.
- Select “Remove from ” to delete it.
Alter the Video URL
If other methods don’t fix YouTube autoplay, you can try adding ?autoplay=1 at the end of the video’s URL. This tells the browser to turn on the autoplay feature for that video.
Disable the Muted Playback Feature
Sometimes, YouTube’s Muted Playback feature can block AutoPlay from working. To fix it, open the YouTube app, tap your avatar, go to General, select Muted Playback in feeds, and turn it Off. After that, your AutoPlay should start working again.
Reinstall Your YouTube Application
To fix autoplay issues, you can try reinstalling the YouTube app. On Android, go to Settings > Application Manager, find YouTube, and uninstall it. After restarting your phone, reinstall the app, and this often resolves the “YouTube autoplay not working” problem.
Part 2: How to Fix YouTube Autoplay Not Working? (11 Fixes)
This section provides 15 quick fixes to help resolve YouTube playlists not autoplaying, offering simple, practical steps to get autoplay working again.
Check Autoplay Settings
To make sure YouTube autoplay works, first check that it’s turned on. Open the YouTube app or website, play a video from your playlist, and locate the autoplay switch usually at the top of the playlist. Make sure it’s enabled, and if needed, turn on the Loop Playlist button.
Check for Browser Issues
If you’re facing YouTube autoplay not working, browser issues are often the culprit. Try closing and reopening your browser or switching to a different one. Clearing cookies and cache can also help, and disabling extensions or ad-blockers may resolve conflicts. Don’t forget to check that your browser is updated to the latest version.
Verify Video Availability
- Play each video in your playlist individually to check if it’s missing, restricted, or unavailable.
- Use a VPN if a video is blocked due to regional restrictions.
- Remove any missing or unavailable videos from the playlist.
- For large playlists, if autoplay stops at a certain video, click Loop Playlist again to resume playback.
Temporarily Disable VPN or Proxy
If you’re using a VPN or proxy, turn it off temporarily. Sometimes these can interfere with YouTube’s autoplay, so disabling them can help the next video play properly.
Restart Your Device
Sometimes, just restarting your device can fix temporary glitches and improve performance. It’s a quick and easy first step that often solves minor issues without any complicated troubleshooting.
Read More: Technology Falcon
Fixing YouTube Autoplay on Android
App Fixes That Worked for Me
Clear cache and data: Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage and tap “Clear Cache” to fix temporary glitches.
Reinstall the YouTube app: Removing and reinstalling the app can reset settings that might be causing autoplay problems.
Update the app: Make sure YouTube is updated, as recent updates often fix autoplay issues.
Tweak These YouTube Features
- Toggle “Loop Playlist” even if you’re not watching a playlist, as this can sometimes fix autoplay issues.
- Disable “Playback in Feeds” in Settings > General, since it may conflict with normal autoplay.
System-Level Tips
To ensure YouTube autoplay works smoothly, make sure your device isn’t limiting the app. Turn off Battery Saver or Data Saver modes, and allow YouTube to run in the background without restrictions if your system offers that option.
Common YouTube Playback Issues and Their Best Fixes
| Issue | Best Fix / Workaround |
| Autoplay toggle disabled or greyed out | Enable the autoplay toggle manually in player settings |
| Next video doesn’t play on Android | Clear cache, reinstall app, toggle Loop Playlist, update app |
| Autoplay fails on iPhone (iOS) | Disable Background App Refresh, remove media widget, allow sound |
| Playback stops after a while on Wi-Fi | Autoplay pauses after 4 hours; resume manually or re-engage the app |
| Next video won’t start in Chrome | Use ?autoplay=1&mute=1 and allow=’autoplay’ in iframe embeds |
| Video won’t continue in Brave browser | Change autoplay setting under Site Permissions to ‘Allow’ |
| Video playback blocked in Firefox | Modify about:config – set media.autoplay.default = 0 |
| Muted videos don’t start automatically | Ensure video is muted when embedding or interact before playback |
| Restrictions from supervised/underage accounts | Switch to unrestricted or main Google account |
| YouTube app glitches or freezes playback | Update the app, clear storage, reinstall if needed |
| Loop playlist doesn’t advance video | Enable Loop Playlist even for a single video |
| Autoplay issues after iOS 18 update | Turn off Background App Refresh and reset sound permissions |
How to Fix YouTube Video Not Playing Issue?
If your downloaded YouTube videos are not playing or the autoplay isn’t working, they may be corrupted. Repairit Video Repair can fix videos in multiple formats like MP4, MOV, and 3GP, even if they are severely damaged. The tool also supports batch processing, so you can repair several videos at once, saving time and effort.
Steps to repair YouTube videos using Repairit Video Repair:
- Drag and drop the damaged videos into the Repairit window or click +Add to import them.
- Add more videos if needed and click Repair to start the process.
- Click Preview to check each repaired video, and then click Save once they are playable.
[Bonus Tip] How to Download YouTube Playlist for Offline Autoplaying?
If you’re frustrated with YouTube autoplay not working, one easy solution is to download your playlists for offline viewing. This way, your favorite videos keep playing smoothly without interruptions, even when your internet connection is slow or unavailable.
Tools like Any Video Converter make this simple. You can download single videos, multiple videos, or entire playlists in different formats and resolutions. Plus, it comes with extra features like trimming, merging, and converting videos all in one handy package.
Make Sure Autoplay Is Enabled
To make sure YouTube keeps playing videos automatically, check that the Autoplay feature is turned on. On a computer, start any video and switch the Autoplay toggle at the bottom to On. On Android or iPhone, the toggle is at the top of the video player. Remember, YouTube doesn’t sync this setting across devices, so you need to enable Autoplay separately on each one.
Sign Out and Sign Back In
If you’re dealing with YouTube autoplay not working, sometimes the problem is simply your account authentication. A quick fix is to sign out of your YouTube account and then sign back in. On a desktop, click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Sign out. For Android or iPhone, use the YouTube app’s account settings to log out and then log back in to get autoplay working again.
Android
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon.
- Go to Manage accounts and select your account.
- Tap Remove account and confirm to sign out.
- Sign back in by tapping Add account in the YouTube app.
iPhone
- Open the YouTube app and tap the profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Tap your account name and select “Use YouTube signed out.”
- Tap the profile icon again and choose Sign in to log back into your account.
- Try using the Autoplay feature again to see if it works.
Try Removing Some Videos From Your Playlist
If YouTube autoplay not working, one possible reason is that your playlist has too many videos. Removing some videos from the playlist can help fix the problem and get autoplay working again.
Desktop
- Open YouTube in your web browser, click the menu icon, and go to Library.
- Find your playlist and select View full playlist.
- Click the three-dot menu next to a video and choose Remove from [Playlist Name]; repeat for other videos as needed.
Mobile
- Open the YouTube app and go to the Library tab.
- Select the playlist you want to manage.
- Tap the three-dot menu (kebab menu) next to a video.
- Choose “Remove from [Playlist Name]” to delete the video.
- Repeat the steps for any other videos you want to remove.
Youtube Stopped Autoplaying
When YouTube stops autoplaying, it can be really annoying especially if you were ready to watch video after video without interruptions. This usually happens because the autoplay toggle got turned off, your browser or app has a caching issue, or device settings like battery saver or background refresh are interfering.
To fix it, you can check if the autoplay feature is enabled, clear your app or browser cache, update YouTube or your browser, and make sure any extensions or data saver modes aren’t blocking autoplay. These steps usually get videos playing continuously again, whether you’re on mobile or desktop.
Read More: Technology Falcon
FAQ’s
Why is YouTube autoplay not working?
Autoplay may be off, or app/browser settings, cache, or extensions could be blocking it.
How do I enable autoplay on YouTube?
Turn on the Autoplay toggle at the top of your video or playlist.
How to fix autoplay?
Clear cache, update the app/browser, check autoplay settings, and disable interfering extensions.
Why does YouTube still autoplay?
Autoplay stays on if the toggle is enabled and no device or browser restrictions are active.
How do you reset autoplay?
Toggle autoplay off and then back on, or sign out and sign back into your account.
Conclusion
Dealing with YouTube autoplay not working can be frustrating, but most issues have simple fixes. By checking your settings, clearing cache, updating your app or browser, and managing playlists or extensions, you can get autoplay running smoothly again. Try these solutions step by step, and you’ll be back to uninterrupted video streaming in no time.
I’m Rana Waseem, an SEO blogger with a passion for creating content that ranks and drives results. With a deep understanding of search engine optimization and keyword strategy, I help businesses and readers discover valuable information through well-researched, engaging blog posts. My goal is to simplify SEO for everyone while staying ahead of the latest trends in digital marketing