While autoplay can be handy, it’s not for everyone. Sometimes you just want to watch a single video and stop there — no endless recommendations or distractions. Luckily, YouTube makes it easy to disable autoplay completely. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to turn it off and keep your viewing experience distraction-free.

Disabling autoplay gives you control back — especially helpful if you want to focus on specific content or avoid wasting time.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open YouTube
Visit youtube.com or launch the mobile app.

2. Play Any Video
You’ll need to have a video open to access the autoplay toggle.

3. Locate the Autoplay Switch
On desktop, you’ll find it at the top-right of the “Up Next” sidebar.
On mobile, look for it above the video title or in the player controls.

4. Turn It Off
Click or tap the toggle so it turns gray (on desktop) or shows as disabled on mobile.

5. Confirm the Change
Once turned off, YouTube will stop automatically playing the next video once the current one ends.

6. Check Playlist Settings (Optional)
If you’re watching a playlist, make sure autoplay is off there as well — YouTube sometimes treats playlists separately.

Pro Tips:

  • Turning off autoplay helps conserve mobile data.

  • It prevents distractions when you’re only looking for a single answer or clip.

  • You can always toggle it back on anytime.

Bonus Setting:
If you use YouTube Kids or YouTube Premium, autoplay might behave differently. You can adjust it individually per profile under Settings → Playback Controls.

By disabling autoplay, you create a more intentional watching experience — one where you decide what comes next. It’s a small tweak that can save you time and help you stay focused on what matters most.