Autoplay on YouTube TV plays the next video automatically when one finishes

YouTube TV's autoplay feature starts the next video in a series or channel without you having to press play. When autoplay is on, the app counts down a few seconds before the next video begins — you can stop it by tapping the screen during the countdown. When autoplay is off, playback stops at the end of each video and waits for you to choose what to watch next.

Autoplay is turned on by default on most devices, but the setting lives in different places depending on whether you are using the YouTube TV app on a phone, tablet, TV, or web browser. The steps below cover each platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Autoplay is on by default for most YouTube TV users, but you can turn it off or back on in your account settings.
  • On phones and tablets, the autoplay toggle is in the Settings menu under "Playback" or "General".
  • On a TV app, you access autoplay settings through the menu or settings gear icon, depending on your device type.
  • On the web, autoplay is controlled through your YouTube account settings, not through YouTube TV itself.
  • You can stop an autoplaying video during the countdown by tapping or clicking the screen.

How to turn on autoplay on the YouTube TV mobile app

Open the YouTube TV app on your phone or tablet. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Settings. Scroll down and tap Playback (on some Android devices this may say General). Look for the Autoplay toggle and make sure it is switched on.

If the toggle is already on, autoplay is active. If it is off and you want videos to play automatically, tap it to turn it on. The change takes effect when ready — the next video you finish will auto-advance to the next one.

How to turn on autoplay on YouTube TV through a web browser

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Playback and performance. Under the Autoplay section, toggle Autoplay is on to the on position.

The web version of YouTube TV uses your YouTube account's autoplay setting, so changing it here affects autoplay across all YouTube services you use on that account. If you want autoplay on for YouTube TV but off for regular YouTube, you will need to adjust the setting each time you switch between them.

How to turn on autoplay on YouTube TV for smart TVs and streaming devices

The steps vary by device. On Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Google TV, open the YouTube TV app and navigate to your profile icon. Select Settings, then look for Playback or General. Find the Autoplay option and toggle it on.

On some older TV models or less common devices, the autoplay setting may be in a Preferences menu instead. If you cannot find it in Settings, try the main menu of the app — look for a gear icon or three-line menu icon. The exact wording and location depend on your device manufacturer, but the setting is always labeled "Autoplay" or "Autoplay next".

How to stop a video that is autoplaying

When a video finishes and autoplay is on, you will see a countdown timer appear on the screen — usually 5 to 10 seconds. During this countdown, tap or click anywhere on the video to stop the autoplay. A menu will appear asking if you want to play the next video or go back.

If you do not tap during the countdown, the next video will begin playing automatically. You can pause it at any time by pressing the pause button, or you can go back to the previous video or your watch history.

Autoplay behavior across YouTube TV devices

Your autoplay setting is tied to your YouTube account, but it does not always sync when ready across all your devices. If you turn autoplay on in the mobile app, it may take a few minutes to take effect on your TV or web browser. If you notice autoplay is not working the way you set it, sign out of the app completely and sign back in — this forces a refresh of your account settings.

Some devices also have their own system-level autoplay settings that can override the YouTube TV app setting. On smart TVs, check your TV's main settings menu under "Apps" or "Accessibility" to make sure nothing is blocking autoplay at the device level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is autoplay not working even though I turned it on?

Autoplay may be disabled at the device level rather than in the app. On smart TVs, check your TV's settings menu to make sure autoplay is not blocked there. On all devices, try signing out of YouTube TV completely and signing back in — this refreshes your account settings and often fixes autoplay issues.

Can I turn autoplay on for some channels but not others?

No, autoplay is an all-or-nothing setting in YouTube TV. When it is on, it applies to every video you watch. If you want to prevent autoplay for certain content, you will need to turn autoplay off entirely and manually select the next video each time.

Does turning off autoplay save data or battery?

Turning off autoplay does not significantly reduce data or battery use, since the video is not downloading or playing until you press play. The main benefit of turning it off is avoiding accidental playback of videos you do not want to watch.

Will my autoplay setting stay on if I update the YouTube TV app?

Yes, your autoplay preference is saved to your YouTube account, not to the app itself. Updating the app will not change your setting. However, if you uninstall and reinstall the app, you will need to sign back in, and autoplay will return to whatever your account setting is.