If your Youtube playlist is not looping continuously as expected, there could be a few reasons for this. The loop function relies on setting the correct playback options, having an uninterrupted playback, and playlists meeting certain criteria. We’ll cover the most common causes and solutions to get looping playlists working again.
Check Playlist Loop Setting
The first thing to check is whether you have playlist looping enabled in the first place. Without this turned on, your playlist will simply stop after the last video finishes playing.
To enable looping:
- Open the playlist you want to loop
- Look below the playlist name and video thumbnails for the “PLAYLIST SETTINGS” text
- Click on this text to expand the playlist settings
- Check the box next to “Loop playlist”
This will toggle the looping option on for this playlist. The setting should then be saved and enable continuous playback next time you play that playlist.
Check For Playback Interruptions
Even with playlist looping enabled, interruptions to playback can prevent smooth looping. Things like ads, playback errors, popups, or manually stopping can all lead to a playlist stopping instead of restarting.
To avoid interruptions:
- Use an ad-blocker to prevent video ads from interrupting playback
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection to minimize playback failures
- Close other browser tabs/apps that may cause popups or overlays on the video
- Don’t manually stop the video or playlist before it finishes
With an uninterrupted playback session, your looping playlist should restart seamlessly once the last video finishes.
Check Playlist Video Count
In order for a playlist to loop, it needs to contain at least 2 videos. Playlists with only 1 video will simply stop once that lone video ends.
To enable looping, make sure your playlist has:
- At least 2 videos in the playlist
- No empty slots where removed videos may have been
With 2 or more videos, the playlist will seamlessly loop from the last video back to the first when playback reaches the end.
Update the Youtube App
If you are trying to get a Youtube playlist to loop in the mobile app, an outdated app version could also be the culprit. Looping issues that have already been fixed may still persist in old app versions.
To ensure you have the latest version:
- Open the App Store / Google Play Store on your device
- Go to the Youtube app page
- Check if there are any pending updates and install them
- If you have auto-updates disabled, enable auto-updating for the Youtube app
Updating to the latest version of the official Youtube app often resolves recently fixed bugs and issues.
Use Alternative Apps
The official Youtube app has been known to have looping issues even in the newest versions. If updating doesn’t resolve your problem, consider using 3rd party apps.
Good Youtube alternatives with working playlist loops include:
- Newpipe
- Skytube
- TubeX
- Vanced (for Android)
These apps are designed to avoid restrictions of the official Youtube app and give you full control over playback, including proper playlist looping. Just search for and install the Youtube alternative you want from the app store.
Use a Browser Instead
Mobile apps sometimes have limitations that the web version doesn’t. Try opening Youtube in a mobile browser (Chrome, Safari, etc) and play your playlist there.
To loop in a browser:
- Visit youtube.com in your browser
- Open your playlist
- Enable looping in playlist settings
- Play the playlist and see if it loops
Playlists often work better in a mobile browser. A strong, stable connection also improves the looping experience.
Adjust Playlist Privacy Settings
If you’ve set your playlist to Private, it may resist looping even with the setting enabled. Private playlists act a bit differently than Public or Unlisted ones.
To allow proper looping, adjust playlist privacy to:
- Public: Anyone can view
- Unlisted: Shared via link only
YouTube seems to disable certain features like seamless looping on Private playlists to enhance privacy/security.
Try Watching It Only While Signed In
Playlists may fail to loop if you watch while signed out of your YouTube account. Your account settings help determine playback behavior.
To resolve:
- Sign in to the YouTube account that created the playlist
- Try watching the playlist while signed in and see if it loops now
This ensures your account settings, like looping, are properly applied during playback.
Check Site Restrictions
If you’re accessing YouTube at school, work, or through a restricted network, looping may be disabled along with other features.
To troubleshoot:
- Try watching the playlist over an unrestricted network like home wi-fi or mobile data
- See if looping works properly without the network restrictions
Corporate or school networks often block YouTube features. A personal network likely won’t cause looping problems.
Contact YouTube Support
In some cases, a persistent issue across devices may indicate a deeper problem with your specific account or playlist.
If you still can’t get a particular playlist to loop after trying other troubleshooting, you can contact YouTube support for personalized help:
- Go to the YouTube Help Community forum
- Post about your playlist not looping under the appropriate category
- Include details like playlist URL, devices tried, and troubleshooting steps
- YouTube staff may respond with a solution tailored to your issue
While not guaranteed, YouTube support can sometimes resolve difficult account-specific problems with settings and features.
Create a New Playlist
In rare cases, a specific playlist may just be glitched or corrupted in a way that prevents looping. If other playlists work fine, try creating a fresh one.
To test with a new playlist:
- Create a new blank playlist in your YouTube account
- Add some videos to it
- Enable looping in the settings
- Check if playback loops properly for this fresh playlist
If your new playlist has no issues, the problem lies with your original one. Back up any important videos before deleting and remaking that playlist.
Conclusion
With the right settings and troubleshooting, you can resolve most causes of a YouTube playlist not looping. Double check your looping options are enabled, account is signed in, app is updated, and videos play without interruption. In some cases, using alternative apps or contacting YouTube may be needed. But following the tips in this guide should get your playlist looping continuously again.
