If your Youtube playlist is not automatically playing the next video, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to get autoplay working again. The most common reasons a playlist won’t autoplay are that autoplay is disabled in your account settings, you’re using an unsupported browser, or there’s a technical issue with the playlist itself.
Check Your Youtube Autoplay Settings
The first thing to check is whether you have autoplay enabled in your Youtube account settings. Here’s how:
- Go to Youtube and click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
- On the left sidebar, click “Autoplay.”
- Make sure the toggle switch is turned on for “Autoplay next video.”
If autoplay is disabled here, simply turn it on and that should allow your playlists to resume autoplaying. You can also adjust other autoplay settings on this page like only autoplaying over WiFi or while plugged in.
Check Your Browser
The next thing to check is your web browser. Autoplay only works reliably on the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. If you’re using an older browser or one not mentioned here, the autoplay feature may not work properly.
Try updating your browser to the newest version and then attempt to autoplay a playlist again. On Chrome for example, you can click the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select “Update Google Chrome” if an update is available.
In some cases, you may need to enable media autoplay in your browser settings. In Chrome, click the lock icon left of the address bar and select “Site Settings.” Scroll down to “Media” and make sure autoplay is not blocked.
Check the Playlist Itself
If autoplay settings are enabled and you’re using a supported browser, the issue may lie with the playlist itself. Here are some things to check:
- Make sure the playlist wasn’t set to “Shuffle” mode, which will prevent it autoplaying in order.
- Check that the playlist contains at least two videos. Autoplay requires a current and next video in the queue.
- Verify the videos in the playlist are public, uploaded properly, and not deleted or private. Private, deleted, and videos with errors will disrupt autoplay.
- Try removing any long videos over 20 minutes in length, as Youtube sometimes won’t autoplay very long videos.
- Check if videos in the playlist have age restrictions, as age-restricted videos can also interrupt autoplay.
You can also try deleting the playlist entirely and creating a new one to see if that resolves any technical issues.
Enable Autoplay on Mobile
The Youtube app for iPhone and Android devices has autoplay enabled by default for music content only. To enable autoplay for all videos:
- iPhone/iPad: Go to your profile, Settings, Autoplay, and turn on Autoplay next video.
- Android: Tap your profile photo, Settings, Autoplay, and turn on Autoplay next video.
This will make playlists autoplay on mobile. Keep in mind autoplay over mobile data will use up your data plan faster.
Use a Different Browser
One workaround if autoplay is inconsistent in your main browser is to try using a different browser just for watching Youtube. Software like Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Chrome can be installed side-by-side.
Install one of these alternative browsers, make sure autoplay is enabled in the settings, and then attempt watching your playlist. Sometimes switching browsers fixes odd autoplay bugs.
Autoplay Troubleshooting on Smart TVs
For smart TVs and media players like Roku, autoplay behavior can vary depending on the specific Youtube app version installed. Here are some things to try if playlists won’t autoplay:
- Check for app updates and install the latest Youtube version.
- On Roku, try resetting the channel by going into Channel Settings and selecting Reset Channel.
- In the Youtube app’s settings, look for any autoplay options and make sure they are enabled.
- As a workaround, cast the playlist from your phone where autoplay is working.
Adjust Autoplay Speed
Even when autoplay is working, the transition time between videos may be a bit too fast or slow based on your preference. You can customize this speed:
- On the web, click your profile picture > Settings > Autoplay > Autoplay next video > Faster or Slower.
- In the iOS app, go to Settings > General > Autoplay speed.
- In the Android app, go to More > Settings > Autoplay > Autoplay speed.
This allows you to set the autoplay countdown timer between 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Finding your ideal timing can improve the autoplay experience.
Use a 3rd Party Autoplay Tool
If the native autoplay feature still isn’t working, there are browser extensions and third party tools that can force playlists to autoplay correctly:
- Autoplay for Youtube – Chrome extension to enable autoplay globally.
- Youtube Nonstop – Website that plays Youtube playlists without interruptions.
- PlayPlay for Youtube – Android app for continuous autoplay of playlists and channels.
These tools work around YouTube’s autoplay limitations in different ways to keep your playlist going continuously.
Autoplay Troubleshooting Recap
To recap, here are the key things to check when a Youtube playlist won’t autoplay properly:
- Confirm autoplay is enabled in your Youtube account settings.
- Update your web browser or use a browser where autoplay works.
- Verify the playlist videos are public, available, and properly queued.
- Make sure autoplay is allowed on your specific device like mobile or smart TV.
- Consider using a third party autoplay tool as a workaround.
With autoplay being dependent on so many factors, getting it to work consistently can require some troubleshooting. But using these steps should help identify and resolve the cause so you can enjoy uninterrupted playlist playback.
