If your YouTube playlist is not automatically playing the next video, there are a few things you can try to fix the issue. The most likely causes are that autoplay is disabled, the playlist is set to shuffle, or there is an issue with your specific browser/device setup.
Check if Autoplay is Disabled
The most common reason a YouTube playlist might not be automatically playing the next video is that autoplay is disabled in your YouTube account settings. YouTube disabled autoplay by default a while back, so you have to manually enable it.
To enable autoplay for playlists:
- Go to your YouTube account settings
- Click “Autoplay”
- Toggle “Autoplay next video” to the ON position
This will allow playlists to automatically play the next video by default. You can also enable autoplay for browsing YouTube as well, if desired.
Check Playlist Isn’t Set to Shuffle
Another common playlist setting that can prevent sequential autoplay is having the “Shuffle” option enabled. When shuffle is turned on, the playlist will randomly jump between videos instead of playing them in order.
To check if shuffle is enabled:
- Open the YouTube playlist
- Look for the “Shuffle” switch below the playlist videos
- Make sure it is toggled OFF
With shuffle disabled, the playlist should play normally from start to finish in order.
Try in a Different Browser
If autoplay and shuffle are already set correctly, the issue could be browser-specific. Certain browsers like Firefox may have stricter autoplay policies, or have problems playing YouTube playlists correctly.
Try launching the playlist in a different browser like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to see if that fixes the autoplay issue. You can also try in a private/incognito browsing window, which disables any extensions that may interfere with playback.
If the playlist works in another browser, you know the problem is isolated to your default browser. You can either switch your default, or troubleshoot further in your current browser.
Check Browser Settings/Extensions
If using a different browser works, the next step is checking settings and extensions in your default browser that could be blocking autoplay.
For Chrome/Edge:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Site Settings > Autoplay
- Make sure autoplay isn’t completely disabled
- Add YouTube.com as an allowed site if needed
For Firefox:
- Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Autoplay
- Change Default for All Websites to “Allow Audio and Video”
- Make sure youtube.com is not listed as a blocked site
Browser extensions like ad blockers can also sometimes interfere with autoplay functionality. Try disabling all extensions temporarily to test.
Clear Browser Cache/Data
Outdated browser data can also cause sporadic playback issues on certain sites. Clearing your cache and cookies for YouTube can help resolve any conflicts.
In Chrome/Firefox:
- Open Settings
- Go to Privacy & Security > Clear Browsing Data
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Cached Images/Files
- Clear data for the past hour or day
This will wipe any problematic cached YouTube data without deleting your history/saved passwords.
Update Browser and Drivers
Another useful troubleshooting step is ensuring your browser and system software is fully updated. Outdated browsers and drivers can lead to playback issues on streaming video sites.
On Windows:
- Check for Windows Updates and install if available
- Update graphics drivers via Device Manager
On Mac:
- Go to System Preferences > Software Update
- Install any macOS updates
With your system up-to-date, also check your browser version. Install new updates for Chrome, Firefox, etc if available.
Test with YouTube App
As a final step, try loading the playlist through the YouTube mobile app or YouTube TV app. This tests playback through YouTube’s native apps versus the browser.
If autoplay works correctly in the YouTube app, the issue is isolated to the browser. You can continue troubleshooting or choose to just access YouTube playlists through the app instead.
However, if the autoplay problem persists in the app, that indicates a deeper account, system or network issue outside the browser.
Check Account Playback Settings
For system-wide YouTube issues, first check that video autoplay is enabled in your Google Account playback settings:
- Go to your Google Account
- Open Data & Personalization
- Go to YouTube
- Make sure “Autoplay next video” is toggled ON
This ensures autoplay is not disabled at the account level.
Allow Background Data Usage
On mobile devices, having background app data disabled can prevent YouTube from loading the next video. Check that YouTube is allowed to use data in the background:
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Special App Access > Background Data
- Make sure YouTube has permission
On iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- Enable Background App Refresh
- Ensure YouTube is switched ON
Check Network/VPN Connections
Problems like slow loading or playback failures can also stem from network connectivity issues. Try these steps:
- Disconnect from any VPNs and test over your normal network
- Restart your router and modem to refresh network devices
- Check ISP for network outages in your area
- Switch WiFi networks or connect via Ethernet instead
- Test on a different mobile network (cellular vs WiFi)
This helps determine if the problem is being caused by something on your local network versus YouTube’s side.
Pause Playback Between Videos
Buffering issues or slow load times could prevent playback from advancing. As a workaround, try briefly pausing at the end of each video before the next one loads. This may help the next video successfully begin.
You can also try lowering the playback quality since higher resolutions require more bandwidth to stream smoothly.
Check Server Status
You can also monitor YouTube’s server status for any major outages. Third-party sites like Downdetector show real-time reports for YouTube service issues.
If YouTube is experiencing widespread technical problems, you’ll have to wait for their team to resolve them before your playlists work correctly again.
Contact YouTube Support
For continued autoplay issues, you can reach out to the official YouTube support for additional help and troubleshooting.
Describe the specific problem you’re experiencing and the troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. They may be able to provide tailored fixes or escalate persistent technical issues.
Use Autoplay Alternatives
If you are unable to get autoplay working despite troubleshooting, there are a few workaround options to achieve a similar experience:
- Use a third party auto-advance extension like AutoQueue or AutoPlay YouTube
- Install standalone media players like VLC and load the playlist
- Use a YouTube-to-MP3 converter to save playlists for playback offline
Certain browsers like Opera also have built-in auto-advance capabilities as well.
While not perfect substitutes, these tools can help automatically cycle through YouTube playlists when the native feature is unavailable.
