How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube for Kids (So It Stays Off)
YouTube's Autoplay switch is one tap from back on. WhitelistVideo blocks autoplay on computers, iPhone and iPad, and plays only the channels you approve.
1:24Uploaded October 30, 2026English audio
Start Free TestWhat it means
Turning off autoplay means the next video doesn't start by itself when one ends. Your child has to choose what comes next.
Why parents do it
Parents do it to give kids a natural stopping point, instead of hours of back-to-back videos.
What you need
- The YouTube app or youtube.com
- The Autoplay switch in the player
- Each app and browser your child uses
How to set it up in YouTube
Open any video and switch Autoplay off in the player. In the app, you can also turn off Autoplay next video under Settings, then Playback.
- Open any video
- Autoplay switch → Off
- Or: Settings → Playback
- Autoplay next video → Off
Where YouTube autoplay falls short
Here's the catch. The Autoplay switch sits right in the player, so your child can turn it back on with one tap, and it's set separately on each app and browser.
| Feature | YouTube autoplay | WhitelistVideo |
|---|---|---|
| Who can change it | Anyone, in the player | You, in WhitelistVideo |
| Where it's set | Each app and browser | Once, during setup |
| If a video plays next | From anywhere on YouTube | Only approved channels play |
The better way: WhitelistVideo
When you set up WhitelistVideo, keep Block Autoplay on. On computers, iPhone and iPad, the next video no longer starts by itself, and Shorts and comments stay off too.
And because only approved channels play, a next video can't come from a channel you never checked.
Transcript
Here's how to turn off autoplay on YouTube for kids, and why your child can switch it back on with one tap. Stick around for a better, more secure way to set it up.
Turning off autoplay means the next video doesn't start by itself when one ends. Your child has to choose what comes next.
Parents do it to give kids a natural stopping point, instead of hours of back-to-back videos.
With YouTube alone, you need the YouTube app or youtube.com, and the Autoplay switch on every app and browser.
Open any video and switch Autoplay off in the player. In the app, you can also turn off Autoplay next video under Settings, then Playback.
Here's the catch. The Autoplay switch sits right in the player, so your child can turn it back on with one tap, and it's set separately on each app and browser.
When you set up WhitelistVideo, keep Block Autoplay on. On computers, iPhone and iPad, the next video no longer starts by itself, and Shorts and comments stay off too.
And because only approved channels play, a next video can't come from a channel you never checked.
WhitelistVideo, a SourceForge Top Performer in parental control software, is one of the best parental control apps for YouTube.
Get WhitelistVideo at whitelist dot video.
