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How to Stop YouTube from Pausing Automatically and Keep Your Videos Playing

Explore how to stop YouTube from pausing automatically or after inactivity. Our article explains easy fixes for mobile and desktop users to prevent interruptions from ads or inactivity. Keep your YouTube videos playing seamlessly with these practical tips.

October 30, 2024

Common Causes of YouTube Auto-Pausing

YouTube's auto-pause feature is designed to conserve battery life and data usage. However, it can be frustrating when it interrupts your viewing experience. Several factors can trigger this behavior, including:

  • Device Inactivity: If you haven't interacted with your device for a certain period, YouTube may automatically pause the video to save resources. This is particularly common on mobile devices with power-saving features.
  • Poor Internet Connection: A weak or unstable internet connection can cause YouTube to pause or buffer, especially during high-resolution or live streams. This is more likely to occur in areas with poor network coverage or during periods of high network congestion.
  • Browser Extensions and Ad-Blockers: Certain browser extensions, particularly ad-blockers, can interfere with YouTube's playback and cause unexpected pauses. This is because ad-blockers may block scripts or elements that are essential for video playback.
  • Outdated Browser or App: Using an outdated version of your browser or the YouTube app can lead to various issues, including auto-pausing. Outdated software may have bugs or security vulnerabilities that can affect performance.
  • Hardware and Software Issues: In some cases, hardware or software problems on your device can contribute to YouTube's auto-pause behavior. This could include issues with your device's processor, memory, or graphics card.
  • Advertisements: When an ad is about to play, YouTube may pause the current video to prepare the ad. This can be particularly annoying if you're watching a long video or a live stream. 

How to Stop YouTube from Pausing After Inactivity

If the YouTube stops playing after inactivity, you can try adjusting device settings. 

Mobile Devices:

  • Increase Screen Timeout: Extend the duration before your device's screen turns off. This can be done in your device's display settings. In iPhone, Go to Settings  > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, then choose a length of time.

  • Disable Battery Optimization for YouTube: On Android devices, this can prevent the app from being restricted in the background.

Desktop Computers:

  • Disable Auto-Tab Suspension: Prevent your browser from automatically pausing inactive tabs. Check your browser's settings to find this option. In Chrome: At the top right, click the three vertical dots and then Settings->Performance. To the right of Always keep these sites active, click Add. You can choose to add from currently open sites in your browser or add them manually.

How to Stop YouTube from Pausing on Mobile Devices

Best Practices for Fixing YouTube Pausing on Android and iOS

  • Update the YouTube App: Ensure you're using the latest version of the YouTube app to benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements. Regular updates can address issues that may cause auto-pausing.
  • Check Your Internet Connection: A stable and fast internet connection is crucial for uninterrupted playback. If you're experiencing poor connectivity, try switching to a different network or using a mobile hotspot.
  • Clear the App Cache and Data: Clearing the app's cache and data can help resolve various issues, including auto-pausing. This can be done in your device's settings or directly within the YouTube app. Clearing YouTube cache on Android and iOS is quite different. On iPhone, you can do this by uninstalling-and-reinstalling the app or offloading it. On Android, you can tap on "Storage & cache" and then select "Clear cache" to remove temporary files. 

  • Disable Battery Optimization: For Android devices, disabling battery optimization for the YouTube app can prevent it from being restricted in the background. This can ensure that the app continues to run smoothly even when it's not actively in use.
  • Restart Your Device: A simple device restart can often fix temporary glitches and improve performance. Restarting your device can refresh its system and resolve any minor issues that may be causing YouTube to pause.

How to Stop YouTube from Pausing on Desktop

Resolving Auto-Pausing Issues in Browsers and Desktop Apps

  • Update Your Browser: Keeping your browser up-to-date ensures optimal performance and compatibility with YouTube. Regular browser updates can address security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
  • Disable Browser Extensions: Temporarily disable any browser extensions that might interfere with YouTube's playback. Some extensions, especially ad-blockers, can conflict with YouTube's functionality and cause unexpected pauses.
  • Clear Browser Cache and Cookies: Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can help resolve various issues, including auto-pausing. This can remove any corrupted data or temporary files that may be causing problems.

  • Try a Different Browser: If you continue to experience problems with one browser, try switching to another, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Different browsers may have different levels of compatibility with YouTube and may perform better in certain situations.
  • Use the YouTube Desktop App: The official YouTube desktop app can offer a more stable and consistent viewing experience compared to using the web browser. The desktop app is specifically designed for YouTube and may have fewer compatibility issues.

Techniques to Bypass Pausing Caused by YouTube Ads

  • Use an Ad-Blocker: While ad-blockers can be effective in blocking ads, be aware that they might interfere with YouTube's functionality. Some ad-blockers may block essential elements of YouTube's interface, leading to unexpected behavior.
  • Install a YouTube Ad-Skipping Extension: Some browser extensions can automatically skip ads on YouTube, reducing the frequency of pauses. However, these extensions may not work with all ad formats and may violate YouTube's terms of service.
  • Consider YouTube Premium: As mentioned earlier, YouTube Premium offers an ad-free viewing experience, eliminating interruptions caused by ads. By subscribing to YouTube Premium, you can enjoy uninterrupted video playback without any ads or interruptions.

Bonus Tip: How to Download YouTube Video

This article explains "how to stop YouTube from pausing". If you’re considering downloading videos from YouTube to your local or cloud drive, MultCloud can be extremely useful. Trusted by over 3 million users,the process is quite simple, you just copy and paste the video URL into MultCloud's input field, and it will be downloaded in high quality.

For instance, you can save YouTube video to your computer or cloud drives, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. MultCloud also enables you to transfer files between two different cloud services, like Dropbox to Google Drive. it supports more than 30 different cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Google Photos, iCloud Photos, FTP, WebDav, and more.

πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ“£οΌšThis feature is currently under development and will be released soon. Stay tuned!

  • Email Migration: You can directly back up and save Gmail emails as PDFs to your computer or cloud drive in bulk. 
  • Cloud Transfer: MultCloud can transfer files from one cloud service to another directly without downloading and re-uploading.
  • Cloud Sync: With MultCloud, you can easily sync two folders between different cloud services in real-time.
  • Cloud Backup: You can backup and restore data between different cloud services automatically.
  • Instagram Downloader: MultCloud can help you download Instagram videos, photos, reels and stories to local device or remotely upload them to your clouds.
  • Manage all cloud accounts in one place: Connect all your clouds to MultCloud and you'll find it so easy to access and manage multiple cloud storage files with a single login.

Quickly transfer, sync or backup files from one cloud to another.

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