Want a Calmer Way to Browse Netflix? Here’s How to Stop Autoplay on Any Device

Is Netflix’s Autoplay Feature Making Your Viewing Experience Worse?

Netflix offers a huge library of movies and shows. It is one of the most popular ways to watch entertainment at home. Many people enjoy using it, but some default settings can make the experience less pleasant. You might find that video previews start playing loudly when you are just trying to browse. Or, the next episode of a series might begin before you are ready. These features are on by default, but you have the power to change them. By adjusting just two settings, you can create a more peaceful and controlled viewing experience. Best of all, once you make these changes on one device, they apply to every device where you use your Netflix profile.

Understanding Netflix’s Autoplay Features

Netflix uses autoplay features to keep you engaged and help you discover new content. While the intention is to be helpful, the result can often feel disruptive. There are two main types of autoplay that you might want to manage.

Autoplay Previews

This feature automatically plays a short trailer or preview of a movie or show when you pause on its title card while browsing. The sound can be sudden and loud, which is not ideal if you are in a quiet room or trying to decide what to watch without interruptions. It is designed to catch your attention, but it can make casual browsing feel stressful.

Autoplay Next Episode

When you finish an episode of a series, Netflix will automatically start a countdown and then play the next episode. This is designed to encourage binge-watching and keep you hooked on a show. However, it removes the natural pause between episodes, which you might want for a break. It can also be a problem if you fall asleep while watching, as you might wake up several episodes ahead and miss important parts of the story.

These features are enabled for a business reason: to increase the time you spend watching. More viewing time signals to Netflix that you find value in the service. For the user, however, this can sometimes lead to a feeling of losing control over your own viewing habits. Taking a few moments to adjust these settings puts you back in charge.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Autoplay

To change these settings, you cannot use the Netflix app on your TV, streaming stick, or game console. You must use a web browser on a computer, tablet, or phone. The good news is that you only have to do this once per profile for the changes to take effect everywhere.

1. Open a Web Browser. Go to the official Netflix website by typing Netflix.com into your address bar.
2. Sign In. Enter your email address and password to log in to your account.
3. Select Your Profile. If you have multiple profiles, click on yours to enter the main browsing screen.
4. Go to Your Account Page. Move your mouse or tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will appear. Click on “Account.”
5. Open Profile & Parental Controls. On the Account page, scroll down until you see the “Profile & Parental Controls” section. You will see a list of all the profiles associated with your account.
6. Choose the Profile to Edit. Click the small downward-facing arrow next to the profile you wish to change. This will expand a list of settings for that specific profile.
7. Find Playback Settings. In the expanded list, locate and click on “Playback settings.”
8. Adjust Autoplay Controls. You will now see the “Autoplay controls” for that profile. There are two options, each with a checkbox next to it:
   • “Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices”
   • “Autoplay previews while browsing on all devices”
9. Uncheck the Boxes. Click on the checkmark inside each box to remove it. You can disable one or both features depending on your preference. Most people who find the service disruptive choose to uncheck both.
10. Save Your Changes. This is a very important step. Click the blue “Save” button at the bottom of the section. If you navigate away without saving, your settings will not be updated. After a moment, your changes will be saved and synced.

Managing Settings for Everyone in Your Household

It is important to remember that playback settings are tied to individual profiles. Making a change to your profile will not affect anyone else who uses the same Netflix account. For example, if you turn off autoplay for your profile, it will still be active on your partner’s or children’s profiles.

This separation is useful because different people have different preferences. Someone else in your family might actually enjoy having previews play automatically. If others in your household also want to disable these features, you must repeat the process for each of their profiles.

To do this, simply go back to the “Profile & Parental Controls” section on the Account page. Click the arrow next to the next profile you want to edit and follow the same steps to access and change their Playback settings. This ensures everyone can have the Netflix experience they prefer. Communicating with your family or roommates about these settings can help make sure everyone is happy with how the account functions.

The Broader Benefits of a Customized Experience

Taking control of autoplay does more than just stop annoying sounds. It can fundamentally improve how you interact with your entertainment.

Mindful Viewing

By disabling the automatic playback of the next episode, you create an intentional stopping point. This gives you a moment to decide if you really want to keep watching, get a snack, or go to bed. It helps you use your time more consciously instead of falling into a multi-hour binge by default.

Reduced Decision Fatigue

When you browse for something to watch, your brain is already processing a lot of information. Sudden, loud previews can add to this cognitive load. A quiet browsing environment allows you to read synopses and consider your options calmly, leading to a better choice and a more relaxing start to your viewing session.

Data Savings

Every video that plays automatically, whether it’s a preview or a full episode, uses internet data. If you are on a limited mobile data plan or have a strict data cap from your internet provider, turning off autoplay can help you conserve data. You will only use data for the content you actively choose to watch.

A More Accessible Experience

For some individuals, sudden loud noises can be startling or trigger anxiety. Customizing the subtitle appearance is another key feature. You can change the font, size, color, and background of subtitles to make them easier to read. This is incredibly helpful for people with visual impairments or anyone who finds the default subtitles hard to see.

Explore Other Powerful Account Settings

The “Account” page on the Netflix website is the central hub for managing your entire experience. While you are there turning off autoplay, you may want to explore other useful options.

Viewing Activity

Here, you can see a complete history of everything you have watched on a profile. You can also remove specific titles from your history. This is useful not only for privacy but also for refining Netflix’s recommendations. If you watched something you did not like, removing it tells the algorithm to stop suggesting similar content.

Language

You can set a preferred audio and subtitle language for your profile. This ensures that when a show or movie is available in your chosen language, it will be selected by default.

Subtitle Appearance

You can change the font, size, and color of subtitles to make them easier to read.

Data Usage Per Screen

This setting gives you more direct control over how much data Netflix uses. You can set it to Low, Medium, High, or Auto. The Low setting uses significantly less data, which is ideal for mobile devices or slow connections, though it does reduce video quality.

By taking a few minutes to explore these settings, you can tailor Netflix to work exactly the way you want it to, making your subscription more valuable and your viewing time more enjoyable.