YouTube Auto Pause (2026)
Auto pause is YouTube's idle check. Here is what triggers it and how to stop it.
YouTube’s auto pause is an idle check that asks if you are still watching. It usually appears after a long period of inactivity. There is no official setting to disable it, but you can reduce how often it triggers and avoid losing playback.
What triggers auto pause
Auto pause is more likely when one or more of these happen:
- The tab is hidden for a long time.
- The browser stops sending user events to the player.
- Power saving or background restrictions kick in.
- The connection is unstable during long sessions.
Fixes that work reliably
- Keep the tab active: leave YouTube in the foreground if possible.
- Disable power saving: battery saver modes can pause background playback.
- Avoid conflicting extensions: some extensions block the player events YouTube expects.
- Update browser and OS: YouTube changes frequently; old browsers break.
- Use a purpose-built prompt handler: a lightweight tool can dismiss the prompt for you.
If you see “Video paused. Continue watching?”
That message is the auto pause prompt. The fastest fix is to dismiss it. For step-by-step guidance, see:
Background playback and mobile
Auto pause is amplified on mobile when the screen locks or an app goes to the background. If that is your situation, start here:
The long-term fix
YT Nonstop is built to detect the idle prompt and dismiss it automatically so you do not have to babysit playback. Join the waitlist to get early access.