NextVid Stopper for YouTube blocks autoplay on YouTube in Firefox
Google introduced autoplay recently on YouTube to the effect that new videos are started automatically on the video hosting and streaming website once the previous video ends.
It is unclear why Google introduced the feature but it could have something to do with displaying more ads to users visiting the site considering that advertisements are displayed at the beginning of videos usually on YouTube.
The feature is problematic on several levels from a user perspective. First, it plays additional videos even though you may not want additional ones to be played on the site, for instance because it is using up bandwidth.
Second, the algorithm selecting the video may pick videos that are not really related to what you have watched. If it is a music video, you may get a video from another artist for instance that you are not interested in.
While Google has added options to the site to disable autoplay on it, the preference does not seem to stick permanently which means that users are exposed to autoplay again when that happens.
While you could check the autoplay setting on YouTube each time you play a video on the site, it is cumbersome especially since the slider has already been moved around previously on the site.
Currently, there are two locations to turn it off on YouTube. First, in the up next column that displays videos that YouTube will play next when autoplay is enabled, and when you click on the settings icon in the play bar of the video.
NextVid Stopper for YouTube is a lightweight add-on for Firefox that blocks autoplay on YouTube for good. Whenever autoplay is turned on, it will turn it off automatically. This ensures that videos won't play automatically on the video hosting site regardless of the initial state of the switch so that only videos that you select to play will do so on YouTube.
Good news is that the extension should work fine if Google decides to move the autoplay toggle around on YouTube.
It is theoretically still possible that the extension will need updating if the functionality is modified by Google in a way that breaks it.
NextVid Stopper adds an icon to Firefox's main toolbar that toggles its functionality when clicked on. A click disables the functionality so that videos start to play automatically on YouTube again until you click on it again to block autoplay.
The author of the extension notes that it blocks automatically playing videos only on YouTube directly and not on third-party websites.
about:config
media.autoplay.enabled false
This won’t work on may sites as they can go around this.
I used the FlashBlock add-on with Pale Moon, though due to a change in YouTube, click-to-play doesn’t work there anymore. I have since set the Shockwave Flash plugin from “Always activate” to “Ask to activate”. Autoplay is bloody annoying.
Isn’t it sad that such an addon is needed at all? Things like autoplay should always be optional as opt-in.
If I’m going to use an add-on I’d like one that does more than just stop autoplay. Check out this add-on that I use and hope it helps! http://www.chromeactions.com
After reading Martin’s article, I began wondering if there might be a simple script available which would provide the same results, without having to load another add-on into Firefox.
For those people who run user scripts via the Grease Monkey add-on for Firefox, there is a very nice alternative.
Over at Greasy Fork, I discovered a relatively new script called “remove youtube autoplay”
The script not only defeats the autoplay function – but also completely removes the button from the Youtube interface. You can find it at the link below (and it should also work with Pale Moon, although I have not tried it out myself).
https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/7893-remove-youtube-autoplay
If – for some reason – you want to restore the autoplay function – you can simply disable or uninstall the script.
great find! thanks
I love you! What I wanted. Video starts automatically, but the stupid autoplay feature after playing disabled. Thanks!
In my case, autoplay button was removed when script was on. I had to disable/enable script and then refresh page. It is way easier to click on this extension button and from next video autoplay is on/off again as requested. Next step would be putting extension button on Youtube page or even better: enabling autoplay switch to remember you selection after refresh or search.
Great little addon. Thanks Martin.
Do you know of one for Chrome?:)
The one I know is not working anymore. Not sure if there are more.
I wonder if adding the “stop page loading” button back to the browser will stop that autoplay without relying on google
I did have it on my toolbar, but one of the many firefox “updates” has taken it away, will have to see if I can get it back again
I expect “stop page loading” would NOT be helpful. Apparently, when a video ends, an embedded script is checking, real-time, the status of the variable which is (er, may have been) toggled by user’s interaction with the ‘autoplay-checkbox’ DOM element.
Not available for PaleMoon. That’s why I hate PM. BTW thanks for the addon.
YouTube Center extension seems to disable Autoplay also, and it works with Palemoon.