Why Does My YouTube Keep Pausing: Disable This Setting

For the past couple of weeks, the YouTube app on my phone kept pausing itself at random times.

To check if it’s a network issue, I tried playing other videos but there was no buffering at all.

However, the videos kept pausing randomly making them almost unwatchable due to the interruptions.

I tried updating the app, but it was already on the latest version.

I assumed it was a bug that would get fixed eventually, because it seemed even a few friends of mine had the same issue. I even sent a bug report to YouTube outlining the problem

Imagine the embarrassment I felt when I was going through the settings in the YouTube app, only to find out it was something I had turned on accidentally.

To prevent YouTube videos from pausing randomly, disable the “Remind me to take a break” feature. Launch the YouTube app on your smartphone and tap on the profile icon. Go to Settings > General and toggle off the “Remind me to take a break” switch.

Disable ‘Remind Me To Take A Break’ Feature On The YouTube App

If you’re used to binge-watching YouTube videos on your phone, you may have enabled the “Remind Me To Take A Break” feature on the YouTube app.

This feature automatically pauses any video after a defined interval as a reminder for you to take a break.

Normally, a notification would pop up with the reminder to take a break. But, sometimes this doesn’t happen which is why it’s a little confusing.

And if you’re using YouTube with the screen off, you won’t see the reminder even if it pops up.

So, if you want to enjoy uninterrupted streaming and prevent YouTube videos from pausing randomly, disable this feature in the app settings.

Here’s how:

Launch the YouTube app on your smartphone
Tap on the Profile icon on the top right corner

Navigate to Settings > General

Toggle off the switch to disable the “Remind me to take a break” feature

Try playing the YouTube videos again to check if the random pausing issue is fixed.

Disable Data Saver In The YouTube App To Avoid Restricted Data Usage

The YouTube app has a built-in Data Saver feature that uses lower video quality to restrict data usage while streaming.

However, if the videos keep pausing randomly, try disabling the Data Saver feature.

Follow these steps:

Launch the YouTube app on your mobile device
Tap on the profile icon on the upper right corner

Go to Settings and tap on the Data saving option

Toggle the switch next to Data saving mode to disable the feature

Now, try playing the videos again to check if the pausing stops

YouTube Might Be Stuttering Because Your Network Isn’t Stable

YouTube videos may keep pausing randomly, due to a weak internet connection.

To confirm if your internet is working properly:

Try using other streaming apps such as Netflix or Disney Plus and check if there are any buffering or pausing issues while playing videos
You can also perform an Internet Speed Test through a browser to rule out any possible connectivity issues

If you’re facing buffering or pausing issues on other apps or if the speed test results reveal an unstable internet connection, try soft resetting your WiFi router.

Follow these steps:

Unplug your router from the power outlet
Wait for about 30 seconds and then plug it back in
Connect your phone or laptop to WiFi
Try streaming YouTube videos again

Additionally, check your phone’s data usage settings to ensure that the YouTube app is allowed to use data in the background without limitations to prevent the videos from pausing.

Disconnect Your Headphones To Prevent YouTube Videos From Pausing Randomly

If the YouTube videos keep pausing while you’ve got the headphones or earbuds connected to your smartphone or laptop, try disconnecting them.

Most wireless earbuds or headphones offer a feature that controls the connected device’s media playback once you take them off your ears.

This can be the reason why your YouTube videos keep pausing randomly.

If disconnecting the headphones or earbuds solves the problem, configure their settings to prevent them from controlling your device’s media playback.

Alternatively, if your wired headphones keep disconnecting due to a loose connection or faulty headphone jack, it may also be a reason why YouTube videos keep pausing.

Make sure that your headphones are firmly plugged into the jack or try using different headphones to solve the issue.

Corrupt Or Excessive Cache Files Can Also Cause YouTube To Misbehave

The YouTube app on your phone stores temporary files called cache to improve the overall app performance.

However, these cache files may get corrupted over time to cause in-app issues such as buffering, app crashing, or pausing.

To fix such issues, you need to delete the YouTube app’s cache files on your smartphone. The procedure may vary based on whether you’re using an Android or iOS device.

For Android devices

On your Android smartphone or tablet, open Settings
Go to Apps > App Management
- Note: On some Android smartphones, you can press and hold the YouTube app icon and go to App info to delete the Cache files directly

Find and tap on the YouTube app on the available app list

Select Storage Usage
Finally, tap on Clear Cache to delete the corrupt cache files

Relaunch the YouTube app and the video pausing issue should be resolved

For iOS devices

As you can’t directly clear the cache files on your iPhone or iPad, prefer uninstalling and reinstalling the YouTube app instead.

Tap and hold the YouTube app icon on the device’s home screen
Select the X icon that appears on the app’s top-left corner
Choose Delete after reading the warning message
Open the Apple App Store again and search for the YouTube app
Reinstall the app and log into your YouTube account
Try playing the videos again to verify if they still keep pausing

Disable Browser Extensions While Streaming YouTube Videos

If you’re using a web browser to watch YouTube videos on a laptop or desktop, the videos may randomly start pausing due to the installed browser extensions.

A corrupt or outdated third-party browser extension may control the video playback on YouTube.

The best way to check if a browser extension is causing this issue, is by opening a new Incognito or Private tab on the browser.

As a Private tab enables your browser to work without any extensions, try streaming YouTube videos in it.

If YouTube is working properly in a private tab, you need to disable all the extensions to solve the issue.

Try Using A Different Web Browser To Stream YouTube Videos

You can also try using a different browser to avoid any playback issues while watching YouTube videos.

If the videos play perfectly on a different browser, the issue might be limited to a specific browser.

Try updating or reinstalling the browser with playback issues on your desktop or laptop.

Enjoy Uninterrupted Streaming On YouTube

Make sure that your phone isn’t low on storage while using the YouTube app as it may cause issues while streaming or loading videos.

Try deleting some files or uninstalling unused apps to free up space and check if YouTube videos stop pausing.

If the YouTube videos still keep pausing, try rebooting your Android or iOS device and using the YouTube app again.

In case you’re streaming YouTube videos on the Opera browser, disable Hardware Acceleration to avoid the video pausing issue.

Go to Settings from the Opera Menu and select Browser. From the right hand pane, uncheck “Use hardware acceleration when available” under the System menu.

If the video pausing issue persists on Google Chrome, try disabling the “back-forward cache” by visiting Chrome’s flags page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a way to fix YouTube pausing on smart TVs?

If YouTube keeps pausing on your smart TV, you can try clearing the app cache, updating the YouTube app, or performing a factory reset on your TV. Additionally, ensure that your TV’s firmware is up to date and that you have a stable internet connection.

Why is YouTube buffering every few seconds?

If YouTube keeps buffering every few seconds, it’s most likely due to a poor internet connection. To fix any network issues, try soft resetting your WiFi router. Unplug it from the wall outlet and wait for about 30 seconds before plugging it back in.

How can I improve YouTube playback on my Android device?

To improve YouTube playback on your Android device, ensure that you have the latest version of the YouTube app installed, clear the app cache and data, and disable any battery optimization settings that may interfere with app performance.

Can ad blockers cause YouTube to keep pausing?

Yes, certain ad blockers or browser extensions that block ads can interfere with YouTube playback and cause pausing issues. Disable or whitelist YouTube in your ad-blocker settings to ensure uninterrupted playback.