Google expands testing of autoplay feature on YouTube videos

Google expands out its testing of their new AutoPlay video feature into video controls and end of video playback notifications. This extends what they added previously to the right sidebar where seemingly connected videos were considered as a group and added to an AutoPlay feature whether you asked for it, or not.

AutoPlay is an Interesting Concept

Autoplay is an interesting idea. It turns YouTube into a virtual old school MTV music video channel where non-stop music videos broadcast until eventually MTV went on to bigger and better (?) things. This is YouTube's answer to this with autoplay on topics you've look up and want to play the first video.

This used to be the case with playlists but now individual searches for a video will then autoplay another title afterwards even outside of a playlist.

Trial of AutoPlay Slider First Appeared Weeks Ago

I first spotted the little Autoplay graphical slider a few weeks ago. I had to keep sliding it off because I didn't want videos to autoplay. I don't necessarily see that as a good use for YouTube. For one thing, it clogs the bandwidth up when other people might be sharing the same internet connection and if you're on a cellular connection; oh boy! So I found the feature more of a curse than a blessing.

Upside of AutoPlay

With that said, I sometimes like to listen to movie soundtracks through YouTube and occasionally they're not grouped nicely into a single tube clip but added individually as tracks which is a real pain to keep clicking on the next song in the created playlist. With autoplay on playlists this issue is removed so perhaps autoplay has a place there. I just think it's a limited place and it probably should default to being turned off, not on, especially on individual videos not in a playlist.

Video Controls With Auto Option Now

The HTML5 video controls now offer the choice to switch to auto. Related videos that are listed in order down the right-side sidebar on the desktop will be played one after the other.

With autoplay turned on, there will also be a visual notice at the end of the playback of a video to confirm what comes next. This is a nice little thing to have.

AutoPlay Turns Off At The End of a Playlist Run

AutoPlay does turn off once the playlist has finished being played or the slider is moved across again to turn off the feature. Of course, a playlist could contain hundreds of hours of YouTube video content so in theory the autoplay may never turn off again. Lets just hope Google can afford the bandwidth bill as few people are likely to be clicking paid ads during a YouTube marathon one would think.

Using Software To Turn Off AutoPlay

Already there is interest in turning off AutoPlay across the board. The Magic Actions for YouTube software can help to block autoplay on the site. Once the extension has been installed to Firefox, Chrome or Opera there is a Stop autoplay preference that can be turned on. If Magic Actions does not appeal to you, we've covered more methods for disabling Autoplay on YouTube.