The article provides a guide on how to stop YouTube videos from automatically playing when you hover over thumbnails. It offers step-by-step instructions to adjust YouTube’s settings to prevent autoplay for a more controlled browsing experience
Have you ever been scrolling through YouTube and had videos start playing on their own when your mouse goes over the thumbnail image? This feature is called “thumbnail preview” or “inline playback.” While some people might find it helpful, others may think it’s annoying or distracting. In this article, we’ll explain what thumbnail previews are, why you might want to turn them off, and how to do it on different devices.
What are Thumbnail Previews on YouTube?
Thumbnail previews are short video clips that play automatically when you move your mouse over a video thumbnail while browsing YouTube. They give you a sneak peek of the video without having to click on it. YouTube added this feature to make it easier for users to decide if they want to watch a video.
Why Turn Off Thumbnail Previews?
There are a few reasons why you might want to disable thumbnail previews:
- They can be distracting, especially if you’re just trying to find a specific video.
- They use up data, which can be a problem if you have a limited data plan.
- They can slow down your browsing experience, particularly on older devices.
How to Disable Thumbnail Previews on YouTube
Here’s how to turn off thumbnail previews on different devices:
On Android:
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings, then General.
- Tap “Playback in feeds”.
- Choose “Off” to turn off thumbnail previews.
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
- Go to Settings, then General.
- Tap “Playback in feeds”.
- Choose “Off” to disable thumbnail previews.
On Computer:
- Click your profile picture and select Settings.
- Go to Playback and performance.
- Turn off the “Inline playback” switch to stop thumbnail previews.
Remember, you need to be signed in to your YouTube account for these changes to work and sync across all your devices.
Conclusion
Thumbnail previews can be a useful feature for some YouTube users, but others might find them annoying. Luckily, it’s easy to turn them off in just a few steps. By following the instructions in this article, you can browse YouTube without videos playing automatically when you hover over their thumbnails. Keep in mind that YouTube might change or remove this setting in the future, but for now, this is how you can disable thumbnail previews and enjoy a less distracting YouTube experience.
