This guide will show the reasons behind this Netflix prompt and guide you through the steps to turn it off. Whether you’re using a laptop, mobile device, a streaming TV box, or you prefer browsing through the Netflix app, we’ve got you covered.
Why Netflix asks, “Are you still watching?”
Netflix asks, “Are you still watching?” for two main reasons. They want to ensure you don’t leave your place in your show or movie and help you save internet data if you’re not watching. You’ll see this message if:
You watch 3 episodes of a TV show back-to-back without using any of the video controls.You’ve been watching something non-stop for 90 minutes.
This is important for people with limited data they can use each month because going over that limit could mean extra charges. Also, it keeps your device’s battery from running out too quickly by stopping the video if you’re not watching. Other streaming services, like YouTube, have similar features. They all want to ensure users have a good experience, save money, and stream responsibly to help the environment.
Turn off Netflix’s “Are you still watching?”
The “Are you still watching?” message on Netflix might be annoying, but unfortunately, the app cannot turn it off. Conversely, if you’re watching through Google Chrome or any other browser, you can add a particular extension to eliminate it. You can turn off the “Autoplay” feature for those using the Netflix app. This change means you’ll have to tap play yourself when you’re ready for the next episode after finishing one.
Turn off Autoplay on Desktop/Laptop
One simple method is to turn off autoplay to stop seeing the “Are you still watching?” message on Netflix when using your laptop. This makes all the episodes of a show stop playing one after the other, with no messages asking if you’re still watching. You can change this setting directly in your Netflix account settings. Here’s how you do it:
1. From the Edit Profile Page
2. From Settings Page
You might need to refresh your device to see the changes take effect. With this setup, Netflix won’t automatically play the next episode in a series, and you won’t see the “Are you still watching?” message.
Turn off Autoplay on Mobile
This is simple when streaming on a smartphone, as the device is always within reach. Simply touch some of the controls for Netflix to recognize your presence. Or you can disable Autoplay. You might have to refresh your app by signing out and signing back in again to ensure your new settings are saved.
Turn off “Are you still watching” using browser extensions
If your preferred way of watching Netflix is on your computer, browser extensions can help greatly. These tools give your browser extra abilities, ensuring you can watch shows without any breaks. Some popular extensions for Netflix include Never Ending Netflix and Auto Skip Netflix Intro and Outro for Firefox. These tools work in a very similar way across different browsers. To use one of these on Google Chrome, follow these steps: Now, you should be ready to watch Netflix on your computer without getting interrupted. This extension helps with the “Are you still watching?” message and lets you further skip intros, credits, and title sequences for a smoother watching experience.
Turn off “Are you still watching” on TV Boxes
Streaming TV boxes like Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Fire TV Stick are known for popping up with “Are you still watching?” messages while using Netflix. The only way to get rid of this prompt on these devices is either turn off the autoplay for all devices from Netflix settings or use their built-in feature to stop autoplay. Here’s how you can do it:
⤷ On Roku TV
Take your remote control and press the “Home” button. Move down to find the “Settings” menu and select it. Inside there, locate the Netflix app and choose it. You should see an option labeled “Auto Play.” Click on that. The last step is to turn off the setting that says “Next Episode in Series on Autoplay.” Now, you can watch your favorite TV shows without annoying pauses asking if you’re still there.
⤷ On Chromecast
Open the “Google Home” app on your phone or tablet. Tap on your Chromecast device and go to “Settings” at the top right of your screen. Once you’re in settings, find “Ambient Mode” and select it. Here, you can turn off Ambient Mode completely. This will stop Netflix’s are you still watching prompt.
⤷ On Fire TV
To turn off Autoplay on your Fire TV, go to ‘Settings,’ then select ‘Preferences,’ and click on ‘Featured Content.’ Within the ‘Featured Content’ menu, you’ll find the options to disable autoplay. First, disable ‘Allow Video Autoplay,’ and then proceed to disable ‘Allow Audio Autoplay.’ After making these changes, simply navigate back to the Home Screen, and you’ll find that autoplay has been successfully disabled.
⤷ On Apple TV
There are currently no specific settings for Apple TV that you can use to disable autoplay on Netflix. The only way to disable autoplay is to change the autoplay settings for your Netflix profile on a web browser or mobile device. This will disable autoplay for all devices that you use to watch Netflix, including Apple TV. There have been some reports that disabling the “Auto-play video previews” setting in the Accessibility > Motion menu on Apple TV may also disable autoplay in Netflix. However, this setting does not seem to work consistently for everyone.
