Netflix: How To Disable Autoplaying Videos (Finally)

Many Netflix subscribers are annoyed by the same thing: the autopreview feature on the menus of the streaming service. At times, it can offer a helpful glimpse into a movie or show you're about to watch, but most of the time, it's a distracting feature while you're scrolling through the service's library, looking for what to watch next. Now, Netflix has a solution for this annoyance: allowing you to disable it entirely.

On February 6, Netflix revealed the control for this feature is now available to subscribers--something many people have wanted for months. It's relatively easy to disable, but you can only do it through a web browser. It doesn't matter if it's on your phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet; you just can't do it through the app.

How to disable autoplay previews

• Using a web browser, sign into Netflix
• Go to Manage Profiles
• Select profile you want to update
• Uncheck "Autoplay previews while browsing on all devices"

Netflix notes that there may be a delay before the setting takes effect. In order to speed up the process, you can switch to another profile, then back, which will reload your profile with the updated setting.

This can also be done for autoplaying the next episode of a series you're watching on the streaming service. Select the profile you want to update from the Manage Profiles section, and uncheck the box for "Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices." Again, there could be a delay, so you can use the switching profiles trick in order to speed up the process.

Now, you can feel free to peruse the Netflix menus without a video playing and possibly scaring you have to death. While you're at it, make sure to check out what's new to Netflix in February. You can plan out your binge-watching schedule while you wait for Season 3 of Castlevania to arrive.