Stop Apple Music Autoplay: 3 Quick Fixes

To stop Apple Music from autoplaying the next song, turn off the Autoplay toggle in the Up Next queue, disable Crossfade in Settings, or pause before the current track ends. Here’s how to do each, plus why autoplay keeps turning back on and how to stop it for good.

What Autoplay Does in Apple Music

Autoplay is a feature that keeps music playing by automatically adding similar songs to the end of your Up Next queue. When it’s on, you’ll see an infinity symbol (�) at the top of the Up Next list, and Apple Music will continuously play tracks that it thinks fit your current listening session. This is different from “Repeat All,� which loops the same playlist or album; Autoplay pulls in new songs you didn’t explicitly choose.

The feature is on by default in most cases, which is why many users notice it only when they want a single song or a short playlist to stop. It works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the web player, but the exact toggle location differs slightly by device.

How to Turn Off Autoplay on iPhone and iPad

1. Open the Apple Music app and start playing any song or playlist.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the Now Playing screen (or tap the mini-player at the bottom) to expand the full player.
3. Tap the Up Next button in the bottom-right corner (it looks like three lines with a music note).
4. Look at the top of the Up Next list—you’ll see an infinity symbol (�) next to the word “Autoplay.� Tap it so it turns gray and shows a slash through it.

That’s it. The toggle is per-session, meaning it will stay off until you turn it back on or until you start a new listening session from a different source. If you close the app and reopen it, Autoplay may be off for the current queue, but starting a new queue from a playlist or album will usually turn it back on.

How to Turn Off Autoplay on Mac

1. Open the Apple Music app on your Mac and start playing a song.
2. Click the Up Next button in the bottom-right corner of the window (next to the volume slider).
3. In the pop-up panel, you’ll see an infinity symbol at the top. Click it to turn off Autoplay.

On the Mac, the toggle also resets when you start a new queue. There’s no global setting to disable it permanently across all devices, which is a common frustration.

Why Autoplay Keeps Turning Back On

Many users report that they turn off Autoplay, but it comes back the next time they play something. That’s because the setting is tied to the current queue, not to your account. When you tap a playlist, album, or even a single song from a search result, Apple Music creates a new queue and re-enables Autoplay by default.

To keep it off for a longer stretch, you have a few options:

• After turning it off, keep using the same queue (don’t start a new one).
• Use the “Play Nextâ€� or “Play Lastâ€� feature to add specific songs to the existing queue instead of starting fresh.
• Disable Crossfade (see below), which can make it seem like songs are blending together even when Autoplay is off.

There is no hidden setting in iOS Settings or macOS Preferences that disables Autoplay globally. The only reliable way is to toggle it off each time you start a new listening session.

Does Turning Off Autoplay Stop the Music After a Song?

No. Autoplay and “Stop Playing After Current Song� are separate things. Autoplay adds new, similar songs to your queue. If you want the music to stop completely after the current track, you have a different problem.

To stop playback entirely after the current song:

• On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > Music > and turn off “Autoplayâ€� (this is a separate toggle from the in-app one, and it’s actually for a different purpose—it controls whether Music automatically plays similar songs after a playlist ends). Wait, that’s not quite right. Let me clarify.

Actually, the Settings > Music > Autoplay toggle on iOS is the same feature, but it’s a global default. Turning it off there will make new queues start with Autoplay off. That’s the closest thing to a permanent fix. On Mac, there’s no such setting in Preferences; you have to use the in-app toggle each time.

If you want the music to stop after the current song, you need to clear the Up Next queue: tap the Up Next button, then tap “Clear� at the top. That removes all upcoming songs, and playback will stop when the current track ends.

How to Stop Autoplay on Android and Web

On Android, the Apple Music app works similarly: tap the Now Playing bar, tap the Up Next icon (three lines), and tap the infinity symbol to turn it off. On the web player (music.apple.com), click the Up Next button in the bottom-right and click the infinity icon.

Note that the Android app and web player don’t have a global setting either. You’ll have to do it per queue.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Misconception: Turning off Autoplay stops the music after the current song. It doesn’t. It only stops adding new songs to the queue. If you have other songs already in Up Next, they’ll still play.

Misconception: The infinity icon is the same as Repeat. Repeat is a different icon (two arrows forming a loop). Autoplay is the infinity symbol. They’re separate.

Problem: Autoplay turns back on after a few songs. This can happen if you switch playlists or if the app refreshes the queue. The toggle is per-session, so you may need to turn it off again.

Problem: Autoplay doesn’t turn off on the Mac. Make sure you’re clicking the infinity icon, not the shuffle icon. The icon is at the top of the Up Next panel, and it should turn gray with a slash when off.

Alternatives to Autoplay

If you want continuous music but don’t like Apple’s Autoplay suggestions, you can:

• Create a playlist with the songs you want and turn on Repeat All.
• Use the “Play Nextâ€� feature to manually queue the next song.
• Use a radio station, which is designed to keep playing similar music (but you can’t control the exact order).

Autoplay is meant to be a discovery tool, but it can be annoying when you just want to hear one album. The per-session toggle is the only way to disable it, and it works reliably if you remember to do it each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Apple Music keep playing songs I didn’t choose?

That’s Autoplay. It’s on by default and adds similar songs to your queue. Turn it off via the infinity icon in Up Next, and it will stop adding new songs. If you still hear songs you didn’t pick, check that you haven’t accidentally turned on a radio station or that the playlist you’re playing doesn’t have more songs than you expected.

Is there a way to permanently disable Autoplay?

On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Music and turn off “Autoplay.� That sets the default for new queues to off. On Mac, there’s no such setting; you’ll have to toggle it off each time you start a new queue.

Will turning off Autoplay stop the music after the current song?

No. It only stops adding new songs. To stop after the current song, tap Up Next and tap “Clear� to remove all upcoming songs.

Does Autoplay use more data?

Yes, because it keeps playing songs you didn’t choose, which uses more cellular data. Turning it off can reduce data usage if you listen on mobile.

Why doesn’t the Autoplay toggle stay off?

Because it’s tied to the current queue. Starting a new queue (by tapping a playlist, album, or song) re-enables it. It’s a known behavior, not a bug.

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