Falling asleep to YouTube videos is a common habit, but waking up at 3am to a blaring video is not ideal. YouTube has a built-in sleep timer that automatically stops playback after a period you choose. It is buried deep enough in the app that many users have never found it – here is exactly where it is and how to use it on every major platform.

How to Set a Sleep Timer on the YouTube Mobile App (iPhone and Android)

1. Open the YouTube app and start playing any video.
2. Tap on the video to bring up the player controls.
3. Tap the three-dot menu (More) in the top right corner of the player.
4. Scroll down and tap Sleep timer.
5. Choose a duration: 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or select End of video to stop after the current video finishes.
6. Tap Start timer. A small timer icon will appear in the player controls showing the remaining time.

When the timer runs out, YouTube pauses playback automatically. It does not close the app – it simply stops the video so you can resume in the morning if you want to.

How to Cancel or Adjust the Sleep Timer

While the timer is running, tap the three-dot menu again and select Sleep timer. You will see the remaining time and an option to cancel or change the duration. Tap Cancel timer to turn it off.

Sleep Timer on YouTube for Smart TV

The sleep timer feature is not available in the YouTube app on most Smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, Sony, and Fire TV. Instead, use your TV’s built-in sleep timer (available in most TV settings menus) to turn off the entire display after a set time. This is more effective anyway because it also turns off the screen rather than just pausing playback.

Sleep Timer on YouTube in a Desktop Browser

There is no native sleep timer in the YouTube website. However, browser extensions like Turn Off the Lights and SleepTimer for YouTube (available for Chrome) add this functionality. These extensions add a timer button directly to the YouTube player that works the same way as the mobile app version.

Using Your Phone’s Built-In Timer as an Alternative

On iPhone, you can use the Clock app’s timer with the ‘Stop Playing’ option as an alternative. Set the timer for however long you want YouTube to play, and when it goes off, your iPhone will pause all audio and video automatically. Go to Clock, tap Timer, set the duration, tap When Timer Ends, scroll to the bottom and select Stop Playing, then tap Set and start the timer.

Tips for Using the Sleep Timer Effectively

• Combine the sleep timer with autoplay turned off to prevent YouTube from starting the next video before the timer kicks in.
• The ‘End of video’ option is ideal for podcasts or long-form content where you do not know exactly how much you will watch.
• Lower your screen brightness before bed and enable YouTube’s dark mode (Settings, General, Appearance) to make the viewing experience less disruptive to sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the sleep timer work with YouTube Premium?

Yes. The sleep timer is available to all YouTube users, both free and Premium. It functions the same way regardless of subscription status.

Will the sleep timer stop a YouTube Music session?

No. The YouTube app sleep timer only works within the YouTube video app. YouTube Music has its own separate sleep timer found in the same three-dot menu while a track is playing in the YouTube Music app.

Does the timer prevent autoplay from starting the next video?

Yes. When the sleep timer expires, it pauses playback and prevents autoplay from continuing to the next video.