Migraine-friendly YouTube: turn off Autoplay and use Dark theme
Updated 2026-11-02
Quick answerTo make YouTube gentler during a migraine, switch off Autoplay with the switch on the video player, then turn on Dark theme from your profile picture > Appearance > Dark theme. YouTube Help notes Autoplay settings can differ per device, so change it on every device you use.
Turn off Autoplay (computer)
- Open any video.
- At the bottom of the player, click the Autoplay switch so it shows Off.
Turn off Autoplay (Android or iPhone app)
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings > Autoplay.
- Switch Autoplay off.
Turn on Dark theme (computer)
- Click your profile picture.
- Click Appearance.
- Select Dark theme.
Good to know
- YouTube says Autoplay settings can be different on each device, so the web and your phone need separate changes.
- YouTube's Ambient mode needs Dark theme turned on first (YouTube Help).
- Autoplay only controls the next video. Migraine Mode also pauses videos that start on their own on other sites.
FAQ
Does turning off Autoplay on my phone also turn it off on my laptop?
No. YouTube Help says you can have different Autoplay settings for different devices, so turn it off on each one.
Where is Dark theme on YouTube?
On a computer, click your profile picture, then Appearance, then select Dark theme.
Sources
Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.