5 Ways to Stop Apple Music from Automatically Playing

Are you tired of Apple Music surprising you with songs you didn’t choose and wondering how to stop Apple Music from automatically playing? You’re not alone. Autoplay can be a bit too eager, disrupting the flow of your day. The good news is that taking control is easier than you might think.

In this guide, we’ll show you straightforward steps to stop Apple Music from playing automatically. No more unexpected tunes—just your music, your way. Let’s keep it simple and get your playlist back on track.

Why Would You Want to Stop Apple Music From Automatically Playing

There are a couple of reasons why you might be interested in stopping Apple Music from automatically playing random songs. Here are some of them:

• Personalized Control: It lets you decide when and what to listen to, ensuring a more tailored and enjoyable music experience.
• Avoid Unwanted Surprises: The random music can catch you off guard with unexpected songs, disrupting the mood or atmosphere. Disabling autoplay puts you in charge of your playlist.
• Considerate Silence: Turning off automatic music is practical in quiet environments or public spaces, preventing sudden music playback that could be disruptive to those around you.
• Respectful Listening: Taking control of Apple Music preferences allows you to consider your surroundings and choose when to engage with your music, fostering a more compliant and mindful listening experience.

How to Stop Apple Music From Automatically Playing

If you’ve found Apple Music’s automatic play feature interrupting your rhythm, take control by learning how to stop it. Whether you prefer a more deliberate playlist or want to avoid unexpected interruptions, a few simple steps can give you the power to decide when your music starts playing.

Here, we will tell you about the different methods you can implement to halt Apple Music from automatically playing.

1. Turn Off Autoplay

Disabling auto-play will prevent any songs from automatically playing. You can turn off this feature on both iPhone/iPad or Mac by deselecting autoplay from the queue menu.

Follow the procedures mentioned below to do so:

↪ On iPhone

1. Start playing something and tap on the song you are listening to. 
2. On the expanded song screen, tap on the queue button. It’s the one with three lines in the bottom-right.
   

   

3. Simply tap on the infinity symbol in the top-right so that it’s deselected. That should turn off Autoplay.
   

   

↪ On Mac

Unfortunately, the option to directly turn off Apple Music autoplay on your Mac isn’t available. But you can achieve a similar result by clearing your Playing Next list.

Follow these steps:

1. Click on the icon with three bullet points and lines located in the upper right corner.

   

2. Next to Playing Next, click on the “Clear” button. This action will prompt your Mac to remove all upcoming songs from the list, ensuring that your Mac won’t automatically proceed to the next track.

   

Images from mackeeper

2. Utilize Apple Shortcuts

The Shortcuts app on your iPhone/iPad is a gem of a tool that often goes unnoticed. It’s the exact kind of remedy you need for small things like this; it makes listening to Apple Music without autoplay a breeze.

Here’s how you can do that:

1. Navigate to the “Shortcuts” app and tap on “+.”
   
   

   

2. Choose “Add Action.” 
   

   

3. Search “Music” and scroll down to select “Clear Playing Next.”
   

   

4. Tap on “Done.”
   

   

3. Turn Off Handoff

By deactivating the Handoff feature in your iPhone and iPad settings, you can prevent the automatic continuation of actions on other devices linked to the same Apple ID.

Follow the below-mentioned procedure to do so:

1. Navigate to “Settings” > “General.”
   

   

2. Select “Airplay & Handoff.”
   

   

3. Toggle the slider next to “Handoff” to disable it.
   

   

4. Disable CarPlay

If Apple Music is bugging you by automatically playing in your car every time you connect to it via CarPlay, you can consider removing it from your car infotainment’s system.

Follow these steps to achieve that:

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings.
2. From the Settings menu, select General and then go to “CarPlay.”
3. Tap on your car, and then tap on “Forget This Car.”

5. Modify AirPod Settings

If you use AirPods and are often turned off by automatic music playing when you put them in your ears? Well, there’s a setting that can help with that and it’s crucial in completely turning off Apple Music autoplay on both iPhone and Mac devices.

Here’s how you do it:

↪ On iPhone/iPad

1. Open your iPhone Settings.
2. Select “Bluetooth.”
   

   

3. Under My Devices, tap on the info button next to your AirPods.
4. Turn off “Automatic Ear Detection.” 
   

   

↪ On Mac

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and select “System Settings.”
   

   

2. Scroll down all the way until you see your AirPods in the sidebar. Click on them and uncheck the “Automatic ear detection” option.
   

   

What to Do When Nothing is Stopping Apple Music?

When you find yourself in a frustrating scenario where Apple Music just won’t quit playing on its own, after implementing the above solutions, take the following troubleshooting steps:

• Restart your device: Restarting your iPhone or Mac effectively resolves issues by refreshing the device’s system and can help eliminate glitches or conflicts in the operating system.
• Force Stop Apple Music: Swipe up from the bottom to access the app switcher. Locate the Apple Music app and swipe its preview card upward to close it.
• Reset Apple Music Settings: Go to “Settings” > “Music,” and disable the iCloud Music Library. Wait a few minutes before restarting your device. Access Apple Music, tap your profile, halt any background applications, then reopen the app and sign in with your Apple ID to resolve the problem of Apple Music autoplay.

READ MORE: How to Add Music to Your Steam Music Player ➜

Wrapping Up

Reclaiming control over your Apple Music experience is a simple yet empowering process. Whether fine-tuning settings, troubleshooting, or employing practical strategies, these steps allow you to dictate when your music begins and ends.

Remember, the goal is to ensure your listening experience aligns seamlessly with your preferences. So, go ahead, implement these measures, and enjoy a more personalized and interruption-free musical journey.