How to stop Apple Music from automatically playing

Music is a big part of our daily lives, providing the soundtrack (and sometimes an escape) to our work commutes, workouts, and leisure time. Apple Music, the tech giant’s streaming service, has made accessing millions of songs at our fingertips incredibly convenient. However, there are times when the automatic playback feature can frustrating, causing unexpected and unwanted music to start playing. Usually, it’s when you least expect it to. If you’ve found yourself in a situation where Apple Music keeps automatically playing, we’ll show you how to stop it.

Why does auto-playing happen with Apple Music?

For starters, it’s important to understand why Apple Music might be automatically playing in the first place. One common reason is the “Autoplay” feature, designed to keep the music flowing seamlessly by playing similar songs or playlists after the current track or album ends. While this feature can be convenient in some scenarios, it can lead to unintended playback when you least expect it.

Another potential cause is the “Handoff” feature that allows you to seamlessly continue your audio experience across your Apple devices. In a simple explanation, Handoff seamlessly transitions activities, including music playback, between your Apple devices. While convenient in some cases, it can lead to unintended music playback across devices. 

How to disable Autoplay on Apple Music

 The process of disabling Autoplay is pretty simple and can be done across various devices:

For iPhone, Android and iPad:

1. Open the Apple Music app and play an album or playlist.
2. Tap the song that is currently playing at the bottom of the screen.
3. Beneath the play controls, tap the “Up Next” icon.
4. Locate the Autoplay icon at the top of the “Playing Next” list (if highlighted, it’s on).
5. Tap the Autoplay icon to turn it off.

For PC & Mac:

1. Open the Music app and play an album or playlist.
2. In the top-right corner, click the “Up Next” icon.
3. Click the Autoplay icon (red means it’s on, gray means it’s off).

Autoplay in Your Car 

If Apple Music starts playing automatically when your iPhone connects to your car’s Bluetooth, here are a few solutions:

1. Disable CarPlay:
   • Open Settings on your iPhone.
   • Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
   • Ensure the Content & Privacy Restrictions slider is on.
   • Tap “Allowed Apps” and toggle CarPlay off.
2. Disable Bluetooth:
   • Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Bluetooth.
   • Toggle Bluetooth off.
   • Alternatively, unpair your iPhone from your car by tapping the “i” icon next to your car’s Bluetooth in the “My Devices” list, then tap “Forget This Device.”
3. Use a Shortcut (for CarPlay users):
   • Open the Shortcuts app and tap “Automation.”
   • Create a new Personal Automation for “CarPlay” and choose “Connects.”
   • Add the “Play/Pause” action from the Media category and select “Pause.”
   • Toggle off “Ask Before Running” and tap “Done.”
   • When you connect your iPhone to CarPlay, this Shortcut will automatically pause Apple Music.
4. Disable Handoff Across Devices

If you’re noticing that Apple Music continues playing unexpectedly on different devices, the Handoff feature could be Handoff. 

For iPhone:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap “General.”
3. Select “AirPlay & Handoff.”
4. Toggle off the switch next to “Handoff.”

For Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Choose “System Preferences.”
3. Select the “General” preference pane.
4. Uncheck the box labeled “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.”

Important Note: Keep in mind that turning off Handoff on one device will prevent the continuation of music playback and other activities on all your linked Apple devices using the same Apple ID.

Additional tips and tricks

If you’re still experiencing issues with Apple Music automatically playing, here are some extra tips to try:

1. Force quit the Apple Music app and relaunch it.
2. Check for software updates and install the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, as these often include bug fixes and improvements.
3. Reset your Apple Music settings to their default state by navigating to the app’s settings and looking for a “Reset” or “Restore” option.
4. Disable Apple Music from using cellular data while restricting playback to only downloaded files or when on Wi-Fi. 
5. Explore alternative music streaming apps that offer more granular control over playback settings.

Final thoughts

While music can be a wonderful companion in our daily lives, sometimes, a little peace and quiet is needed. Maybe you prefer to be in control of our audio experiences like we do. We hope that these steps and guides helped stop some of the abrupt music that catches you off guard.