Can't find a way to keep Plex from automatically playing the next episode of a TV series

Plex Players Desktop Players
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Server Version#: Version 1.25.2.5319
Player Version#: Version 4.72.0 (https://app.plex.tv)

Plex keeps automatically playing the next episode of a TV series. I have complained about it in the past. Now, it’s doing it again and I cannot find a way to tell it to stop. Please understand that some of us do not binge watch. I’m thinking of workarounds, like only putting one episode into Plex file space at a time. Perhaps I’ll just stop using Plex until the company stops forcing binge watching and allows us to choose how we want to watch TV shows. This forced play-next policy is ridiculous.

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There is a short countdown before playback of the next episode commences.
Under the countdown there is a checkbox for autoplay.
Clear it.

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Also available during playback by clicking on ‘Settings.’

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Thanks. I will look for it… But why do I have to keep turning it off? I’ve experienced this frustration multiple times. Why does Plex keep losing my preferences? I keep wondering why the designers think we like autoplay so much. Please tell them that there is at least one customer – me – who does not like it.

We have had this conversation before. I think the problem is partly because the builders do not understand what it is like to be old. I’m in my 70s and it’s hard to see and respond to something that is only on the screen for a few seconds.

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Probably because something is clearing the cookies for the domain plex.tv from your browser.
It could be even a setting of the browser itself.
Or some “privacy” browser add-on.
Or some software like “CCleaner” et al.

Make sure that cookies from plex.tv are not deleted and your client preferences of the web app will be retained.

Or use a different app, like Plex for Windows/Mac.

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Thanks. That’s also helpful.

Do we have to do that for every series and every client? Is there no global setting?

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I’ve also had trouble with Plex for Windows, but will try it again. (I’ll have to install it. This is a new Windows 11 PC.)

I guess I just don’t understand how automatically playing episodes is so popular that it is the default. Plex isn’t the only one who does it. One of my problems is that I fall asleep sometimes and Plex keeps playing. Then I lose track of where I was in the series and have to go back to figure out which episode I was watching. It’s a waste of energy to play when no one is watching. It’s too bad Plex doesn’t have something like the “operator presence handle” on my lawn mower.

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I don’t use Plex for TV – I only have a couple of shows – so the below may not be accurate, but:

The setting seems to apply to the client. Changing the setting in one series appears to carry over to others.

I think it must be individually set on each client. I’m pretty sure there’s no global setting.

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It’s per client indeed.

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Thank you, Otto. As always, I appreciate your patience. These problems that seem so simple but take days to resolve can be so frustrating. I guess it makes sense to be “per client,” but, on the other hand, it seems like we should be able to set the default on the server. Perhaps the Plex developers could take that as a suggestion. We are just two retired people with a few TVs, computers and phones who seldom leave home. We expect Plex to operate similarly everywhere we use it in our home. Isn’t that why there are server settings? We don’t want to struggle through confusing settings or bother people on the forum every time we use a different device.

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