YouTube’s Miniplayer shrinks a video into a small floating window so you can keep watching while scrolling elsewhere. If it’s popping up when you don’t want it, here’s how to control it.
On the Website (Desktop)
- While a video is playing, look for the Miniplayer icon in the player controls (near the fullscreen button) — it looks like a small rectangle.
- Click it once to toggle the Miniplayer on or off manually.
- To stop it from appearing automatically when you scroll away, click the X on the Miniplayer itself to close it rather than letting it float.
On the Mobile App
Swiping down or pressing the back button while a video plays shrinks it into the Miniplayer. To close it entirely, swipe the Miniplayer off to the side or tap the X on it.
Don’t Confuse This With Autoplay
Miniplayer (the floating window) and Autoplay (automatically playing the next recommended video) are two separate, unrelated settings. To turn off Autoplay specifically, use the Autoplay toggle next to the player controls or in Settings — it won’t affect the Miniplayer at all.
Related: See how to mute a YouTube video and what a playback error means.
FAQ
Is the Miniplayer the same as Autoplay?
No, they’re two separate, unrelated settings.
How do I close the Miniplayer on mobile?
Swipe it off to the side or tap the X on it.