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“Netflix skipping episodes” can mean several things: it may start the next episode when you don’t want it to, stop instead of continuing, jump or stutter during playback, or resume the series at the wrong point. Choose the symptom first: change Autoplay Next Episode for unwanted autoplay; check Wi-Fi and the app if autoplay fails; test another title and troubleshoot the device if video skips; and check the profile and Viewing Activity if Netflix opens the wrong episode.
First, identify what Netflix is doing
- The next episode starts without you choosing it: Turn off Autoplay Next Episode for the profile you’re watching.
- The next episode does not start: Check that autoplay is enabled. On a phone or tablet, try Wi-Fi; Netflix says it may not autoplay over a mobile network to avoid unexpected data use.
- The picture jumps, freezes, or stutters during an episode: Treat this as a playback or device problem, not an autoplay setting. Test another title, then check the app, device, and video connection.
- Netflix opens an episode you already watched or jumps ahead in a series: Check that you’re on the right profile and review its Viewing Activity. Another viewer using that profile or progress recorded on another device may explain the change.
- Playback pauses with “Are you still watching?”: That is a viewing prompt, not necessarily a skipped episode.
Stop Netflix from automatically starting the next episode
Autoplay Next Episode is a profile setting. Choose the profile you actually use before changing it; the preference applies to that profile, rather than just the device where you edit it. Netflix’s current instructions are in its Autoplay settings help page.
Change the setting in a browser
- Open Netflix in a browser and go to Account.
- Under Profiles, select the affected profile.
- Open Playback settings.
- Turn off Autoplay Next Episode. Save if prompted; otherwise, allow the preference to update.
- Refresh Netflix on the device where you watch. If the new setting has not appeared, switch to another profile and back, or sign out and sign back in.
Change the setting in the mobile app
- Open Netflix and select a profile.
- Tap My Netflix in the lower-right corner, then tap the profile name at the top.
- Tap Manage Profiles and select the affected profile.
- Turn off Autoplay Next Episode. On iPhone or iPad, tap Done if it appears.
If the next episode still starts automatically, check that you changed the setting for the profile currently in use. Then refresh it by switching profiles or signing out and back in, close and reopen Netflix, and restart the device. Test the same profile on another device: if the preference behaves differently only on one TV, streaming stick, console, or app, update that device’s Netflix app and system software. If the problem began after an update and remains isolated to one device, contact Netflix or the device manufacturer. Netflix specifically recommends refreshing the profile or signing in again after changing this preference.
Fix Netflix when the next episode will not start
First make sure Autoplay Next Episode is enabled for the profile. If the setting is on but Netflix stops at the credits or returns to the title page, the device and connection matter too. Netflix’s guidance for this problem is at Next episode won’t play automatically.
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On an Android phone, iPhone, or iPad
- Connect to Wi-Fi and try again. Netflix says next-episode autoplay may not work over a mobile network because it is intended to help avoid unexpected data use.
- Update the Netflix app.
- If the phone or tablet is connected to a TV with a video cable or adapter, disconnect it and test playback directly on the mobile device. Netflix notes that this connection can affect autoplay support.
On a TV or another playback device
Restart the device fully rather than leaving it in standby: turn it off, unplug it if it has a power cable, leave it off for 15 seconds, reconnect it, and try Netflix again. If autoplay works on one device but not another, note that difference; it helps separate a profile setting from a device-specific issue.
Fix episodes that jump, skip, or stutter during playback
Changing autoplay will not fix video that jumps forward or stutters mid-episode. Netflix says distorted, glitchy, skipping, or stuttering video can involve the playback device or the video cable connected to the TV. Start by playing a different show or movie. If several titles are affected, troubleshoot the device and connection; if only one title is affected, use the title-reporting steps below instead of resetting every device. See Netflix’s video skipping or stuttering troubleshooting.
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On a TV, streaming stick, or other TV-connected device
- Restart the device, then reopen Netflix.
- For a full power cycle, unplug the device, press its power button once, and wait one minute; alternatively, leave it unplugged for three minutes. Reconnect it and try again.
- Sign out of Netflix and sign back in.
- Check the complete video path: the HDMI cable, any adapter, receiver, soundbar, or HDMI switch between the playback device and TV. If practical, test without external equipment in that path.
- Install available updates for the Netflix app and the device’s firmware or operating system.
- Consider restoring the device to its original settings only if the issue persists and appears specific to that device. A reset can remove apps, saved data, and preferences; have your Wi-Fi name and password and Netflix sign-in information available first.
On an Android phone or tablet
- Turn the device fully off, then turn it back on; locking the screen is not a restart.
- Update Netflix through Google Play and install an available Android update.
- If playback still skips across titles, contact the device manufacturer for device-specific help.
On an iPhone or iPad
- Turn the device off completely, then turn it back on and test Netflix.
- The button sequence for showing the power slider varies by Apple model. On current models that use it, press and hold the side button and one volume button until the slider appears.
Check the profile if Netflix resumes at the wrong episode
When a series opens several episodes ahead or shows episodes as watched unexpectedly, confirm the selected profile before changing device settings. If other people share it, ask whether someone watched the show on that profile; progress can also appear after viewing on another device using the same profile.
To inspect progress, open Netflix’s Viewing Activity for the relevant profile. If an incorrectly watched title appears there, use the available removal control for that entry. Separate profiles help keep different viewers’ progress distinct. If the activity does not explain the resume point or the problem continues, contact Netflix support.
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- Alexa voice control - The Alexa Voice Remote lets you easily control your entertainment, search across apps, switch inputs, and more using just your voice. Press and hold the voice button and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content, and even switch to cable.
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
- DTS Virtual-X Sound - An immersive sound format creates a three-dimensional sound experience with your TV’s speakers.
- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
When “Are you still watching?” interrupts an episode
This prompt can look like playback stopped, but Netflix describes it as a check during continuous viewing. Netflix says it appears on TVs and TV-connected devices after three episodes and 90 minutes of uninterrupted watching; on other devices, it appears after three episodes without using the video-player controls. Dismiss the prompt to continue, or turn off next-episode autoplay if you want Netflix to stop between episodes. These thresholds are stated by Netflix on its playback prompt help page.
Report a title that skips while other Netflix videos work
If other shows and movies play normally but one episode repeatedly skips, glitches, or has a picture, sound, or subtitle problem, report the affected title. Netflix’s instructions are available at How to report problems with a title.
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- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
- Open Netflix in a browser and go to Viewing Activity.
- Find the affected show or movie and select Report a Problem.
- Follow the reporting prompts. Netflix can use reports to investigate title problems, but a report does not guarantee an immediate response or fix.
Include useful details when the form allows: the show, season, and episode; device and operating system; approximate timestamp; whether the problem repeats; whether other titles work; whether it happens on Wi-Fi, mobile data, or both; and whether a cable, adapter, receiver, or external display is involved.
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