YouTube playlist autoplay functionality can be disrupted when the playlist contains an excessive number of videos. This issue arises because the platform may experience difficulty efficiently managing and pre-loading a very large index of content, potentially leading to interruptions in continuous playback. For example, a playlist exceeding several hundred videos might encounter playback errors or simply fail to advance to the next video automatically.
The automatic progression through playlists is a cornerstone of passive content consumption on YouTube. Its reliable operation enhances the user experience by enabling extended, uninterrupted viewing sessions. Historically, limitations in processing power and network bandwidth have imposed practical constraints on the seamless handling of extremely large playlists, influencing playback behavior. Improvements in these areas continue to reduce such occurrences, but playlist size remains a contributing factor.