How to Stop Playing Netflix When a Timer Ends on an iPhone

To stop Netflix when a timer ends on your iPhone, open the Clock app, tap Timers, set how long you want Netflix to play, then tap When Timer Ends and choose Stop Playing at the bottom of the list. Tap Set, then Start. When the timer runs out, your iPhone stops the video. For audio shows, the Podcasts app has its own control, covered in our guide to setting a sleep timer in Apple Podcasts on iPhone.

These steps come from Apple’s Set timers in Clock on iPhone guide and Netflix’s How to autoplay the next episode and How to turn preview autoplay on or off help articles. This guide covers setting the sleep timer, what happens when it ends, reusing it each night, and turning off Netflix autoplay so the next episode doesn’t start on its own.

How to Set a Sleep Timer for Netflix on iPhone

1. Open the Clock app.
2. Tap Timers and set how long you want to watch.
3. Tap When Timer Ends.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the list of sounds and tap Stop Playing.
5. Tap Set, then tap Start.
6. Open Netflix and start watching.

Result: When the countdown reaches zero, playback stops. Apple says the timer keeps running even if you open another app or your iPhone goes to sleep.

You’ll know it’s set up correctly when the timer screen shows Stop Playing next to When Timer Ends.

What Happens When the Timer Ends

When a Stop Playing timer runs out, whatever is playing stops and the iPhone locks. That also helps save battery: The Netflix app keeps the screen awake while it plays, so a show left running all night can drain your phone.

This works for any video or audio app, not just Netflix. Apple’s own example is falling asleep while listening to the radio.

How to Reuse the Timer Every Night

• Recent timers: Apple says a custom timer you set appears below Recent, so you can start the same one again without setting it up each time.
• Label it: Try labeling the timer something like “Bedtime,” so you know which one has Stop Playing turned on.
• Pick a length: Try 5 to 20 minutes, so there’s only a short stretch to rewind the next day.

Also Turn Off Autoplay Next Episode

The timer stops playback, but turning off autoplay keeps Netflix from rolling into the next episode before the timer runs out. Netflix’s steps for iPhone:

1. Open the Netflix app and select a profile.
2. Tap My Netflix in the lower right.
3. Tap the profile name at the top, then tap Manage Profiles.
4. Select the profile you want to edit.
5. Turn off Autoplay Next Episode.
6. Tap Done.

Result: Netflix stops after each episode instead of starting the next one. Netflix says you may need to switch profiles or sign out and back in for the change to take effect. The same screen also has Autoplay Previews.

Make Sure Your Other Timers Still Ring

Apple lists Stop Playing in the same place as the timer sounds, so a timer that still has Stop Playing selected stops your media instead of playing a sound. Before you rely on a timer for an alert, check its sound. Our iPhone timer sound guide explains choosing an audible tone and checking it with a short countdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Netflix have its own sleep timer on iPhone?

Netflix doesn’t offer one in its app, which is why the Clock timer is the workaround.

Can I set this up on an iPad?

Yes. The Clock app timer works the same way on iPadOS.

More Netflix Guides

• How to turn off Netflix autoplay
• How to download Netflix episodes to your iPhone
• How to get rid of Netflix notifications on iPhone