How to set a sleep timer for YouTube and Netflix videos

Updated May 13, 20263 min read

Falling asleep to a show or podcast is much more comfortable when the video stops on its own. VidBar's sleep timer pauses or closes the player after a duration you choose, with no browser tab left running all night.

  1. 1
    Step 1

    Install VidBar

    Add VidBar from the Chrome Web Store. The sleep timer works on YouTube, Netflix, and most HTML5 video pages.

    InstallChrome Web StoreFeaturesleep timerSiteYouTubeSiteNetflixSiteHTML5 video
  2. 2
    Step 2

    Start playing a video

    Open your video or show. The VidBar toolbar appears at the bottom of the player.

  3. 3
    Step 3

    Open the sleep timer

    Click the moon / timer icon in the toolbar to open the sleep timer panel.

    Featuresleep timer
  4. 4
    Step 4

    Set the duration

    Choose a time between 5 and 300 minutes. The countdown begins immediately.

  5. 5
    Step 5

    Optional: set an end action

    Pick whether VidBar should pause the video, mute it, or close the tab when the timer fires.

  6. 6
    Step 6

    Go to sleep

    The timer runs in the background. When it reaches zero, VidBar takes the action you chose — no alarm, no disruption.

FAQ

  • Can I set the timer in episodes instead of minutes?

    Not yet — the timer is minute-based. Setting it to roughly your episode length is the easiest workaround.

  • Will the sleep timer survive a tab reload?

    The timer resets on page reload, so start it after the video is playing.

Try VidBar on a live video

Open the interactive demo to test karaoke, speed, filters, audio tools, and export before installing.

Try the demo

Related

Sleep TimerAuto-Pause on Tab LeaveVidBar on YouTubeVidBar on Netflix

More video guides

How to add picture-in-picture to any video in Chrome

Watch any video in a floating window while you work in other tabs. A guide to picture-in-picture Chrome extensions in 2026.

How to auto-pause video when switching tabs in Chrome

Automatically pause, mute, or hide video when you switch to another tab. A guide to tab-aware video controls in Chrome for 2026.

How to listen to YouTube in audio-only mode on Chrome

Save bandwidth and battery by switching YouTube to audio-only mode — keep the sound, stop loading the video.

Best Chrome extension for Netflix in 2026

Enhance Netflix with speed control, picture-in-picture, subtitle styling, filters, and a sleep timer. A guide to the best Netflix Chrome extensions in 2026.