Youtube starts playing in random moments after upgrade to iOS 18.1

I have the exact same issue. This happens during the work day during presentations and meetings. A random video I have never watched before will start playing out loud. There needs to be a fix for this quick as it is embarrassing and distruptive.

This has also been happening to me for a few days now. I have even made sure to close the YouTube app before I go to sleep, but it still happens! I have to open the YouTube app and close it again to get it to stop. Hopefully this is fixed soon, it almost always happens at like 3 in the morning for me.

I have been having this same problem. Hopefully this is fixed soon.

Upgraded recently from the 14 to the 16. No issues until the 18.1 update hit. Random videos also start playing once my phone connects to my car. Really freaked me out when my phone started playing an unknown video at 1 in the morning. Hope they fix this soon!

Having the exact issue on iPhone 16 pro max. Started with iOS 18.1b and 18.2b

Just had the same problem happen to me about 10 mins ago and it’s currently 1 in the morning for me… thought I was losing it

Still happening on iOS 18.2 public release. YouTube app seems to be the culprit since the moment I close it from task switcher, it stops.

I have schizophrenia and this stuff needs fixing asap before I’m forced to switch brands after almost 20 years of iPhones.

I have same problem. Phone is locked on the table and randomly start play youtube.

I have the same issue on an iPhone 15 Plus running iOS 17.6.1

The YouTube app isn’t even open in background apps and it will randomly turn on and play a video that I hadn’t even been watching prior.

I've gone ahead and filed FB15924267 for this if any Apple engineers are watching this thread.

I’m still on 17.6.1 and this has been happening to me - once a few nights ago and again just a few minutes ago. All apps were closed and this video just randomly started in the background. As many have already pointed out, I had to open the app and close it again for it to stop.

This is incredibly unsettling and needs to be fixed. If it is a security vulnerability, someone is remotely interacting with my phone in such a way that they are able to disrupt my day. If it is a bug, it displays very eerily - even though I can go into YouTube and confirm the video history is what was playing, the lock screen of the phone does not provide any data about what's playing - just blank information!

Same her trying to see if disabling background refresh solves the issue

Same issue here. It’s definitely an issue with the YouTube app. Closing out the app used to stop the video from playing but it doesn’t anymore.

I’ve emailed support regarding this issue twice and haven’t heard a thing.

I just delete the YouTube app off my phone every night so it won’t wake me up. So annoying.