Decide the intended end state
An automatic action at the end of a file can be useful during a controlled viewing session. Begin by deciding whether the player should stop, move to another item or close as appropriate to its actual available choices. A temporary choice for a presentation should not silently become the behavior for every future video.
Use two short disposable samples with unmistakable names. Keep any active work saved before testing an automatic closing behavior. The test should make the scope visible without depending on a long film or a stream whose ending is unclear.
Read the documented current and permanent routes
The MPC-HC project README distinguishes Options, Playback, After Playback as the permanent setting from Play, After Playback for the current file. Inspect both in the installed build and record the starting choices. Similar menu wording can conceal a significant difference in scope.
Choose the route that fits the actual task. For an original example, a one-time demo that should close afterward is a different requirement from a household playlist that normally advances. Keep that intention written down before selecting an action so the result can be checked against a concrete goal.
Let the sample reach its natural end
Play the first sample to completion and observe what happens. Closing the window manually or pressing Stop is a different trigger and does not establish the configured end action. Keep the second sample available only if a next-item action is being tested.
If the outcome differs, inspect which menu scope was changed and which item was current. Do not create several overlapping changes while the first test remains unclear. Record the natural-end result and the visible configuration together. That is more useful than describing all unexpected exits as a crash.
Reopen a separate item to check persistence
After the current-file test, open another ordinary sample and inspect whether the permanent choice remains as intended. Use a normal player exit and reopening if the task requires behavior across sessions. A successful current-file action is not evidence that a lasting preference was saved.
Restore the ordinary household or work setting after the demonstration and retain the final scope in setup notes. The expected outcome is an understood automatic end action. It does not modify the video file, create a server-side playlist policy or guarantee the same menu scopes in another player.
Questions answered
Why should I let the test file finish naturally?
The configured end action concerns completion. A manual Stop or window close does not prove the same trigger was exercised.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.