That YouTube feature is now paid
YouTube's background playback feature, loved by millions, is no longer available for free to mobile browser users. The new restrictions mark the end of an era for those who prefer free listening.
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Listening to YouTube videos on mobile devices while the screen is off or while switching to another app has been a popular habit for a long time. Users typically took advantage of this capability for free through various browsers such as Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge. However, with recent technical changes, this "backdoor" method has been disabled.
Now, when a YouTube video is started via a mobile browser, exiting the app or turning off the screen causes the audio to cut out. Some users report that the media control panel disappears entirely and that they receive a warning before the video audio stops. This has dealt a significant blow to the habit of listening to music or following conversations like a radio while the screen is off.
There has been no official statement from the platform regarding this change yet. However, experts agree that YouTube has taken this step to support its Premium subscription model.
This is because the background playback feature is offered as one of the prominent advantages of the Premium package, and being able to access it for free via third-party browsers was reducing interest in the paid subscription. With the update, users will now need to purchase a paid membership to listen to content in the background.