YouTube has announced plans to restrict access to its background playback feature for free users on mobile browsers, reinforcing efforts to drive more users toward its Premium subscription offering. The background playback feature allows videos to continue playing while users switch between apps or browse other content on their devices. While the feature has officially been reserved for YouTube Premium subscribers using Google Chrome, many free users have been able to access it through alternative mobile browsers.
Over time, users discovered that mobile browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Samsung Internet allowed background playback without a paid subscription. This workaround gained popularity among free users, effectively bypassing one of the key benefits promoted under YouTube Premium. The company has now moved to close this gap, aligning feature access more closely with its subscription model and reinforcing the value proposition of its paid services.
Multiple users have recently reported that background playback has stopped working on alternative mobile browsers. Google confirmed that it is gradually blocking access to the feature for free accounts. According to the company, some users may still experience temporary access during the transition period, but the feature will eventually be disabled for all free users across mobile browsers. The phased approach suggests a controlled rollout aimed at minimizing disruption while enforcing updated usage policies.
Addressing user criticism, Google stated that background playback was designed exclusively for YouTube Premium subscribers and that the company is taking steps to prevent non-paying users from accessing it through unintended methods. The move forms part of YouTube’s broader strategy to expand its Premium subscriber base and strengthen revenue from paid services, as competition intensifies across the digital video and streaming ecosystem.
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