YouTube restricts background play to Premium users across all browsers

The feature, which allows videos to continue playing audio while the app is minimised or the screen is off, had previously been limited to paying Premium subscribers. Some users, however, had bypassed this restriction by using browsers other than Chrome.

Reports on social media this week indicate that background play no longer functions on browsers including Samsung Internet, Vivaldi, Brave, and Microsoft Edge. A Google spokesperson confirmed the change was deliberate.

“We have updated the experience to ensure consistency across all our platforms,” the spokesperson told Android Authority. They reiterated that background play is intended as a Premium feature, noting that “some non-Premium users may have previously been able to access this through mobile web browsers in certain scenarios.”

YouTube has previously taken steps to encourage Premium subscriptions by limiting workarounds, including a November update that caused some users employing ad blockers to believe the platform was temporarily down.

YouTube Music has reported an increase in subscribers during the third quarter of 2025, although it remains behind Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music in market share. In addition, YouTube TV announced plans last year to introduce more than ten genre-specific channel packages, allowing viewers to select or combine bundles for a personalised experience, as part of broader efforts to attract new subscribers.