YouTube has moved to restrict a popular user workaround for accessing background playback, a feature typically reserved for paying subscribers, on several major web browsers. User reports indicate the change has affected platforms including Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge.
The functionality allows audio from a video to continue playing when a browser tab is minimized or a device screen is turned off. This capability recently ceased working for many users on these browsers.
Attempts to use the feature now result in the audio stopping. Some users have reported seeing a brief system notification labeled “MediaOngoingActivity” before playback ends.
Background play is a core benefit of a YouTube Premium subscription. For years, users of many non-Chrome browsers accessed background playback without a subscription by keeping a browser tab open in the background. This loophole has now been closed on the affected browsers.
The function continues to work on Google’s own Chrome browser without a Premium subscription. This distinction highlights potential strategic implications of the change. The action may serve two business objectives: converting free users to YouTube Premium and reinforcing the utility of the Chrome browser.
YouTube has taken several steps in recent months to limit circumvention of its premium features. This includes a global campaign against ad blocker usage. The latest restriction on background playback aligns with this pattern of enforcing the platform’s paid subscription model.
The change directly impacts how users engage with audio content on YouTube, a platform widely used for music streaming. The effect on user behavior, whether driving subscription growth or migration to other audio services, remains to be seen.
