Many users associate YouTube Premium primarily with ad removal, but it also offers additional features, most notably background playback.
For some time, resourceful developers and users have found ways to access this feature without a subscription. One common method involved using third-party browsers such as Samsung Internet, Brave, or Vivaldi, allowing content to play in the background. Following a surge in user reports, Google has confirmed it will address these loopholes related to background playback.
Background playback is a feature designed exclusively for YouTube Premium subscribers. While some non-Premium users had access through mobile web browsers in specific scenarios, we have updated the experience to create consistency across all our platforms.
The exact number of users impacted by this change remains unclear, but it is within Google's rights to implement such measures. Although some may express frustration, it is worth noting that other workarounds for background playback still exist. However, these typically involve more effort than simply using a browser, indicating that Google is likely achieving its intended goal with this update.
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