On January 30, Google confirmed to Android Authority that YouTube has updated its service rules, restricting the Background Play feature exclusively to YouTube Premium subscribers.
A Google spokesperson stated: “Background Play has always been planned as a Premium-only feature. Previously, some non-Premium users could access it under specific conditions via mobile web browsers. We have now updated the experience to ensure consistency across all platforms.”
Previously, YouTube Premium offered ad-free viewing and several additional features. Some users had bypassed restrictions using non-Chrome browsers or ad blockers. Now, non-Premium users can no longer play videos in the background; audio stops immediately when minimizing the browser or turning off the screen. Some users reported briefly seeing a “MediaOngoingActivity” notification before the media controls disappear.
Users of Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge have all reported similar experiences.
