There are many reasons why Android users rely on third-party browsers, and one of the most popular is the ability to play videos in the background on YouTube. Unfortunately, those days may be coming to an end for non-subscribers.
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According to reports from PiunikaWeb, Android users who rely on third-party browsers can no longer continue listening to a video in the background, both within other apps and with the screen off. Most reports appear to be coming from Samsung Internet users, but those using browsers like Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge have also reported similar issues.
These browsers have become popular thanks to solutions like background playback, allowing anyone to use one of the most desirable Premium features.
It's not just that the play button no longer works — YouTube is removing the card from the lock screen entirely.
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The same thing happens with Safari on iOS: playback pauses, followed by the disappearance of playback controls. In comparison, accessing YouTube via Samsung Internet with a Premium account also pauses playback when the screen goes dark, but the playback card does not disappear from the lock screen, and you can resume playback.
It appears that some checking is done in the background to confirm whether an account has access to background playback, just like with the standard mobile app.
However, there may be a glimmer of hope. As PiunikaWeb points out, at least one Brave user has reported that his browser is once again allowing background playback. Some videos work, some don't, and some seem to crash after a few seconds, with no clear explanation as to why this is happening. Results may vary.
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In any case, we're talking about a platform that has gone to great lengths in recent years to crack down on attempts to obtain Premium features without a subscription, whether through ad-blockers or unofficial YouTube clients. It's not entirely clear whether this is yet another move by Google to limit its non-paying audience, but it seems likely that this kind of feature suppression is not a one-time action.
