Source: Slashdot
YouTube Restricts Mobile Background Playback
For users who enjoy YouTube content on their mobile devices, a recent change by Alphabet now restricts background playback. Without a YouTube Premium subscription, streaming content will no longer play in the background on mobile browsers. This means if a user minimizes the browser, switches to a different application, or allows their phone’s screen to lock, audio playback will immediately cease.
While this decision lacks a clear benefit for the user, YouTube states it is necessary to “ensure consistency across all our platforms.” The connection between consistency and the cost of YouTube Premium remains unclear, though it appears to be an effort to make the paid subscription more appealing by limiting features in the free version.
This development reflects the evolving landscape of web services in 2026.
Reports from users began surfacing last week, describing how audio would cut out instantly upon leaving the browser. Some noted a brief “MediaOngoingActivity” notification before media controls vanished.
