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YouTube Cuts Off Background Playback Workarounds in Third-Party Browsers

Tests indicate account-based checks now halt audio for non-subscribers using web playback.

Overview

  • Many non-paying users report playback stops and lock-screen controls vanish when the display turns off.
  • Reports cluster around Samsung Internet, with similar complaints from Brave, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge.
  • 9to5Google reproduced the cutoff on an unpaid account, with audio ending seconds after the screen went dark.
  • Similar behavior appeared on Safari on iOS, while Premium accounts retained a lock-screen card that allowed resuming.
  • Some users note intermittent success in Brave, pointing to inconsistent enforcement across devices and videos.