YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#21

Post by Imustaskforhelp » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:31 AM UTC

redml wrote: post #20

i had that happen on firefox mobile months ago and installed video background play fix which all it does is stop sending the js hooks for when tab/window focus is lost. it was something clearly targeted to mobile browsers for people like me who don't bother with official apps anymore as they're riddled with antipatterns and ads. you can just youtube to the homepage like it's an app anyway.

+N for video background play fix extension. Highly recommended on firefox.

This and ubo on android really make firefox a really great (the best imo) browser on android.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#22

Post by sfdlkj3jk342a » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:33 AM UTC

Still working on IronFox (Firefox fork) on Android with the Video Background Fix extension.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#23

Post by kurito » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:35 AM UTC

What a waste of resources. Imagine employing some of the most brilliant engineers on the planet and allocating man-hours towards artificially worsening the experience for your userbase in order to blackmail them into paying you, and giving them back what they had in the first place.

At least this is a loosing game for Google, since this is client side behaviour.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#24

Post by speedylight » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:38 AM UTC

On iOS you can get free background play with Youtube App by putting the video in picture-in-picture -> locking the screen, -> going to control center and hitting the play button. Don’t let Google know!

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#25

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:39 AM UTC

lmz wrote: post #19

barnabee wrote: post #16

Background playback is a feature of the browser and operating system, not YouTube. Consumer laws should prevent Google doing this. We need an anti-DMCA to make circumvention, bypassing, or disabling of user’s device or OS features illegal.

Serving requests is a feature of Youtube and if they don't want to serve your client... well you didn't pay for it anyway.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#26

Post by VadimPR » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:43 AM UTC

lmz wrote: post #19

barnabee wrote: post #16

Background playback is a feature of the browser and operating system, not YouTube. Consumer laws should prevent Google doing this. We need an anti-DMCA to make circumvention, bypassing, or disabling of user’s device or OS features illegal.

Serving requests is a feature of Youtube and if they don't want to serve your client... well you didn't pay for it anyway.

They corned the market, drove everyone out of it, and are now rent-seeking. Can't say you have much of a choice between youtube and any other video provider that has the same content on it.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#27

Post by baxtr » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:44 AM UTC

If you’re on iOS, put the video on full screen and then put Safari in the background. Next, press play in the Control Center. This should now allow the audio to play in the background.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#28

Post by happymellon » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:46 AM UTC

politelemon wrote: post #8

Newpipe remains one of the best solutions for background playback. They do tend to move pretty quickly to patch "fixes" that YouTube throw in now and again. It's also useful for video backups if you need to preserve them for any reason.

Why install additional software? Firefox hasn't broken for me only the Chrome clones.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#29

Post by mhitza » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:46 AM UTC

politelemon wrote: post #8

Newpipe remains one of the best solutions for background playback. They do tend to move pretty quickly to patch "fixes" that YouTube throw in now and again. It's also useful for video backups if you need to preserve them for any reason.

I'm a NewPipe user as well, unfortunately the experience is getting worse there too. Might be because I also use a VPN, but after every couple of videos I have to cooldown my usage until the IP block is reset.

This started happening for me a few weeks ago.

Re: YouTube blocks background video playback on Brave and other browsers

#30

Post by wiseowise » Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:48 AM UTC

laserlight wrote: post #18

hsbauauvhabzb wrote: post #9

Imagine trying to take a basic browser function we’ve all taken for granted for decades and attempt to paywall it as ‘Background playback is a feature intended to be exclusive for YouTube Premium members.’ Get fucked. I vote we remove API access to any focus state information. Fuck you google.

It upsets me to see YouTube Premium apologists despite all the hostile moves by YouTube. YouTube Premium is an extortion scheme. When there are enough paying customers, YouTube Premium will begin showing ads to them. They won't forget sugarcoating ads as being “unobtrusive” or “environment-supporting” or whatever. But guess what? If you don't want to see them, you can upgrade to YouTube Premium Plus and continue bein…

But think how hard it is for them to earn money to make up for all the billions they’ve used to create de facto monopoly in video space? Won’t someone think of poor capitalists trying to squeeze the niche dry?