Google has rolled out a change that disables background playback for non‑Premium users across several mobile browsers. The tweak, announced via Android Authority, forces audio to stop when the screen turns off or the browser is minimized, affecting Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge.

Users who previously relied on browser workarounds to enjoy YouTube’s audio while multitasking now face a sudden outage. Reports surfaced a week ago, with Samsung forums and subreddits like r/oneui flooding with complaints that the familiar “MediaOngoingActivity” notification no longer keeps music alive everywhere today.

Brave’s GitHub issue confirms the failure, yet a handful of users report a temporary fix after a recent update. The move signals YouTube’s intent to close loopholes that let free users mimic YouTube Premium benefits, pushing more listeners toward paid subscriptions in the coming weeks ahead.

Developers watching the shift should note that the change affects only non‑Premium traffic, leaving paid users untouched. Future updates may extend restrictions to third‑party clients, echoing YouTube’s recent crackdown on apps like NewPipe. Staying informed will help teams adapt their media‑heavy features accordingly for developers.