One of the biggest reasons people pay for YouTube Premium is the ability to keep videos playing even when switching apps or locking the screen. But Microsoft may have found a way to make this coveted perk available for free on Android.
Microsoft Edge Canary Brings Hidden Background Playback
A tech enthusiast spotted a new option tucked inside Microsoft Edge Canary for Android. The experimental flag, named Video Background Play. It allows YouTube videos and even clips from other sites to continue running when you move away from the app.
To try it now, you need to:
- Download Microsoft Edge Canary on your Android phone.
- Type edge://flags in the address bar.
- Search for Video Background Play. Set it to Enabled.
- Restart the browser.
- Open Settings, go to Site settings, then tap Background video playback and toggle it on.
Once this is enabled, YouTube videos will no longer pause when you check messages, open another app, or even lock your phone.
Built-In Ad Blocking Makes It Even More Tempting
Another surprise inside Edge Canary is a first-time launch prompt encouraging users to activate an integrated ad blocker. Once turned on, ads disappear from most websites, including YouTube. That means background playback combined with ad-free viewing, making it two of the biggest reasons users pay for YouTube Premium.
If these features are rolled out to the stable version of Edge, Microsoft could attract millions of Android users seeking free alternatives. However, YouTube Premium may lose some of its appeal.
Déjà Vu for Microsoft and Google
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has clashed with YouTube’s rules. Back in 2013, its YouTube app for Windows Phone allowed downloads and stripped away ads. Google quickly intervened and shut it down. Whether Google will respond with the same firmness this time remains to be seen.
What It Means for Android Users
For now, the background playback trick only works in Microsoft Edge Canary. There’s no guarantee it will make it to the final release, but the discovery shows that competition in the video streaming market is intensifying. If the feature survives testing, Android users may finally be able to enjoy background playback without paying $14 a month.
