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Microsoft Edge for Android to Unlock Free YouTube Background Playback

Microsoft Edge is testing a powerful new feature for Android users that could change how people watch and listen to YouTube. The Microsoft Edge Canary build now includes an option that lets users play YouTube videos in the background for free, without requiring a YouTube Premium subscription. This feature, once rolled out widely, could give Android users a free alternative to YouTube’s paid background playback option.

Currently, YouTube background playback is locked behind YouTube Premium, costing users a monthly fee. Only paid subscribers can listen to YouTube Music or videos while multitasking or with their screen turned off. With Microsoft Edge’s update, however, Android users can bypass this restriction and enjoy seamless playback for free, directly through the browser.

How to Enable YouTube Background Playback in Microsoft Edge on Android
To activate the hidden feature on your Android device:

Download and install Microsoft Edge Canary from the Google Play Store.
In the address bar, type edge://flags and press enter.
Search for “Video Background Play” and set it to Enabled.
Restart the browser.

Go to Settings → Site settings → Background video playback and turn on the toggle for Background audio playback. Once enabled, you can listen to YouTube videos, YouTube Music, podcasts, or other streaming content in the background without interruptions.

Early testing shows the feature works smoothly without glitches. However, YouTube autoplay (automatically playing the next video in a playlist) is not yet supported. Users will need to manually reopen YouTube to continue playback.

This update could be a game-changer for Android users who want: