Microsoft Edge Can Play YouTube Videos In The Background And Block Ads

Microsoft Edge allows YouTube playback in the background (photo: dock. Microsoft)

JAKARTA Microsoft Edge has a new feature that benefits YouTube users. With this feature, users no longer need to subscribe just to play videos in the background for free.

This feature was first discovered by Leopeva64, one of the X users, on Microsoft Edge Canary for Android. Named Video Background Play, this feature allows users to play YouTube videos or other platforms while switching to another app or locking the screen.

To enable it, users must download Microsoft Edge Canary and enter the edge://flags page first. After that, look for the Video Background Play option and change its status to Enabled. Before use, the browser must restart.

Next, go to the Settings menu to select Site Settings, then select the background video playback and activate the buttons. After performing these stages, the YouTube playback feature in the background can be used.

YouTube videos will not stop again when users switch tabs on Edge, open other apps, or even when the screen is locked. This is a benefit that Premium YouTube subscribers can only enjoy. This feature also works on other video sites.

In addition to background playback, Edge Canary also offers built-in ad blocking. Users will see a pop-up that offers to enable ad blocking for the uninterrupted viewing experience.

This feature allows users to watch videos on YouTube without ads. It is not yet known whether YouTube will take action regarding this feature. The reason is, the number of YouTube Premium subscribers can decrease due to the emergence of these two new features.

Google took firm action against Microsoft in 2013. At that time, Google blocked the YouTube app on Windows Phone for violating service terms. It remains to be seen if Google will react similarly to this new feature on Edge.