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YouTube update rolling out on Google Play, future plans for background audio hidden within [DOWNLOAD]

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YouTube Background Audio

An updated YouTube app is currently rolling out in the Google Play Store. We should warn you that there doesn’t seem to be any surface changes. All the fun stuff is under the hood where it appears Google is getting the app ready for the November’s scheduled offline video support feature. Even better, it looks like Google is preparing a future update enabling one of the most sought after features in YouTube’s history: Background Audio.

Download: YouTube 5.2.27

As the name suggests, the upcoming option will let users start up a video, then allow the audio from said video to continue playing while in another app, or even while the screen is off. Pretty. Effin. Nuts. You can either wait for the YouTube update to hit your device, or download and install via the above link. Recently, iOS users received the ability to choose their stream quality — 360p, 480p, or 720p — so let’s hope this will also make it’s way to Android devices in the near future.

 

|via Android Police|

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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31 Comments

  1. Can’t wait for that future to be on the youtube app…

  2. finally we have it again! I remember on my Sensation 4G, I had to refrain from updating the app because the version it came with was able to play audio in the background.

    1. I know. I had a DROID incredible same thing. The old version of the App had the functionality and then honeycomb came out….. boom, gone. I was never sure why they took that out.

  3. So, so long overdue. Winning!

    … but I downloaded it, and that option isn’t in my options. Sad panda.

    1. It’s hidden. Currently under testing and will likely be available in a future update.

      1. Yep, I found that out when I, uhh… accidentally happened upon another Android website. ;)

        1. You cheating on me? O_O

          1. ‘course not! :-)

  4. Nice that I won’t have to use another app to keep youtube running while the screen is off. 90% or more of the videos I “watch” I only listen to and the screen only eats battery.

  5. “Recently, iOS users received the ability to choose their stream quality — 360p, 480p, or 720p — so let’s hope this will also make it’s way to Android devices in the near future.”

    Why the effing eff do effing iOS users get so many effing features from Google before Android users?

    1. Well there’s two separate teams for the platforms. I guess the iOS team is just faster. :/ I might be wrong but I believe its two separate teams.

      1. 2 separate teams. One screwed up management.

  6. Yes! I’ve been wanting this forever!!!

  7. Wtf!! I was able to do this on my Palm pre 4 years ago!!

  8. This is pretty cool. I could also do with a ‘treadmill mode’ :)

  9. What we need is a way for the app to open youtube videos that are embedded in browsers… I have no idea why but the nexus cant play them without lots of skips and jumps.

    1. If you click the YouTube icon in the bottom right of the vid while while playing in the browser, it will open the video in the app for you (which usually yields much better playback than the browser).

  10. Nice! I’ve been hacking this via Samsung’s multi-app feature, but it’s nice to have it officially.

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      Palm pre 4 years ago!!

  11. YEEEEEESSS!!!!!!!! Finally. : D

  12. Yes! 1 question though, will it just stream the audio or the video too? Just wondering if it will help with data consumption or not.

    1. it streams just as though the video is running.

  13. i downloaded it but don’t have the option for audio in the background??? WTF :(

    1. You didn’t even read the article, let alone the title.

  14. Just curious, what is the main use case for folks that have been wanting this feature? Most of the stuff I tend to view on YouTube is pretty short (like songs) or requires viewing (like auto repair DIY instructions), so for that type of use, this feature doesn’t help much, but I’m interested in finding out how other people would utilize it.

    1. I know a lot of people who use youtube as a lazy man’s music player, being able to turn off the screen would save battery when you don’t care about the video.

      1. I know that’s popular use for YouTube, but I’m not aware of a way to make a playlist of videos, so it seems it would still require going back to the app after each song ends. I guess it’s useful if you want to listen to a full length concert or something.

        1. You CAN make your own playlists on YouTube. So, for me, that feature is golden. I can start my playlist of music on youtube and I can turn off my screen because I don’t want to see videos, only hear the music.

    2. I listen to podcasts on YouTube such as the Vergecast and this would allow me to switch between watching and listening.

  15. My “current” screen on my nexus 7 isnct the same as yours. Maybe its because I am using a tablet?

    1. Oops forgot the picture :-)

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