Watching YouTube in the background used to require a pricey subscription or clever browser tricks. But that’s officially changing today.

Google just announced a major upgrade for YouTube Premium Lite. So if you hate paying full price just to lock your phone screen, you’ll want to hear this.

Let’s look at exactly what you get for eight bucks a month.

Background Playback Joins the $8 Subscription Tier

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YouTube introduced the $8 monthly Lite tier to the US back in March 2025. Starting today, these subscribers get two massive perks. First, you can finally download videos for offline viewing. Plus, you can use background play while switching apps or locking your screen.

Previously, Google locked these features behind their most expensive plan. However, the company says they listened to constant user feedback. Thus, this global rollout will hit accounts over the next few weeks.

The Catch With This Ad-Free Streaming Setup

At $8 a month, Lite saves you some serious cash. But you don’t get a completely ad-free experience everywhere.

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Specifically, you can watch gaming, beauty, podcasts, and YouTube Kids without interruptions. Yet, music videos and YouTube Shorts will still show commercial breaks.

Want zero ads across the board? Then you still need the full Premium subscription. Furthermore, that pricier tier throws in YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost.

Google Crushed Your Favorite Browser Workarounds

Maybe you’ve been avoiding subscriptions entirely. Instead, you probably used clever ad blockers or alternative browsers to keep videos playing in the background.

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Well, those tricks are dying fast. Recently, Google launched a massive crackdown on these unauthorized workarounds. Consequently, background play stopped working on many mobile browsers and devices.

Now, Google offers a legitimate, cheaper path just as the free alternatives disappear. So the timing of this feature drop feels very intentional.

Honestly, this update makes Premium Lite a fantastic deal for casual viewers. If you mainly watch podcasts or long video essays, paying eight bucks to lock your screen makes total sense.

Yet, huge music fans should probably stick to the full Premium plan. Check your watch history this week. Then decide if those ad breaks on music videos are worth the extra monthly savings.