YouTube is rolling out an experimental sleep timer feature for its Premium subscribers, allowing users to set a specific time for videos to pause automatically. This feature is particularly handy for users who enjoy falling asleep to long videos, podcasts, or background noise. To activate the sleep timer on desktop, users need to visit the experimental features page, while on mobile, it can be accessed through "Settings > Try experimental new features." Once the feature is enabled, it appears in the video player's settings menu, where users can choose from time intervals of 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or simply set it to pause when the video ends.
YouTube continues to experiment with enhancements for its Premium tier |
Sleep Timer Interface |
The sleep timer feature also includes a pop-up notification that appears when playback is paused, asking if the user would like to extend the timer, providing flexibility for those who may not have fallen asleep yet. While this feature is currently in the testing phase and available only to YouTube Premium users, it’s expected to be available until September 2. There's hope among users that YouTube will make the sleep timer a permanent feature and potentially extend it to free users as well.
This new feature comes as YouTube continues to experiment with enhancements for its Premium tier. Although YouTube is somewhat late to the game—Spotify has had a sleep timer for a while, and TikTok began testing sleep reminders based on a preset bedtime last year—it demonstrates the platform's ongoing effort to improve user experience. Previous YouTube experiments include features like an AI assistant that answers questions about videos and a lock screen function designed to prevent accidental taps during video playback. The introduction of these features highlights YouTube's commitment to refining its service, particularly for its Premium subscribers, offering them more control and a better overall viewing experience.
When's the final rollout
ReplyDeleteIt's still in testing phase, might take some time... Who knows
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