Xiaomi has withdrawn a feature from its MIUI and HyperOS that allowed users to play YouTube videos in the background without the need for a YouTube Premium subscription. This removal comes as the tech giant aligns with compliance demands.
The premium feature, coveted by many for enabling background playback of YouTube videos and allowing the content to continue playing with the screen off, was accessible to Xiaomi users through the integrated game toolbox and video toolbox. These tools were available on various Xiaomi devices including flagship models such as the Xiaomi 14, 13 Pro, 13, and 12T, which have been gaining traction on retail platforms including Amazon. This feature was also extendable to older smartphone models running on MIUI 12 and above.
News of the removal surfaced from an announcement shared on a Mi Fans Telegram channel, citing compliance requirements as the reason for the discontinuation. The move by Xiaomi follows actions by Google to prevent users from circumventing YouTube Premium’s paywall, which boasts features like ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and background playback—a service currently priced at $13.99 per month.
The adherence to these compliance prerequisites marks an end to the loophole that once provided premium YouTube access without the associated cost. Xiaomi’s decision to retract the free background playback capability affects a wide range of its smartphones, as noted in the announcement.
Xiaomi’s proactive steps to comply with service regulations demonstrate the company’s commitment to adhering to industry standards and the increased efforts by content service providers like Google to protect their subscription benefits.
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[Inclusively, users are being encouraged to review a list confirming the affected devices, ensuring that Xiaomi patrons are well-informed regarding the status of their smartphones following this change.]
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