In the digital age, YouTube has become an indispensable entertainment and learning platform for billions of users worldwide. From music, podcasts, to online lectures or TV shows, YouTube has almost taken over the entertainment time of many generations. However, one of the biggest limitations of the free YouTube application is that it does not allow music or videos to be played when the user locks the screen. This is a feature that Google has "retained" as a privilege, only for those who are willing to pay monthly for the YouTube Premium package. This has made YouTube Premium one of the most attractive subscription services that Google offers.

However, recently, Microsoft has unexpectedly launched a surprising counterattack, rekindling the years-long simmering war with Google. On the Edge Canary test version for Android, Microsoft has quietly added a new feature called "Video Background Play". This feature allows users to continue listening to content from YouTube even when exiting the home screen or turning off the screen completely without having to pay any fees. For the music community and those who regularly listen to podcasts or long content on YouTube, this can be considered great news. It not only brings convenience but also helps save battery significantly compared to having to keep the screen on all the time.

This article will delve into how the new feature works, provide detailed instructions on how to activate it, and analyze the strategic significance behind Microsoft’s seemingly small but extremely bold move. Because, not only is it a convenience for users, it is also a direct attack on one of Google’s most important “golden goose” projects.

1. When YouTube Premium turns basic features into “privileges”

To understand the value of Microsoft’s move, you first have to look at how Google has framed its YouTube Premium plan. For a monthly fee, users get three main benefits: ad-free, access to YouTube Music, and background video playback. Of these, the background playback is the real star. For many people, especially younger people or podcast listeners, this is the reason they pay, not because they’re tired of ads.

However, the “innocence” of that need was turned into an extremely effective business strategy by Google. The feature that was considered basic, which is to play sound even when the screen is off, is locked behind a Premium barrier. Users are forced to upgrade if they want a seamless experience. Psychologically, this is like a “trap”, because you cannot find any other official alternative from YouTube.

Many people criticize that paying to unlock such a small feature is unreasonable, especially when other music listening apps already offer it for free. But Google knows very well that YouTube is not just a video app, it is a huge content store where people listen to music, learn, and entertain themselves every day. Therefore, this small "privilege" brings in a huge source of revenue.

In fact, YouTube Premium users have been growing steadily year after year, proving that the strategy of holding features hostage has worked. However, the sudden appearance of Microsoft Edge with a free option may change the habits of some users. After all, not everyone needs the full Premium package, many people just want to listen to music when the screen is locked. And when Edge offers that for free, the balance may tilt a bit.

2. Microsoft Edge Canary and the hidden “Video Background Play” feature

In the latest beta version of Edge Canary for Android, Microsoft has quietly integrated a feature called “Video Background Play”. Just hearing the name is enough to understand: YouTube videos continue to play audio even when you exit the app or lock the screen. This makes Edge a perfect alternative to the official YouTube app for listening to music, podcasts, or long videos.

Interestingly, this feature is not enabled by default. Users have to manually enable it in the “flags” section, which is where experimental features are stored. However, the process is not too complicated: just a few taps and a browser restart, and you can enjoy a smooth experience. Once enabled, Edge maintains stable audio even when you switch apps or leave the screen off for hours.

It’s not just a matter of convenience, it’s a strategic move. Microsoft isn’t openly confronting it head-on, but it’s clear that they’re hitting YouTube Premium’s Achilles’ heel. By making what was once a proprietary benefit available for free through a browser, Microsoft has transformed Edge from a sidekick into a genuine alternative.

Furthermore, with the rising cost of online services, users are always looking for free solutions to save money. A browser that allows both web browsing and unlocking background playback on YouTube without paying is certainly an attractive “bargain”. And that could help Edge attract a lot of new users, a goal that Microsoft has always pursued when competing with Chrome.

3. Detailed instructions on how to activate

To use this feature, you need to install the Edge Canary browser from the Google Play Store. This is a test version of Edge, which is constantly updated to test new features before officially releasing them to the public. After installation, open the browser and enter the path edge://flags in the address bar. This is the interface that allows users to customize experimental features.

When the interface appears, type the keyword “background” in the search box. Immediately, the “Video Background Play” option will appear. By default, it is set to “Default”. You just need to switch to “Enabled”, then restart the browser as required.

However, for this feature to actually work, you have to do one more step in the settings. From the main interface of Edge Canary, click on the three-dot menu icon in the bottom corner, select “Settings”, then go to “Site Settings”. Here, look for “Background video playback” and make sure it is enabled.

Once everything is done, you can now simply open YouTube in Edge Canary, play any video, and try turning off the screen. You will see that the audio continues to play, just like when using a professional music streaming service. What’s even better is that it works seamlessly, without any interruptions, and even saves battery by not having to keep the screen on all the time.

4. Sweet counterattack from Microsoft

At first glance, this may seem like a minor feature. But in historical context, it’s clear that Microsoft is sending a powerful message. The rivalry between Microsoft and Google isn’t new. More than a decade ago, when Microsoft was still building its Windows Phone operating system, Google refused to develop an official YouTube app for the platform. What’s more, when Microsoft built its own alternative, Google flatly blocked it, citing “terms violations.”

That event is considered one of the reasons for the failure of Windows Phone, forcing Microsoft to abandon the mobile market. Since then, the relationship between the two tech giants has always been tense. And now, when Edge quietly offers free background YouTube music listening, many see it as a belated but profound "revenge".

Microsoft isn’t declaring war directly, but it’s tapping into the most sensitive pain point: YouTube Premium revenue. When millions of people discover that Edge allows them to circumvent a feature that was once a paid privilege, it’s sure to make Google uncomfortable.

5. Impact on users and market

The most obvious benefit for users is cost savings. Instead of paying a monthly fee to play music in the background, they can now do it for free. Plus, using Edge saves battery life and expands your options: you're not tied to the official YouTube app.

However, this also raises a number of questions. Could Google find a way to block this feature in the future? Will Microsoft keep it long-term or is it just a temporary experiment? And most importantly, will users accept using a browser as a replacement for the familiar YouTube app?

From a market perspective, this move shows the increasingly fierce competition between technology corporations. Google wants to keep users locked into its ecosystem, while Microsoft seeks to open up alternative paths. This is not just a battle of browsers, but also a battle for control over the user experience.

6. Conclusion

Microsoft’s addition of the “Video Background Play” feature in Edge Canary can be considered a small but meaningful step. It not only brings direct benefits to users but also affirms that Microsoft is willing to challenge the “rules” set by Google.

In the short term, this is definitely a very useful trick for those who want to listen to music and podcasts on YouTube without paying. In the long term, if Microsoft continues to develop this feature and integrates it into the official Edge, it could change the way users approach YouTube. It would also put pressure on Google to reconsider its strategy.

It can be said that this is a typical example showing that technology is constantly changing. A seemingly small feature can create huge impacts, not only for users but also for the long-term war between technology giants. And for Microsoft, this time they seem to have had a sweet "revenge" after many years of being disadvantaged in the confrontation with Google.