YouTube has announced a feature update for its Premium Lite subscription tier, integrating background play and offline downloads into the service, which were not available at the launch.
With this update, Premium Lite subscribers gain the following capabilities for most videos, excluding music content on the platform:
- Ad-Free Viewing: Uninterrupted video playback
- Background Play: The ability to continue listening to a video’s audio while using other applications or when the device screen is locked.
- Offline Downloads: The option to save videos locally for viewing without an internet connection.
Premium Lite vs. Standard Premium
YouTube maintains a distinction between the Premium Lite tier and the standard YouTube Premium service, particularly regarding music content.
The standard YouTube Premium subscription remains the required tier for users who want ad-free access, offline downloads, and background play across all content on the platform, including music and the dedicated YouTube Music application.
Rollout and Availability
The newly added features begin rolling out today and will expand over the coming weeks to all regions where the Premium Lite pilot is currently available. According to the company, this update was implemented in response to user feedback gathered after the expansion of the Premium Lite pilot last year.
To remind you, the Premium Lite subscription is priced at Rs. 89 per month.