YouTube Sleep Timer, Mini-Player Enhancements, and More New Features

Google is introducing a host of enhancements and new functionalities for its YouTube applications and services available on all supported devices. Among these updates is a highly anticipated feature: a sleep timer.

According to a recent blog post by YouTube, the sleep timer, initially offered to YouTube Premium subscribers earlier this year, is now accessible to all mobile users of the platform.

This feature allows you to watch videos on your smartphone or tablet at night and automatically shuts down the app if you fall asleep. Users can choose from preset durations ranging from 10 minutes to an hour, or opt for the app to stop once a video finishes playing.

Additionally, YouTube is enhancing the mini-player experience within its mobile applications. Users can now reposition the mini-player to explore other video options while continuing to watch their current video. The mini-player is also resizable for greater convenience.

Changes are also being made to YouTube playlists. Within the mobile app, users can now share links to assist others in playlist creation. YouTube TV app users will soon have the ability to add to their playlists via a QR code. Later in 2024, the platform will introduce a voting feature for videos within playlists. Google also mentioned:

We’re introducing fresh customization tools that allow users to personalize playlists. Users can create custom thumbnails utilizing their photos or generate new designs with the help of generative AI.

Later this year, both YouTube and YouTube Music’s mobile applications will incorporate special badges that celebrate various user achievements, including recognition for being a top listener for specific creators.

Other minor updates being rolled out to the YouTube apps encompass adjustments to playback speed controls, allowing users to modify speeds down to 0.05 increments, alongside visual enhancements intended to streamline the user experience.

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