Xiaomi has removed a feature related to Google’s video-streaming and sharing platform YouTube. This feature allowed devices operating on MIUI to continue playing audio from YouTube videos even with the screen off.
The company made the announcement on its Mi Fans Telegram channel.
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In the announcement, Xiaomi notified users about the removal of the “Play video sound with screen off” feature in the video toolbox, and the “Turn off screen” feature in the game toolbox, according to a report by Android Authority.
For those who are unaware, these functionalities were initially introduced with MIUI 12.
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The company’s Telegram post suggests that the change is likely being made in response to Google’s crackdown on services that provide YouTube Premium features for free
YouTube Premium offers users exclusive benefits such as ad-free viewing, video downloads, and background video playback with other apps open or with the screen turned off.
Given that a competitor was offering one of YouTube Premium’s paid features for free, it’s understandable that Google would take issue with it. However, it’s noteworthy that Xiaomi is only now removing this feature, despite YouTube Premium having offered it for years.
Affected devices include several popular flagship smartphones, such as the Xiaomi 14, 13, 13 Pro, and 12T, among others. For a comprehensive list of system versions, device models, and security versions, refer to the picture below.
In my opinion, while Xiaomi’s decision to remove this feature might disappoint some users, Xiaomi wants to follow the rules and keep things fair for everyone. This means they had to remove the feature, but they’re always working on making things better for users in other ways.
