Google added the sleep timer option to the YouTube Music app in 2023 in an attempt to compete with Spotify and other music players, which have offered this useful feature for Android for some time. The YouTube app for Android did not follow a similar pattern despite dating back further and having a larger consumer base. A recent report suggests that the app might finally get this functionality, and users would no longer need to rely on third-party apps to extend this option.
A sleep timer feature that would let users set the duration of the video playbacks is under work for YouTube's Android app
This development was revealed in an APK Teardown of the YouTube app for Android's beta version 19.25.33 and highlighted in a report by Android Authority in association with AssembleDebug. With this feature, users could finally control how long the video plays and set the timing for the video playback to automatically stop. In the reference, the dialog box reads:
You can reset the timer or click done to keep watching
Users can choose freely if they want to keep on watching or listening for a longer period of time. There is also a hint that the timer will be displayed as a notification, which would be a major convenience for consumers in terms of a seamless process. This feature is to be rolled out in a future update, but we are uncertain how long the development process can take, as the YouTube Music app also took its time getting the feature ready to come out.
The report also mentions the possibility of Google adding an 'end of video' option to the sleep timer in the future. This option would allow playback to stop when the video reaches the endpoint, similar to the 'end of the song' option for YouTube Music. However, no reference was found to this added functionality coming with the new feature in the beta version.
This feature update was long overdue, as users had to previously rely on workarounds and third-party apps, which made the entire process arduous. On the other hand, iPhone users can select a system-wide timer by choosing when the timer ends> stop playing and can have their own version of the sleep timer for the videos to stop playing after a given time period.
While the feature is still in progress, it could be a very useful addition for users who long hoped it would be extended to the YouTube app as well.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
