YouTube has rolled out a new experimental feature exclusively for its Premium subscribers: the ‘Sleep Timer’. This feature addresses the common issue of battery drain when users fall asleep while watching videos by automatically pausing playback after a set period.
The ‘Sleep Timer’ allows users to designate a specific duration for their video playback to stop, making it particularly useful for those who enjoy listening to podcasts, soft music, or watching videos before bed. By pausing content after a chosen time, the feature helps conserve battery life and offers a more personalized viewing experience, as reported by The Economic Times.
According to YouTube, “You can set a timer to automatically pause playback after a certain amount of time.” This functionality is designed to prevent devices from running unnecessarily throughout the night, thereby avoiding prolonged battery usage and potential overheating.
Currently, the Sleep Timer is available under YouTube’s experimental features, which are accessible only to Premium subscribers. To activate the feature, users need to navigate to “Settings > Try experimental new features” within the YouTube app or on the desktop site. Users can select from time intervals of 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or choose to pause playback until the video ends. The Sleep Timer option will appear in the Settings menu of the video player.
Once the playback pauses, a pop-up notification will prompt users to extend the timer if they are still awake. If no action is taken, the video remains paused, and the device will eventually enter sleep mode, conserving battery life and providing a smoother bedtime experience.
YouTube’s introduction of this feature underscores its commitment to enhancing user experience by giving viewers greater control over how they consume content. Although the Sleep Timer is still in the experimental phase, it is anticipated that it will be made available to a broader audience in the near future. However, as with all experimental features, there is no assurance that it will become a permanent part of the platform.
For now, YouTube Premium subscribers can take advantage of this innovative feature to enjoy a more tailored and battery-efficient viewing experience during their nighttime routines.
