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YouTube is testing a sleep timer feature for Premium subscribers

YouTube is currently testing a sleep timer feature. The new feature is being tested on both the platform’s mobile app and on desktop. The new functionality will automatically stop the video playback after a set period of time. The Alphabet-owned platform is testing the sleep timer feature with its YouTube Premium subscribers.

YouTube’s sleep timer will automatically stop the video playback after a set period of time

YouTube’s new sleep timer feature allows you to set a timer to automatically pause video playback after a certain amount of time. Available now and through September 2nd, this feature is currently only available for YouTube Premium users.

On the desktop, the sleep timer option appears in the playback menu. It allows timer lengths of 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. It can also be set to stop at the end of the video. Once the playback is paused, there will be a pop-up on the screen asking you to extend the timer if you want to.

The options for setting a sleep timer in the YouTube mobile app are similar to the desktop counterpart. However, the option is buried under the “Additional settings” tab. After getting the user feedback, YouTube is expected to roll out the new sleep timer feature to Premium users in the coming weeks. We hope that the useful functionality will also be available for free users afterward.

YouTube is also testing a less-annoying Picture-in-Picture (PiP) ads

In related news, YouTube is also testing less-annoying Picture-in-Picture ads. The new feature is currently being tested on the live streams. The new PiP ad format appears in the middle of the video playback (also known as mid-roll ads). YouTube accounts allowed to monetize their videos can set ads, which will show in the middle.

These types of advertisements are certainly less intrusive. YouTube will allow creators to set mid-roll PiP ads on both regular videos and live streams. The creators can also let YouTube automatically decide at what point in the video the advertisements play.

Essentially, the PiP ads will no longer pause the live stream, nor will they take up the entire video playback screen. That said, it is YouTube’s potential measure to reduce the use of ad blockers.