YouTube is rolling out a new feature that many users have been eagerly awaiting: a sleep timer. This tool is designed to help users avoid the frustration of waking up to an auto-playing playlist of videos hours after drifting off to sleep. However, there are some important details to note about this new feature.
The sleep timer is currently available only to YouTube Premium subscribers as part of an experimental test. This means that if you’re a free user, you won’t have access to this feature just yet.
The experiment is set to run until September 2, after which the future of the sleep timer remains uncertain. YouTube could decide to make it a permanent feature for all users, or it might disappear entirely.
For those who are Premium subscribers and interested in testing out the sleep timer, the process is straightforward. Simply visit the YouTube experiments page and enable the feature. Once activated, you can set a sleep timer for any video you’re watching on your phone or desktop.
The timer can be accessed through the settings menu, where you can choose the interval after which playback will stop automatically.
This new feature could be a game-changer for users who often fall asleep while watching videos, helping them better manage their viewing habits and conserve data or battery life. It also highlights YouTube’s ongoing efforts to enhance the viewing experience for its Premium subscribers.
However, the limited availability and experimental nature of the sleep timer have left some users frustrated. The uncertainty surrounding its future adds to the anticipation, with many hoping that YouTube will make it a permanent feature.
In summary, the YouTube sleep timer is a promising addition for Premium users, offering a much-needed solution for late-night viewers. Whether it becomes a mainstay feature or vanishes after the test period remains to be seen.