YouTube is testing a new feature that will allow users to pause a video if they plan on falling asleep while watching the content. The feature, dubbed Sleep Timer, is a new experimental feature released by the video streaming giant and is available for a limited time. Based on its reception, the company may roll it out to all users later. Interestingly, the company is also testing a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool powered by Gemini that will allow content creators to generate video synopses based on text suggestions as well as suggestions for video titles and thumbnails.
YouTube is testing a sleep timer feature
In a post on its website, YouTube announced the availability of the Sleep Timer feature. Describing the feature, the company said, “Sleep Timer lets you set a timer that automatically pauses playback after a specified period of time.”
Using it is also quite simple. Users can open the YouTube app on their smartphone or the web client on their phone or desktop, then go to the settings menu (gear icon in the upper right corner of the video interface) while the video is playing. The user must be logged into their account to access this feature.
In the settings menu, the Sleep Timer will show you options to pause playback after 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. There is also an option to stop auto-playing after the video ends. This feature is currently only available to YouTube Premium users.
Since this is an experimental feature, before users can access it, they will need to manually enable experimental features. To do so, Premium users can go to Settings on the YouTube home page and go to try new experimental featuresPlease note that this feature is currently only available until September 2nd.
The Sleep Timer feature will be a useful addition for anyone who prefers watching videos while going to bed but doesn’t want to worry about the video playback closing or draining the battery during the night. It’s worth noting that YouTube Premium subscription in India starts at Rs 129 per month when you opt for the monthly plan. Otherwise, a single monthly subscription costs Rs 139. An annual subscription to the platform costs Rs 1,290.
