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YouTube’s update on Premium feature requests was published on June 27, 2024. It described work underway—not a promise that every request had been fixed or launched. As of 2026, some related benefits are documented, including On-the-go mode, Continue watching and queueing; the exact status of the storage work and a specific queued-video bug is less clear.
What YouTube said it was working on
In its June 2024 update to Premium members, YouTube addressed four broad areas of feedback. Its wording—such as “working on,” “addressing” and “exploring”—matters: this was a progress report, not a release announcement for four finished features.
- Downloads and device storage: YouTube said it was addressing storage-related problems affecting downloads and described the work as an ongoing “evergreen workstream.” It did not name one specific bug or give a completion date.
- Easier access to Premium controls: The goal was to reduce the clicks needed to reach playback controls. In the 2024 interface, some music-related videos had a Premium controls button near the player; for other videos, the route was Settings → gear → Additional settings → Premium controls.
- Continue watching for queued videos: YouTube acknowledged that Continue watching was not being applied correctly to queued videos. That was a gap in how two features worked together—not an absence of Continue watching altogether.
- More plans and sharing options: YouTube said it wanted to extend existing offers to more regions, introduce new plans and explore ways to share benefits. The 2024 coverage cited a US Family plan price of $22.99 per month. That is historical, not a reliable current price; check the offer shown for your location.
YouTube also pointed to 1080p Premium Enhanced Bitrate as part of its work to improve viewing quality. Enhanced bitrate means an improved 1080p stream for eligible videos; it does not mean a higher resolution than 1080p.
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Premium controls became On-the-go mode on Android
YouTube’s current Premium benefits documentation says On-the-go mode replaces Premium controls on Android. It brings listener-oriented options such as chapters, skip controls, download access, audio/video switching, playback speed and queue access together in a control experience.
#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
To try it, open a video in the YouTube Android app, tap Settings, then choose On-the-go. This is best understood as a successor to the old controls, not proof that every complaint about the original interface was resolved.
Continue watching and queueing are documented separately
YouTube now lists Continue watching as a Premium benefit for resuming videos across devices, and documents queueing for Premium members on mobile devices and tablets. But the help documentation does not explicitly confirm that the particular 2024 problem—Continue watching failing for queued videos—was fixed. The two capabilities exist; the precise history of their integration remains unverified.
Rank #2
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Downloads remain subject to storage and offline limits
YouTube still offers manual downloads and Smart Downloads, which automatically adds recommended videos for offline viewing. Its Smart Downloads guidance says downloads stop when device storage is low. That documents a practical constraint, but it does not establish whether the specific storage problems YouTube discussed in 2024 have all been resolved.
Offline access has other limits. YouTube’s download help page says downloaded videos generally require periodic reconnection: in many cases, they can play offline for up to 29 days, while some regions may have a 48-hour limit. A video can also disappear from downloads if it is no longer available for offline playback after the app synchronizes.
Rank #3
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Plan options have expanded
YouTube’s current membership information lists Individual monthly, annual prepaid, Family, Two-person, Student and Premium Lite options. Availability and prices vary by country, so use the local signup page rather than carrying forward a price reported in 2024. Family and Two-person plans require members to live in the same household as the family manager. Student plans require full-time enrollment at an approved institution and annual eligibility verification.
Features announced around the same time are not all permanent benefits
Several other features appeared in coverage of YouTube’s June 2024 announcements. They are useful context, but should not be mistaken for completed responses to the feedback update:
Rank #4
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
- Jump ahead: Moves a viewer to a point many viewers typically skip, using viewing data and AI-related processing. Its initial 2024 rollout was limited to US Premium members on Android. Current documentation lists it for computers, smart TVs, streaming devices and game consoles, but not Shorts, premieres, live streams, music, movies or shows. Supported content languages listed by YouTube include Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Turkish.
- Picture-in-picture for Shorts: Announced for Android, it allowed Shorts to continue in a floating window while the user used other apps.
- Smart Downloads for Shorts: Presented as an experiment that would automatically download a fresh selection of Shorts for offline viewing.
- Ask: An experiment for asking questions about a video and receiving answers or suggestions. Availability depended on factors such as region, language, device and experiment capacity.
- Redesigned Watch Page: An experiment intended to improve related-content discovery and comment interaction.
The last three items were described as experiments in contemporaneous coverage of the feature announcements; that does not guarantee they became permanent, generally available benefits. Current status can differ from the original test.
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YouTube’s help center lists benefits including ad-free playback, downloads, background playback, picture-in-picture, Continue watching, On-the-go mode, queueing, Jump ahead, Auto speed, 1080p Premium enhanced bitrate, Smart Downloads, Premium badges, co-watching with Google Meet, afterparties and live chat, and selected offers or early access. A listing does not mean every benefit works on every device or video.
Best Value
- Essential 4K streaming – Get everything you need to stream in brilliant 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range 10+ (HDR10+).
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Make your TV even smarter – Fire TV gives you instant access to a world of content, tailor-made recommendations, and Alexa, all backed by fast performance.
- All your favorite apps in one place – Experience endless entertainment with access to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and thousands more. Easily discover what to watch from hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes (subscription fees may apply), including free, ad-supported content.
- Getting set up is easy – Plug in and connect to Wi-Fi for smooth streaming.
| Feature | What to know |
|---|---|
| On-the-go mode | Documented as the Android successor to Premium controls. Open a video, tap Settings, then On-the-go. |
| Continue watching and queueing | Both are documented Premium benefits, but the help page does not confirm the exact 2024 queued-video bug was fixed. |
| Jump ahead | Available on computers, smart TVs, streaming devices and game consoles; excluded from several formats, including live streams, Shorts, music, movies and shows. |
| Auto speed | Android mobile app feature for English content. Open a video → tap it → Settings → Playback speed → Auto speed. Where offered, choose a minimum speed from 1.0x to 4x. It excludes Shorts, premieres, live streams, music, movies and shows, and must be turned on again after closing and reopening the app. |
| Downloads and Smart Downloads | Remain available, but can stop when storage is low. Offline playback requires periodic reconnection and depends on regional and video availability limits. |
| 1080p Premium | Enhanced bitrate is an improved 1080p stream for eligible videos, not a resolution above 1080p. |
Feature access can vary by country, device, operating system, content type, language, plan and experiment status. YouTube Premium’s “ad-free” benefit also does not remove promotions that creators include in their videos, merchandise links, or every promotion associated with live events and Primetime Channels. YouTube TV, Primetime Channels, channel memberships and NFL Sunday Ticket are separate from Premium.
Why a feature may not appear
- Check the account: Premium benefits apply to the Google account that holds the membership. If you have multiple accounts, confirm which one is signed in.
- Update the app: YouTube recommends using the current app to access available Premium benefits.
- Check device and content limits: A feature may be limited to Android, a particular screen, language or video format. Jump ahead and Auto speed, for example, do not work on every type of content.
- Check storage: Low available space can stop Smart Downloads or manual downloads.
- Allow for regional or experimental limits: Some features are only available in selected territories or as limited tests.
Is Premium, Premium Lite or the free version a better fit?
Full YouTube Premium is the broader choice if you want YouTube Music Premium alongside ad-free viewing, downloads, background playback and Premium features such as On-the-go, Jump ahead and Auto speed. Premium Lite may suit people who mainly watch creator videos and do not need YouTube Music or full coverage across music content and Shorts. YouTube’s 2026 update says Lite includes most videos ad-free and adds background playback and downloads for most videos, while excluding Shorts and music content from those benefits. Check local availability and the precise offer at signup.
A free account avoids a subscription but does not include Premium benefits such as ad-free playback, offline downloads or background playback. Annual prepaid plans trade monthly flexibility for a prepaid term; YouTube says availability is limited to selected countries, and the plans cannot be paused or refunded. Family and Two-person plans are intended for people in the same household, not unrelated people sharing across different addresses.
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For plan details, consult YouTube’s membership page, the Premium signup page or, where offered, the Premium Lite page. Prices shown at checkout are the relevant ones for your country and account.
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