What is ambient mode on youtube?

YouTube's Ambient Mode isn't a formally named feature like "Dark Mode" or "Theater Mode." There's no specific setting called "Ambient Mode." Instead, the term "ambient mode" is sometimes used informally to describe the experience of watching YouTube videos with certain settings enabled that create a more relaxed, background-listening atmosphere. This usually involves a combination of features already available on YouTube:

  • Minimized Player: Using the minimized player allows you to continue listening to a video while you use other apps or browse the internet. This creates an ambient listening experience.

  • Background Playback (Premium): YouTube Premium subscribers can play audio from videos even with the app closed or the screen off. This is a key component of an "ambient" listening session.

  • Muted Videos with Visuals: You could play a video with the sound muted, allowing for the visuals to provide a calming or aesthetically pleasing backdrop.

Therefore, "Ambient Mode" on YouTube doesn't exist as a designated setting, but rather represents a user-created experience leveraging existing features to achieve a background audio or visually calming effect.