Overview
YouTune is a Chrome extension that transforms YouTube into an audio-focused platform by concealing videos and visual elements while maintaining full audio functionality. Perfect for music listening, podcast consumption, and distraction-free content experience.
Main Purpose
The extension’s primary purpose is to provide an audio-only YouTube experience, similar to music streaming services like Spotify, by hiding visual distractions while preserving all audio features and controls.
Key Features
🎵 Audio-Only Playback
- Video Hiding: Conceals the video player while maintaining audio playback
- Smart Audio Extraction: Automatically redirects video streams to audio-only versions
- YouTube Music Support: Optimized for YouTube Music with pure audio listening
- Background Options: Choose between showing video thumbnails or completely hiding the player
🖼️ Visual Element Control
- Thumbnail Hiding: Removes video thumbnails throughout YouTube interface
- Avatar Concealment: Hides channel and user profile pictures
- Image Blocking: Removes additional visual elements like channel art and banners
- Google Search Integration: Hides video thumbnails in Google search results
🚫 Ad Management
- Automatic Ad Skipping: Intelligently detects and skips YouTube advertisements
- Ad Blocking: Prevents ad content from loading to save bandwidth
- JSON Manipulation: Removes ad data from YouTube’s API responses
⚡ Quick Access Controls
- Video Toggle Button: Quick show/hide video button in the player toolbar
- Images Toggle Button: Master image visibility control in YouTube’s top bar
- Keyboard Shortcut:
Ctrl+M(Windows/Linux) orCmd+M(Mac) to toggle extension - Per-Tab Control: Enable/disable extension for specific tabs
⚙️ Advanced Options
- Always Visible Progress Bar: Keep video progress bar visible when video is hidden
- Control Buttons: Option to maintain playback controls visibility
- Live Video Quality: Automatically set live videos to 144p when video is hidden
- Continue Watching Prompt: Disable YouTube’s “Continue Watching?” interruptions
- Extension Logo: Option to remove YouTune branding from video players
Supported Platforms
| Platform | Support Level | Features |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube (Desktop) | Full Support | All features available |
| YouTube Music | Full Support | Optimized audio-only experience |
| YouTube Mobile (m.youtube.com) | Full Support | Mobile-optimized interface |
| Embedded YouTube Videos | Partial Support | Video hiding and basic controls |
| YouTube Nocookie | Full Support | Privacy-focused YouTube domain |
| Google Search | Limited Support | Thumbnail hiding only |
How It Works
Technical Implementation
- Content Script Injection: Injects scripts into YouTube pages to control functionality
- Network Request Interception: Intercepts video requests and redirects to audio streams
- CSS Injection: Dynamically applies stylesheets to hide visual elements
- DOM Manipulation: Adds quick access buttons and controls to YouTube interface
- Storage Management: Saves user preferences and per-tab settings locally
Audio Extraction Process
- Monitors network requests for video content
- Identifies audio-only streams within video URLs
- Redirects video elements to use audio streams
- Maintains playback controls and progress tracking
- Preserves video metadata and duration information
Installation & Setup
Installation
- Visit the Chrome Web Store to install the extension
- Click “Add to Chrome”
- Confirm installation when prompted
- The YouTune icon will appear in your browser toolbar
First-Time Setup
- Navigate to YouTube or YouTube Music
- Click the YouTune icon to open the popup
- Configure your preferred settings
- Click “OK” to apply changes
- Refresh the page to see the effects
User Interface
Popup Interface
The extension popup provides quick access to all major features:
- Global Toggle: Master on/off switch for the entire extension
- Current Tab Control: Enable/disable for the active tab only
- Current Page Control: Temporary settings for the current page
- Site-Specific Options: Separate controls for YouTube, YouTube Music, and embedded videos
- Quick Links: Access to full options page and support
Options Page
Comprehensive settings page accessible via the popup or Chrome’s extension management:
- Platform Settings: Individual controls for YouTube, YouTube Music, and embedded videos
- Visual Controls: Granular control over thumbnails, avatars, and other images
- Advanced Features: Progress bar, control buttons, and quality settings
- Quick Access Buttons: Enable/disable toolbar buttons
- Popup Behavior: Configure popup functionality and shortcuts
Feature Details
Video Hiding Options
| Option | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Hide Video | Completely conceals the video player | Eliminates visual distractions |
| Show Thumbnail | Displays video thumbnail as background | Maintains visual context |
| Hide Logo | Removes YouTune branding from player | Clean, unbranded experience |
Image Control Options
| Option | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnails | Hides video preview images | Reduces visual clutter, saves bandwidth |
| Avatars | Conceals profile pictures | Minimalist interface |
| Other Images | Removes channel art, banners | Clean, text-focused layout |
Advanced Settings
| Setting | Purpose | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Progress Bar | Always show video progress | Enable for audio-only listening |
| Control Buttons | Always show playback controls | Enable for easy access |
| Live 144p | Set live videos to lowest quality | Enable to save bandwidth |
| Continue Watching | Disable YouTube’s pause prompts | Enable for uninterrupted listening |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
Ctrl+M / Cmd+M | Toggle extension for current tab | Global |
Click Video Button | Toggle video visibility for current page | YouTube player |
Click Images Button | Toggle all images for current page | YouTube top bar |
Permissions Explained
The extension requires the following permissions:
| Permission | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| declarativeNetRequest | Block video requests and ads | Redirects video streams to audio-only |
| tabs | Access tab information | Manages per-tab settings |
| storage | Save user preferences | Stores settings and configurations |
| unlimitedStorage | Store large amounts of data | Handles extensive user customizations |
Privacy & Security
Data Handling
- Local Storage Only: All settings stored locally in your browser
- No Data Transmission: Extension doesn’t send data to external servers
- No Tracking: No user behavior tracking or analytics
- Secure Processing: All operations performed locally
Security Considerations
- Extension only modifies YouTube-related domains
- Cannot access data from other websites
- Follows Chrome’s security model and restrictions
- Regular updates to maintain security standards
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Extension not working on YouTube
- Refresh the page after enabling the extension
- Check if the extension is enabled in Chrome’s extension manager
- Verify you’re on a supported YouTube domain
Audio not playing when video is hidden
- Ensure your browser allows autoplay for YouTube
- Check if YouTube’s audio stream is available for the video
- Try refreshing the page or restarting the browser
Quick access buttons not appearing
- Enable “Quick Access Buttons” in the options page
- Refresh the YouTube page after enabling
- Check if YouTube’s interface has loaded completely
Settings not saving
- Ensure Chrome has permission to store extension data
- Check available storage space in your browser
- Try clearing extension data and reconfiguring
Performance Tips
- Disable unused features to improve performance
- Use “Hide Images” options to reduce bandwidth usage
- Enable “Live 144p” for live streams to save data
- Regularly clear browser cache for optimal performance
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What is YouTune? YouTune is a Chrome extension that transforms YouTube into an audio-focused platform by hiding videos and visual elements while maintaining full audio functionality, perfect for music listening and distraction-free content consumption.
Does YouTune work with YouTube Music? Yes, YouTune is fully optimized for YouTube Music and provides an enhanced audio-only experience by disabling video playback entirely.
Can I use YouTune on mobile devices? YouTune works on mobile YouTube (m.youtube.com) when accessed through Chrome on mobile devices, though the interface is optimized for desktop use.
Is YouTune free to use? Yes, YouTune is completely free to install and use with no premium features or subscriptions.
Technical Questions
How does YouTune hide videos while keeping audio? YouTune intercepts network requests for video content and redirects them to audio-only streams, while using CSS to hide visual elements and DOM manipulation to maintain controls.
Does YouTune block ads? Yes, YouTune includes an intelligent ad-skipping feature that automatically detects and skips YouTube advertisements, and can also block ad content from loading.
Will YouTune slow down my browser? YouTune is designed to be lightweight and may actually improve performance by blocking unnecessary visual content and reducing bandwidth usage.
Can I customize which features are enabled? Yes, YouTune provides granular control over all features through its comprehensive options page, allowing you to enable only the features you want.
Usage Questions
How do I temporarily disable YouTune? You can use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+M/Cmd+M), click the extension icon and toggle it off, or use the quick access buttons on YouTube.
Can I set different preferences for YouTube and YouTube Music? Yes, YouTune allows separate configuration for regular YouTube, YouTube Music, and embedded videos.
How do I access the full options page? Click the YouTune icon in your browser toolbar, then click the “Options” link at the bottom of the popup.
Can I use YouTune on embedded YouTube videos? Yes, YouTune supports embedded YouTube videos with basic functionality like video hiding and ad skipping.
Support & Community
Getting Help
- Documentation: This comprehensive help page
- Support URL: https://ataiva.com/youtune-chromium-extension-help
- Chrome Web Store: Leave reviews and feedback on the extension page
Reporting Issues
When reporting issues, please include:
- Chrome version and operating system
- YouTube URL where the issue occurs
- Steps to reproduce the problem
- Extension settings configuration
- Any error messages in the browser console
Feature Requests
We welcome suggestions for new features and improvements. Consider the following when making requests:
- How the feature would benefit users
- Compatibility with existing functionality
- Technical feasibility within Chrome’s extension framework
Version Information
Current Version: 15.6.3 Last Updated: June 2025 Compatibility: Chrome 88+ Manifest Version: 3
Changelog
Recent Updates
- Enhanced YouTube Music support
- Improved ad-skipping functionality
- Better mobile YouTube compatibility
- Performance optimizations
- Updated for Manifest V3 compliance
YouTune is developed and maintained by Ataiva. For the latest updates and information, visit our website or check the Chrome Web Store listing.