Last updated: September 12, 2026

YouTube Background Player ("the extension") modifies how YouTube pages behave in your browser. This policy explains what data it handles.

Summary
No account or sign-up is required.

YouTube Background Player runs only on youtube.com, youtube-nocookie.com, and music.youtube.com.

It keeps videos playing in the background, offers a Picture-in-Picture button, can dismiss YouTube's own "Are you still watching?" prompts, and can save your paused timestamp so a page reload resumes where you left off.

All of this logic runs locally in your browser. Your settings (which toggles are on) are stored locally and never leave your device.

The "Save pause position to URL" feature works by writing the paused timestamp into the page's own address bar (the same t= URL parameter YouTube's own share links already use) using the browser's local history API. It is never sent anywhere, and no separate record of watch history or timestamps is kept in extension storage.

On install, the extension generates a random ID (e.g. u17583920481234) with no connection to your name, email, Google account, or browsing history.

The ID is stored in chrome.storage.sync so it roams with your browser profile, the same way a bookmark would. It is shown in the popup footer as your "username."

This ID is used only to:

Let the developer reply to a bug report or feature request you submit from the popup, without needing to collect your email address.

The background service worker periodically asks:
https://scriptsmith.dev whether a reply is waiting for your install ID.
No browsing history, video titles, or personal data is sent — only the random install ID.

The bug, feature, and feedback links carry a short code built from your install ID and which button you clicked. This allows a submission to be matched back to your install.
No readable personal data is included.
No other network requests are made.

There is:
No analytics or telemetry SDK.
No ad network.
No sale of data.
No sharing of data with third parties.

PERMISSIONS
2. storage — Used to save your toggle settings and install ID locally.
2. Host access to youtube.com / youtube-nocookie.com / music.youtube.com — Required to run the content scripts that prevent auto-pause, add the Picture-in-Picture button, and dismiss the "still watching" prompt.
3. Host access to scriptsmith.dev — Required for the developer-reply check-in described above.

Your controls
The "Reset to defaults" section in the bottom of home page lets you reset your selections all at once. Uninstalling the extension removes all locally stored data, including the install identifier.

Children's privacy
YouTube Background Player is not directed at children and does not knowingly collect data from them.

Changes
This policy may be updated as the extension changes; the date above reflects the latest revision.

Contact
privacy@scriptsmith.dev