Google Chrome will now read webpages in background

Google is planning to improve the Chrome experience on Android with a new feature that allows webpages to be read aloud in the background. This improvement comes as part of the 'Listen to this page' feature, which enables users to have the content of a webpage read to them. The current limitation is that this feature stops working when Chrome is minimised or another app is used.However, a recent development indicates that this will soon change.
Chrome will read webpages in background
MSPowerUser has discovered a new flag in Chrome for Android named 'Read Aloud Background Playback.' The description of this flag states, "Add support for background playback for Read Aloud." This suggests that Google is actively working on an update that will enable the 'Listen to this page' feature to continue functioning even when Chrome is not the active app. This enhancement promises significant convenience, allowing users to multitask on their smartphones while listening to webpage content, similar to how one might listen to a podcast.
This development aligns with the functionality already available in Chrome for Windows, where the Read Aloud feature continues to operate in the background, letting users listen to content without keeping the browser open. Extending this capability to Chrome for Android will undoubtedly be beneficial for many users who rely on the feature for hands-free content consumption.
Despite the promising advancement, there is currently no specific timeline for when Google will roll out the background playback feature in the stable version of Chrome for Android. However, based on the typical rollout patterns of app features, it is expected to become available in the next couple of months. Users can look forward to a more seamless and versatile browsing experience once this feature is officially released.
The upcoming background playback support for the 'Listen to this page' feature in Chrome for Android is a highly anticipated enhancement. It will allow users to continue listening to webpage content while multitasking, thereby increasing productivity and convenience.