Google Chrome is testing a play/pause button to block ads that start automatically
- A new feature is being tested by Google that could help block auto-play ads
- Global media controls allows users to pause and play ads from any tab
- The feature could also be used to remotely control YouTube videos
- This month Chrome also rolled out a feature to block ‘heavy’ ads
A new button in Google Chrome could help control auto-playing ads from running amok of your browser.
The feature, named global media controls, has showed up in Chrome Canary — a playground version of Chrome designed for developers to test the browser’s newest ideas — and allows one to utilize a play/pause button to start and stop videos playing in any tab at will.
As reported by ZDNet, the button currently works for both video and audio and appears to the right of the address bar. By clicking on the play button, a larger window opens up that let’s users selectively pause and play videos.
Google Chrome is testing a new feature that would help play and pause auto-playing ads in any tab at any time. Stock image
The button also works independently within each individual tab, meaning one can pause an ad or a video in any tab regardless of whether they have that tab open.
In addition to easily stopping auto-playing ads without having to hunt them down, the button will also be useful in playing or pausing videos playing in the background.
In a test by DailyMail.com the feature crashed several times while attempting to play and pause YouTube videos from another page, however, those bugs are likely just a product of the feature’s nascence.
For instance, if a YouTube video is open and streaming music, one can remotely pause the music without switching between tabs.
According to the feature’s description in Canary, it will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Though the feature will be useful for more than just ad-blocking, it is expected to be a favorite among users who want to avoid auto-play videos in their browser.
As reported by ZDNet the feature will also likely appease Chrome users who complained of a recently altered feature that allowed one to click a speaker icon next to a tab to mute audio.

Above is an example of the drop down screen that can pause and play videos happening in any tab. It can be seen at the top right
Google moves the formerly easily accessible icon into a drop-down tab that is only available by right-clicking.
The feature also follows up Chrome’s decision to block ‘heavy’ ads that use too much CPU power or bandwidth.
In March, Google also received widespread backlash after announcing security and privacy changes that would hamstring third party ad-blocking extensions. The company has stated that it’s not targeting ad-blockers but has continued to move forward with its plans.
An updated version of Chrome that will cripple some ad-blockers is expected to be released sometime between this month and the next.