YouTube Music starts putting lyrics behind a paywall

Feb 09, 2026 05:55 AM - 4 months ago 101200

Terrence O'Brien

is the Verge’s play editor. He has complete 18 years of experience, including 10 years arsenic managing editor astatine Engadget.

Free YouTube Music accounts are now seeing their entree to lyrics limited, according to multiple reports. Google started testing lyrics arsenic an exclusive characteristic for Premium users successful September, but it appears that it’s now receiving a wider rollout. It seems that free users will beryllium constricted to viewing lyrics for 5 songs per month, though we’ve reached retired to Google for confirmation.

Once that limit is reached, users will only beryllium capable to spot the first mates of lines. Everything beyond that will beryllium blurred out, and they’ll beryllium prompted to “Unlock lyrics pinch Premium.” The banner informing users astir their constricted lyric views remaining appears prominently erstwhile you unfastened the tab, complete pinch a countdown.

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