YouTube is changing how ads appear during livestreams on mobile, and the new setup keeps the video visible while muting the stream’s audio until the ad break ends. The format, known as side-by-side ads, is now being rolled out to mobile devices after already being used on desktop and TV.
The shift marks a noticeable change in how viewers experience live content on YouTube. Instead of letting an ad take over the entire screen, the platform now preserves the livestream image so viewers can still follow what is happening, even though they will not hear the stream during the commercial break.
A different ad experience on mobile
Under this format, the livestream continues to play visually while the ad appears at the same time. That means the main content is no longer fully covered by a full-screen promotion, which is what many viewers may have seen before on live broadcasts.
The trade-off is on the audio side. While the ad runs, the livestream sound is muted, so viewers cannot hear commentary, dialogue, or other important audio from the stream until the ad finishes.
Rollout has already begun
YouTube confirmed to Android Authority that the side-by-side ad format is officially launching on mobile. Some users have already reported seeing it over the past few days, although the rollout is gradual and may not appear for everyone right away.
In the coming weeks, more mobile viewers could start noticing the new ad layout on livestreams as the expansion continues. The feature is part of YouTube’s regular ad system, not a separate experimental tool.
Linked to specific stream settings
The company said the format will appear automatically on streams that qualify and use the recommended automatic mid-roll ad setting. That means the ads will not appear across every livestream, but only on broadcasts tied to the relevant monetization configuration.
For creators, the setup keeps the monetization framework active while changing how the interruption looks to the audience. For viewers, the platform aims to reduce the feeling of being cut off from the stream completely, even though the audio pause remains in place.
Not new to YouTube, but new to phones
Side-by-side ads are not a fresh concept within YouTube’s broader platform. The company had already used the same format on desktop and television before extending it to mobile screens.
That extension matters because a large share of live video viewing now happens on smartphones. Bringing the same ad model to phones allows YouTube to keep ads inside livestreams without forcing a full-screen interruption every time a commercial appears.
What viewers can do
For users who want a more ad-free experience, YouTube Premium remains the main option. The source also notes the Lite plan, priced at $7.99 per month, as another way to watch most videos without ads.
For everyone else using the regular version of YouTube, side-by-side ads may become a more common part of livestream viewing on mobile. The image stays on screen, but the stream’s sound returns only after the ad break ends.
