YouTube Music’s Now Playing widget prepares cover screen support for Samsung’s clamshell foldable devices

Key insights

• YouTube Music’s 4×1 Now Playing widget could soon be expanded to Samsung’s clamshell foldable devices.
• Code found in the latest build of YouTube Music suggests support for devices with Flex Window, including the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 6.
• The new widget is not live yet. Once it’s available, users should be able to enable it by going to Settings → Cover Screen → Widgets.

With features like music downloading, offline listening, background play, Ask Music custom radios, and a comprehensive song library, YouTube Music has quickly become one of the best music streaming apps on the market.

The app recently added the ability to sync queues across devices, allowing users to pick up where the mobile app left off in a playlist or album on desktop. Another handy tool that allows YouTube Music users to quickly identify the last song played is the app’s widgets.

Currently, the YouTube Music app offers three widgets: a 4×1 Now Playing widget, a 2×2 Turntable, and a 4×2 Recently Played widget. The former now appears to be making its way onto the displays of Samsung’s foldable clamshell devices.

Samsung’s clamshell foldables, the Z-Flip series, offer a practical cover display that the South Korean technology giant calls a Flex Window. The display can help users customize their quick settings, check notifications and messages, and even respond to them. According to Android Authority, the display will soon support YouTube Music’s 4×1 Now Playing widget, as hinted at in the app version 7.24.51 build.

Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 6 users rejoice

The report highlights that the widget is not currently live and it is unclear when it will be activated. However, once it’s available, YouTube Music users with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 6 will be able to seamlessly control their music experience without having to fully unfold their device or open the YouTube Music app.

It’s worth noting that Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 6 users can already control music from the Flex Window by using the built-in music control widget. The Now Playing widget is simply a tool that is more optimized and tailored to YouTube Music. Once it is available, users should be able to activate it by going to Settings → Cover Screen → Widgets​​​​​​​.