[GH-ISSUE #576] Youtube videos do not play if Psst is open #344

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opened 2026-02-28 14:32:20 +03:00 by kerem · 8 comments
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Originally created by @isma-moniz on GitHub (Jan 8, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jpochyla/psst/issues/576

Describe the bug
While Psst is open, it is impossible to play videos on Youtube (and presumably other video streaming platforms).

To Reproduce

  1. Open Psst.
  2. Open Youtube
  3. Attempt to play a video
  4. Close Psst
  5. Try to play the video again (this time successfully).

Expected behavior
The video will not play while Psst is open.

Environment

  • OS: Arch Linux ver 6.12.4
  • Version: psst-git r417.f1300bf-3
Originally created by @isma-moniz on GitHub (Jan 8, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jpochyla/psst/issues/576 **Describe the bug** While Psst is open, it is impossible to play videos on Youtube (and presumably other video streaming platforms). **To Reproduce** 1. Open Psst. 2. Open Youtube 3. Attempt to play a video 4. Close Psst 5. Try to play the video again (this time successfully). **Expected behavior** The video will not play while Psst is open. **Environment** - OS: Arch Linux ver 6.12.4 - Version: psst-git r417.f1300bf-3
kerem 2026-02-28 14:32:20 +03:00
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  • added the
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@jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Jan 8, 2025):

I think this might be more of an audio device issue? Maybe Psst or your browser is taking exclusive access of the sound output? I don't know if this is unique to Psst, have you tried other audio applications to see if it locks on them too?

<!-- gh-comment-id:2578826048 --> @jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Jan 8, 2025): I think this might be more of an audio device issue? Maybe Psst or your browser is taking exclusive access of the sound output? I don't know if this is unique to Psst, have you tried other audio applications to see if it locks on them too?
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@isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Jan 14, 2025):

Yeah, that was my first guess, but i tried using other audio streaming services such as Spotify and Cmus and then Youtube at the same time and it worked. So it seems to be a Psst specific issue for some reason.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2590733269 --> @isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Jan 14, 2025): Yeah, that was my first guess, but i tried using other audio streaming services such as Spotify and Cmus and then Youtube at the same time and it worked. So it seems to be a Psst specific issue for some reason.
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@jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Jan 14, 2025):

But are you using separate apps for those? I think it could be an issue with you using a browser & some other app that accesses the output at the same time.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2590881203 --> @jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Jan 14, 2025): But are you using separate apps for those? I think it could be an issue with you using a browser & some other app that accesses the output at the same time.
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@isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Jan 19, 2025):

But are you using separate apps for those? I think it could be an issue with you using a browser & some other app that accesses the output at the same time.

I am using separate apps for those. The Spotify desktop app and Cmus is a cli tool for playing music in your disk. Maybe I'm the only one with this problem and tbh it's not that big of a deal, but I decided to report it in case more people were looking for a solution.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2600943111 --> @isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Jan 19, 2025): > But are you using separate apps for those? I think it could be an issue with you using a browser & some other app that accesses the output at the same time. I am using separate apps for those. The Spotify desktop app and Cmus is a cli tool for playing music in your disk. Maybe I'm the only one with this problem and tbh it's not that big of a deal, but I decided to report it in case more people were looking for a solution.
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@SO9010 commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2025):

That is very weird; I have never encountered that issue. Are you using Firefox? Have you looked to see if its your drivers, there could be a weird bug with cpal and say pulseaudio. Try and see if this helps.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2624189282 --> @SO9010 commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2025): That is very weird; I have never encountered that issue. Are you using Firefox? Have you looked to see if its your drivers, there could be a weird bug with cpal and say pulseaudio. Try and see if [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/r3be0v/youtube_videos_not_playing_in_any_browser_or_even/) helps.
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@isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Mar 10, 2025):

If I run systemctl restart --user pipewire-pulse, the youtube video is able to play. However the problem persists every time I try to play another video while Psst is open. I guess Psst is interacting in a weird way with my audio drivers. I'll consider this a fix tbh as it's not something that bothers me really.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2710371185 --> @isma-moniz commented on GitHub (Mar 10, 2025): If I run systemctl restart --user pipewire-pulse, the youtube video is able to play. However the problem persists every time I try to play another video while Psst is open. I guess Psst is interacting in a weird way with my audio drivers. I'll consider this a fix tbh as it's not something that bothers me really.
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@ernstki commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025):

I guess Psst is interacting in a weird way with my audio drivers. I'll consider this a fix tbh as it's not something that bothers me really.

@isma-moniz To lighten the load of the maintainers, I'd recommend closing this issue unless you're able to reproduce it with the latest release on another system, within a VM, or at least in a fresh user profile on the same box.

You never did mention which browser you were using either, which could make a difference. Did you try other ones, like, Firefox or a WebKit-based browser if you normally use Chromium, or vice-versa?

Edit: firejail --private psst-gui1 is also a useful debugging tool, as this runs the application with a fresh, transient home directory, which more or less eliminates any personal configuration from the equation.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3594445093 --> @ernstki commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025): > I guess Psst is interacting in a weird way with my audio drivers. I'll consider this a fix tbh as it's not something that bothers me really. @isma-moniz To lighten the load of the maintainers, I'd recommend closing this issue unless you're able to reproduce it with [the latest release](https://github.com/jpochyla/psst/releases/tag/rolling) on another system, within a VM, or at least in a fresh user profile on the same box. You never did mention which browser you were using either, which could make a difference. Did you try other ones, like, Firefox or a WebKit-based browser if you normally use Chromium, or vice-versa? **Edit:** `firejail --private psst-gui`[^fn1] is also a useful debugging tool, as this runs the application with a fresh, transient home directory, which more or less eliminates any personal configuration from the equation. [^fn1]: https://github.com/netblue30/firejail#firejail
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@jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025):

Thanks, I'll close, but happy to open if OP can provide some more details!

<!-- gh-comment-id:3596115165 --> @jacksongoode commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025): Thanks, I'll close, but happy to open if OP can provide some more details!
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starred/psst#344
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