Chrome 130 update brings background playback to “Listen to This Page” feature on Android

Google has enhanced its Chrome browser for Android with the recent release of version 130, introducing a significant update to the “Listen to this page” feature. Initially announced last month as part of the latest Android features, this update allows users to enjoy uninterrupted audio playback even when switching to other apps on their devices.

The text-to-speech capability for Chrome began rolling out in June, but users encountered limitations that paused audio when closing the browser. The feature was only able to continue playing if the browser remained active in the foreground when the device was locked. This week’s update changes that, allowing audio playback to persist seamlessly as users navigate to different applications.