v0.26.0 Beta

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Summary

FreeTube v0.26.0 introduces several notable improvements. Live stream playback is working again, although seeking is still unavailable (see issue #9044). New in-player subtitle appearance settings allow users to customize various aspects of subtitles, such as size, position, and color. The playback speed menu has also been updated with a slider and several preset speeds, similar to YouTube's interface.

The update also includes numerous bug fixes, performance improvements, security enhancements, and general UI refinements.

Note

Due to the upgrade to Electron v44.0.0, macOS 12 (Monterey) and ARMv7l builds are no longer supported. macOS 13 (Ventura) or later is now required to run FreeTube, and ARMv7l builds will no longer be provided.

Features

• Add controls to move video to top/bottom of playlist by @caetano-dev in Add move to top/bottom to playlist #9463
• Add button to collapse playlist when watching a video by @caetano-dev in Add button to collapse playlist when watching a video #9504
• Channel home: add support for stations by @radmorecameron in Channel home: add support for stations #9620
• Add disable hardware acceleration setting to experimental settings by @r3dArch in Add disable hardware acceleration setting to experimental settings #9571
• Enable Azerbaijani Language by @alimima in Enable Azerbaijani Language #9757
• Add handling for /show/ urls by @radmorecameron in Add handling for /show/ urls #9788
• Add initial support for YouTube clip links by @radmorecameron in feat: Add initial support for YouTube clip links #9532
• Add SponsorBlock channels exclusion list by @Shadorc in Feat: Add SponsorBlock channels exclusion list #9508
• Add "How this was made" disclosure and AI labels by @caetano-dev in Add "How this was made" disclosure and AI labels #9749
• Add a reload page button to the player video info bar so you can recover after the player crashes by @mousetail in Feat: Add a reload page button to the player video info bar so you can recover after the player crashes #9722
• Implement music icon for music videos by @Shadorc in Feat: Implement music icon for music videos #9985
• Add styling for captions by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc in Add caption settings #9987
• Enable About page as landing page option by @kommunarr in Enable About page as landing page option #10007
• Implement links section on channel About page by @kommunarr in Implement links section on channel About page #9989
• Add support for various recent timezone changes, up to tzdata 2026e
• Enable language support for Afrikaans and Urudu by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc
• Style context menus as light or dark depending on the base theme by @absidue in Style context menus as light or dark depending on the base theme #9551

Fixes

• Fix live and post live DVR playback by @absidue in Fix live and post live DVR playback #9996
• Fix: changing volume by scrolling does not work in some parts of the player by @Shadorc in Fix: changing volume by scrolling does not work in some parts of the player #9447
• Fix: Duplicates when click spam loading elements in FT by @Shadorc in Fix: Duplicates when click spam loading elements in FT (1/3) #9383 Fix: Duplicates when click spam loading elements in FT (2/3) #9409
• Fix: occasional error with age-restricted videos by @Shadorc in Fix: occasional error with age-restricted videos #9465
• Fix trailing slash removed while typing by @PikachuEXE in Fix trailing slash removed while typing #9316
• Fix: default playlists not being created on app starts by @Shadorc in Fix: default playlists not being created on app starts #9505
• Fix: channel's posts not loading if the original post of a shared post no longer exists by @Shadorc in Fix: channel's posts not loading if the original post of a shared post no longer exists #9533
• Fix: user playlists containing some videos from a playlist cannot be selected for playlist copy by @Shadorc in Fix: user playlists containing some videos from a playlist cannot be selected for playlist copy #9560
• Fix: FtInputTags adding the same tag multiple times when spamming click/enter by @Shadorc in Fix: FtInputTags adding the same tag multiple times when spamming click/enter #9511
• Fix: Opening a playlist from a user playlist reloads the view twice by @Shadorc in Fix: Opening a playlist from a user playlist reloads the view twice #9525
• Fix the circle getting stretched on quiz posts with multi-line options by @absidue in Fix the circle getting stretched on quiz posts with multi-line options #9609
• Fix Disable Channel Links in Channel Sidenav Menu by @ozrendev in Fix Disable Channel Links in Channel Sidenav Menu #9395
• Fix the channel tab accent color when switching tabs by @caetano-dev in Fix the channel tab accent color when switching tabs #9507
• fix: getRegions script failing by @Shadorc in fix: getRegions script failing #9684
• Fix: 'Copy YouTube Link' generates malformed URL when video is part of a playlist by @Shadorc in Fix: 'Copy YouTube Link' generates malformed URL when video is part of a playlist #9698
• Fix: removed video from playlist is still associated with the playlist in history by @Shadorc in Fix: removed video from playlist is still associated with the playlist in history #9290
• Fix video index nr in playlist gets covered by watched border by @ozrendev in Fix video index nr in playlist gets covered by watched border #9720
• Fix: forbidden title items UI by @Shadorc in Fix: forbidden title items UI #9715
• A11y: add missing labels to improve accessibility of buttons by @radmorecameron in A11y: add missing labels to improve accessibility of buttons #9699
• Fix: Channel with unavailable clips throws 'Cannot read properties of null' by @Shadorc in Fix: Channel with unavailable clips throws 'Cannot read properties of null' #9762
• Fix null handling by @PikachuEXE in Fix null handling #9769
• fix: opening invalid playlist does not update the window title by @Shadorc in fix: opening invalid playlist does not update the window title #9765
• Fix: tooltip not being aligned with dropdown arrow by @Shadorc in Fix: tooltip not being aligned with dropdown arrow #9714
• Make SabrSchemePlugin more robust by @b2ag in Make SabrSchemePlugin more robust #9753
• Fix: Various dates not displayed correctly in Azerbaijani by @Shadorc in Fix: Various dates not displayed correctly in Azerbaijani #9786
• Fix: playlist info image can be stretched by @Shadorc in Fix: playlist info image can be stretched #9805
• Fix: 'Hide text' setting with Invidious throwing in various places by @Shadorc in Fix: 'Hide text' setting with Invidious throwing in various places #9806
• Filter null items from channel's playlist tab by @radmorecameron in Filter null items from channel's playlist tab #9860
• Fix playlist channel name by @PikachuEXE in Fix playlist channel name #9862
• Fix: unplayable error message containing undefined sub-reason by @Shadorc in Fix: unplayable error message containing undefined sub-reason #9908
• Fix: comments with long words breaking UI by @Shadorc in Fix: comments with long words breaking UI #9924
• Workaround issues with certain TZ variable values by @absidue in Workaround issues with certain TZ variable values #9920
• Fix community posts view by @trostboot in Fix community posts view #9890
• Fix the LiveChat being made reactive and erroring on private property accesses by @absidue in Fix the LiveChat being made reactive and erroring on private property accesses #9949
• Properly handle filtered out member's only videos in playlists by @absidue in Properly handle filtered out member's only videos in playlists #9948
• Fix: duration not being displayed when longer than 1000 hours by @Shadorc in Fix: duration not being displayed when longer than 1000 hours #9909
• Fix: (local API) "Hide videos from channels" doesn't work for collaboration videos by @Shadorc in Fix: "Hide videos from channels" doesn't work for collab videos (local API) #9697
• Fix external player default viewing mode scrolling the page to the top by @absidue in Fix external player default viewing mode scrolling the page to the top #9950
• Fix low contrast of uploader comment name in Catppuccin Mocha by @theamanullahdev in Fix low contrast of uploader comment name in Catppuccin Mocha #9954
• Fix: channel name could be wrongly interpreted as view count, leading to parsing failure by @Shadorc in Fix: channel name could be wrongly interpreted as view count, leading to parsing failure #9917
• Fix search history selection behavior by @kommunarr in Fix search history selection behavior #9981
• Fix English grammar by @NormPlum in Fix English grammar #9990
• Fix: Community protected videos being wrongly reported as IP blocked by @Shadorc in Fix: Community protected videos being wrongly reported as IP blocked #9916
• fix: approximate replies count for comments by @Shadorc in fix: approximate replies count for comments #9993
• fix: automatically position tooltips to prevent cut off or extra scroll bar by @Shadorc in fix: automatically position tooltips to prevent cut off or extra scroll bar #9944
• Fix playlist copy by @kommunarr in Fix playlist copy #9999
• Fix minor issues with collaborators array by @kommunarr in Fix minor issues with collaborators array #10006
• Set invidious instance after clicking suggestion by @kommunarr in Set invidious instance after clicking suggestion #10023
• Fix having default playback rate read from DB sometimes got decimal place > 2 by @PikachuEXE in Fix having default playback rate read from DB sometimes got decimal place > 2 #9997
• fix: 'about' channel tab was not accessible with keyboard for invidious by @Shadorc in fix: 'about' channel tab was not accessible with keyboard for invidious #10030
• Fix: Live Chat auto-scroll occasionally not working by @Shadorc in Fix: Live Chat auto-scroll occasionally not working #10027
• Workaround chapter marker inconsistent with chapter preview on seek bar by @PikachuEXE in Workaround chapter marker inconsistent with chapter preview on seek bar #9991
• Dozens of PRs with assorted security improvements by @absidue

Changes

• Update playback rate menu to include a slider and various presets
• Add mix-blend-mode to improve SponsorBlock segment visibility by @caetano-dev in Add mix-blend-mode to improve sponsorBlock visibility #9535
• Add information about current/default invidious instance by @Shadorc in Change: Add information about current/default invidious instance #9464
• Implement pagination for playlists when using Invidious API by @Shadorc in Feat: Implement pagination for playlists when using Invidious API #9564
• Show a message instead of hiding the posts tab when RSS is enabled by @absidue in Show a message instead of hiding the posts tab when RSS is enabled #8607
• Add limit the number of videos displayed for each channel should be set to a max of 15 when RSS is enabled by @ozrendev in Add limit the number of videos displayed for each channel should be set to a max of 15 when RSS is enabled #9327
• Update user playlist view to show grab bar disabled when items being deleted by @PikachuEXE in Update user playlist view to show grab bar disabled when items being deleted #9515
• Apply "Hide Comments" setting to posts too by @ozrendev in Apply "Hide Comments" setting to posts too #9725
• Add message on top and at the end of playlist to explain hidden videos by @Shadorc in Feat: Add message on top and at the end of playlist to explain hidden videos #9608
• Display different message when comments are turned off by @caetano-dev in Display different message when comments are turned off #9752
• Improve drag drop usage in playlist by @PikachuEXE in Feature/drag drop improve #9591
• Show 'Premiere' instead of 'Live' for premieres by @radmorecameron in Show 'Premiere' instead of 'Live' for premieres #9795
• Use list icon instead of bookmark to represent Playlists by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc in Use list icon instead of bookmark to represent Playlists #9797
• Improve messaging when all channel videos are filtered out by @Shadorc in Feat: Improve messaging when all channel videos are filtered out #9791
• Add Shorten view count numbers using K, M, B suffixes by @ozrendev in Add Shorten view count numbers using K, M, B suffixes #9721
• Display a different icon for courses, releases, podcasts by @radmorecameron in Display a different icon for courses, releases, podcasts #9800
• Update default grid mode item padding to be the same as video in playlist with custom sort by @PikachuEXE in Update default grid mode item padding to be the same as video in playlist with custom sort #9891
• Show a specific message when a playlist is unviewable by @Shadorc in Feat: Show a specific message when a playlist is unviewable #9759
• Change: Revert workaround related to electron crashing on wayland by @Shadorc in Change: Revert workaround related to electron crashing on wayland #9903
• Change wording of video formats to media formats by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc in Change wording of video formats to media formats #9960
• Remove false precision for additional counts by @kommunarr in Remove false precision for additional counts #9978
• Use /get_watch in home page + API fallback on the watch page by @absidue in Use /get_watch in home page + API fallback on the watch page #9988
• (Invidious) Do not show unavailable videos in playlist by @Shadorc in Feat: Do not show unavailable videos in playlist (Invidious) #9702
• Move Links in About tab by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc in Move Links in About tab #10031
• Update Invidious instances list by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc in Update Invidious instances list #10037
• Player UI will not be shown when video is paused by @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc
• Dozens of PRs with assorted code cleanups by @absidue @efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc
• Dozens of PRs with assorted performance improvements by @absidue

Miscellaneous

• Dependencies updated to their latest versions on October 30, 2026
• Translations updated via Weblate on November 1, 2026
• Dozens of PRs with assorted general project maintenance by @absidue

New Contributors

• @ArthurKun21 made their first contribution in add issue type to templates #9568
• @alimima made their first contribution in Enable Azerbaijani Language #9757
• @b2ag made their first contribution in Make SabrSchemePlugin more robust #9753
• @mousetail made their first contribution in Feat: Add a reload page button to the player video info bar so you can recover after the player crashes #9722
• @theamanullahdev made their first contribution in Fix low contrast of uploader comment name in Catppuccin Mocha #9954
• @NormPlum made their first contribution in Fix English grammar #9990

Full Changelog: v0.25.3-beta...v0.26.0-beta

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This discussion was created from the release v0.26.0 Beta.

[Krik658]

This version of Freetube is noticeably faster! 🤩 👍

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I am wondering: When do you release a new version? Is there a Kanban board somewhere or do you use something else?
I'm also confused about the "beta" label. My understanding is that beta usually means the feature set is frozen and only bugfixing and fine-tuning remain. Yet you ship new features every release. So "beta" seems to mean something different here. Could you clarify?

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

This version of Freetube is noticeably faster! 🤩 👍

Hi @Krik658 that's great to hear!

I am wondering: When do you release a new version? Is there a Kanban board somewhere or do you use something else?

We dont share when we plan todo a release or what we plan to address as that unnecessarily puts pressure on the team and that sets certain expectations to our users. All members of the team work on this project in their free time and address things they want to address.

I'm also confused about the "beta" label. My understanding is that beta usually means the feature set is frozen and only bugfixing and fine-tuning remain. Yet you ship new features every release. So "beta" seems to mean something different here. Could you clarify?

The beta labeling is still there because we didnt reach feature parity with YouTube yet. Major features such as #547 need to be implemented before we get rid of that labeling