YouTube Music Restricts Lyrics Access for Non-Premium Users

Google continues its strategy of shifting core YouTube Music features behind its Premium paywall, with song lyrics becoming the latest functionality restricted for free users. Non-subscribers now encounter a view counter that starts at five and decreases each time they access lyrics, displaying the message: "You have X views remaining, unlock lyrics with Premium." Once exhausted, lyrics become inaccessible without upgrading.

This follows Google's recent elimination of background playback loopholes and represents an acceleration of subscription-focused monetization. The lyrics limitation underwent regional testing starting September 2024 before this broader rollout. While Google hasn't formally announced the change, its implementation pattern mirrors the background playback restriction rollout, where official confirmation followed days after user reports.

The lyrics lock screen now appearing for non-Premium users (Image: GSMArena)

The move strategically targets a high-engagement feature – lyrics remain among YouTube Music's most frequently accessed elements. By restricting this functionality after minimal uses, Google creates deliberate friction in the free experience while offering clear incentive for conversion. YouTube Music Premium costs $11/month standalone in the U.S., or $14/month bundled with YouTube Premium (ad-free videos + background playback). International pricing varies significantly, with European users facing different tier structures.

Unlike competitors like Spotify that maintain free lyrics access, Google's approach reflects aggressive ecosystem monetization. The restriction also impacts third-party applications relying on YouTube Music's API for lyrics retrieval, potentially affecting developer ecosystems. For mobile users, this further entrenches the Premium tier's value proposition amid intensifying streaming competition, though at the cost of degrading the baseline free experience.

With no workarounds reported, free users face a straightforward choice: ration their five lyrics views, switch platforms, or subscribe. Google's systematic feature migration suggests more functionality may follow lyrics behind the Premium barrier as subscription growth remains paramount.