# Disable Page Visibility API

> This add-on disables the Page Visibility API.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/disable-page-visibility](https://chrome-stats.com/d/disable-page-visibility)

## Overview

- **ID:** `disable-page-visibility`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Frank Dreßler
- **Category:** privacy-security,photos-music-videos,games-entertainment
- **Daily users:** 7,465
- **Weekly downloads:** 113
- **Rating:** 4.72 / 5 (47 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.2resigned1
- **Last updated:** 2024-04-25
- **First published:** 2017-12-19
- **Size:** 7.96 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-10
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/disable-page-visibility/)

## Description

The **Disable Page Visibility API** Chrome extension prevents websites from detecting when a page is visible or hidden using the Page Visibility API. This API is commonly utilized by sites like Twitch to automatically pause video playback when their tab is in the background. By disabling this API, the extension stops such auto-pause behaviors, allowing videos and background processes to continue uninterrupted.

However, users should note that this may increase energy consumption as background activity continues running. Also, this extension does not block other visibility detection methods such as onblur/onfocus events, so it doesn't provide complete privacy protection against page visibility tracking. Use this add-on if uninterrupted background media playback is your priority.

## Rankings

- #915 — Overall
- #74 — Games & Entertainment
- #148 — Photos, Music & Videos
- #200 — Privacy & Security
- #2 — visibility
- #5 — disable

## Permissions and access

### Content script matches

- `*`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Moderate risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Users report the extension reliably stops pausing when switching tabs, and keeps background playback and downloads running, with good mobile support and broad usefulness. While generally effective, several popular sites are reported as not supported and behavior can be inconsistent across sites. A common wish is per-site controls (whitelist/blacklist) to tailor which sites are affected. Privacy benefit by reducing tab-tracking is also noted by some users.

### Pros

- Prevents video autopauses when switching tabs (e.g., Instagram/Facebook Reels).
- Keeps background tasks like filehoster countdowns and downloads running without pausing.
- Works well on mobile.
- High reliability and effectively meets its stated purpose.
- Possible privacy benefit by reducing sites' tab-focus tracking.

### Cons

- Does not work on Discord.
- Does not work on Twitch.
- Does not work on aarp.org videos.
- Does not work on Instagram Reels (inconsistent behavior).
- Does not work on MDN's Page Visibility API documentation page.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/disable-page-visibility)