Taskbar Media Control

Taskbar Media Control adds previous / play-pause / next buttons to the app’s Windows taskbar thumbnail preview, so hovering the icon is enough to change track.

It also feeds the Windows system media overlay, which means the volume-key popup shows the current song like a native player.

What it does

Playback buttons in the taskbar thumbnail preview
Integrates with the Windows system media transport controls
No need to restore the window to skip a track

How to enable Taskbar Media Control

Install YouTube Music Desktop App for Windows, macOS or Linux.
Open the app menu and choose Plugins.
Switch on Taskbar Media Control.
Open its options entry to adjust the settings.

Platform support: Windows only.

Frequently asked questions

Is this available on macOS or Linux?

No — it is Windows-specific. macOS users want the TouchBar plugin, and Linux users the MPRIS support in the Shortcuts plugin.

The buttons do not appear — why?

Taskbar previews must be enabled in Windows, and the app needs a restart after switching the plugin on.