---
title: "Play and pause normal and specialised players · Sound Boost"
description: "Distinguish audible tab audio from optional Plus playback controls and use the website player when limited."
url: https://soundboost.impulse-apps.de/en/guides/play-pause-and-custom-players/
language: en
website: Sound Boost
publisher: Impulse Apps
---

Understand the Plus mixer

# Play and pause normal and specialised players

A tab can be audible without Sound Boost being able to control its player. Playback controls are also a protected Plus feature.

By Impulse Apps · Content reviewed on 7 October 2026

## Consider audio and player separately

Audio processing uses the activated tab’s sound. Play/pause instead looks for controllable audio and video elements on the website. Specialised players, protected content or browser activation may limit those controls.

Plus sales remain disabled. If using an existing entitlement, check it separately from browser activation. Sign-in alone does not prove play/pause access is granted.

## Diagnose a control limitation clearly

1. Start the player directly on the website.
2. Check whether Sound Boost can process the audio.
3. If Plus is available: test play/pause separately.
4. If control is unavailable, use the website player and record the exact notice.

## Keep the original player as a fallback

Volume adjustment does not require guaranteed remote access to every playback function. A working website player can handle play, pause and seeking while Sound Boost processes activated audio.

## Check playback actions on the correct source

A website may contain several media elements such as a main player and preview clip. Check which is actually audible. Remote controls operate on available media elements; they do not guarantee perfect selection on every complex website. If play/pause affects another element or the result is unclear, use unambiguous website controls and record the limitation. Gain processing may still be a valid separately reviewed workflow.

For a new player after navigation, check activation again. Test remote controls only after establishing original playback and existing entitlement. Useful reporting distinguishes no element found, no action performed and wrong playback changed. Those observations are more informative than assuming every audible tab must support all remote player functions.

## A worked example

The tab overview shows an audible source, but play/pause reports “No controllable media”. Test the website button. If that and gain processing work, missing remote control is a separate issue. Raising the slider or signing in again does not automatically make a specialised player controllable.

Add your observations. This template processes no files and sends no report.

### Check the result

### If something is wrong

**Observation and next step**

| Observation | Next step |
| --- | --- |
| No controllable media | Use website controls; the page does not expose a suitable controllable element. |
| Gain works, pause does not | Treat it as a control issue and do not raise gain. |
| No control after navigation | Reactivate the current website and inspect the new player. |

## Common questions

**Can every player be controlled?**

No. Some websites use specialised players or restricted access.

**Is play/pause free?**

Playback control in the tab overview belongs to protected Plus access.

Browser activation and a Plus entitlement are separate requirements. Protected content and specialised players can have their own limitations.

[Help and contact](https://soundboost.impulse-apps.de/en/support/)

## Continue here

[Access and help](https://soundboost.impulse-apps.de/en/guides/no-audio/)

### No audio or no player control?

Check the source, mute state, audio output, tab activation and browser limits when Sound Boost behaves unexpectedly.

**Read the guide**

[Access and help](https://soundboost.impulse-apps.de/en/guides/browser-permissions/)

### Browser permissions and local audio data

Why Sound Boost needs activeTab, audio capture and tab data, and when you need to activate a tab again.

**Read the guide**

[Understand the Plus mixer](https://soundboost.impulse-apps.de/en/guides/control-tabs/)

### Control tabs individually and keep an overview

Understand the Plus tab overview: independent audio channels, mute, play/pause and the activation each tab requires.

**Read the guide**