Background playback on MacOS no longer working as expected (after pause playback change in 6.48)

[Integer0475]

Using a supported version?

• [X] I have searched searched open and closed issues for duplicates.
• [X] I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

Overall summary

On my device (macos sonoma), I’m no longer able to continue playback in the background if the active window covers the Signal window. I noticed this was introduced with the "Pause Playback" change that was introduced for window close and minimization in 6.48.

Video and audio playback will now pause whenever the Signal window is closed and minimized in the system tray. If you’re looking for silence, X marks the spot.

When I Command + Tab to my other apps, the playback cuts immediately if that other apps window covers the Signal app in it's entirety. When I swap back to Signal as the active window, it doesn't automatically pick up playing from where it left off, I have to manually click the play button or tap the spacebar. Playback only continues when changing the active app if the other app's window doesn't completely cover Signal's window.

Steps to reproduce

I can reproduce the issue if Signal is still actively open, not minimized or closed (using the window controls in the upper left hand corner [red or yellow buttons]):

1. Playback will continue if the Signal app is visible in any way next to or behind another app, so make sure they're both resized appropriately to fit the screen.
2. Covering the Signal window entirely by moving another app over it or resizing it will stop the playback. Signal's window was never minimized or closed on my end, it just has another window on top of it.
3. Resize the window again so it doesn't cover Signal entirely, and resume playback.
4. Shift the active window state to the other app and it should continue playing in the background.

Expected result

Playback should continue in the background as long as the window wasn't intentionally closed or minimized using shortcuts or the window control buttons on the top left (even if Signal isn't the active window). Should be able to listen to audio messages while using another app, since Signal was not closed.

Actual result

Signal pauses background playback whenever the active window is shifted to another app that completely covers the Signal window. Not able to listen to audio messages in another app, such as a browser, when the browser covers the Signal app and it's the active window.

Screenshots

No response

Signal version

Reported at 7.3.1 (still occurring in 7.12.0)

Operating system

Reported on MacOS Sonoma 14.4 (still occurring in 14.5)

Version of Signal on your phone

No response

Link to debug log

No response

[s-gbz]

Yep, that hurts! @trevor-signal marking this issue as the predecessor of my report which I closed.

[pedgemedia]

I am experiencing the same on macOS 14.6.1 but do note that audio continues playing in some cases.

• When switching to Mail.app, WhatsApp, Photoshop, QuickTime Player, Signal audio keeps playing correctly
• When switching to any browser or browser based apps like Trello, Signal audio stops