YouTube Live Chat Popout Restorer

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Live Chat Popout Restorer is a browser extension that automatically scans the current YouTube page for live chat elements, popout controls, and chat containers. It detects live chat elements by examining class names, IDs, and data attributes for patterns like "yt-live-chat-renderer", "yt-live-chat-frame", and related selectors. The extension adds a floating restore button (💬) next to the video player, providing quick access to chat popout controls. Clicking the button opens a panel where you can restore popout chat, toggle popout mode, set window size preferences (width and height), and store preferences locally. The panel displays video information, live chat status, and controls for restoring the popout. The extension can automatically restore chat popouts on live streams when enabled. The extension maintains a live chat popout preferences database with settings history, notes, and tags for each video. The main panel shows saved chat data for the current and recent videos. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your preferences persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube users who frequently watch live streams to restore chat popout windows without manually clicking the popout button each time, providing a better multi-tasking experience.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays live chat elements, popout controls, or chat containers – including YouTube live stream pages and any page with YouTube live chat content. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects live chat elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube users who watch live streams and want to restore chat popout windows conveniently.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube live stream page. The extension automatically detects the live chat and shows a restore button (💬) next to the video player. Click the button to open the live chat panel. The panel shows the video title and live chat status. Click "Restore Popout" to pop out the chat into a separate window using YouTube's native popout control. If the popout button isn't available, click "Open Popout Window" to create a direct popout window using the live_chat URL. Customize the window size using the Width and Height inputs. Toggle "Auto-restore on live stream" to automatically restore chat popouts when you visit live streams. A floating button (💬) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the panel from anywhere. Use the notes section to add notes about chat activity or stream context. The panel also shows saved chat data for the current video and recent videos. Use the "Clear All Data" button to remove all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension uses a combination of DOM detection and window management to restore live chat popouts. The live chat element is detected using a comprehensive set of CSS selectors targeting YouTube's live chat renderers and frames. The popout button is detected using aria-label patterns ("Pop out") and class-based selectors. When the "Restore Popout" button is clicked, the extension simulates a click on the native popout button using the click() method. If the popout button is not available, the extension creates a direct popout window using the live_chat URL with the is_popout=1 parameter. The window dimensions are configurable and saved in the settings database. The auto-restore feature detects live streams by checking for the live badge element (.ytp-live-badge, .live-badge) and triggers the popout restore after a short delay. Each video's chat data is stored with timestamps and preferences. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when new chat elements appear, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The live chat popout panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during live streams. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The controls and settings are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your live stream viewing workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause live chat detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. Popout windows may be blocked by browser popup blockers – please allow popups for YouTube in your browser settings. The extension stores all chat data, preferences, and notes exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. You are responsible for backing up your chat data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.