diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java
index b07b15a45..0fdcc972c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java
@@ -641,6 +641,15 @@ public final class Player implements PlaybackListener, Listener {
         simpleExoPlayer.setWakeMode(C.WAKE_MODE_NETWORK);
         simpleExoPlayer.setHandleAudioBecomingNoisy(true);
 
+        // Enable automatic audio focus management - let Android handle ducking automatically
+        simpleExoPlayer.setAudioAttributes(
+            new com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioAttributes.Builder()
+                .setUsage(C.USAGE_MEDIA)
+                .setContentType(C.AUDIO_CONTENT_TYPE_MUSIC)
+                .build(),
+            true  // handleAudioFocus = true for automatic management
+        );
+
         audioReactor = new AudioReactor(context, simpleExoPlayer);
 
         registerBroadcastReceiver();
@@ -1190,10 +1199,6 @@ public final class Player implements PlaybackListener, Listener {
         }
 
         UIs.call(PlayerUi::onPrepared);
-
-        if (playWhenReady && !isMuted()) {
-            audioReactor.requestAudioFocus();
-        }
     }
 
     private void onBlocked() {
@@ -1341,11 +1346,6 @@ public final class Player implements PlaybackListener, Listener {
     public void toggleMute() {
         final boolean wasMuted = isMuted();
         simpleExoPlayer.setVolume(wasMuted ? 1 : 0);
-        if (wasMuted) {
-            audioReactor.requestAudioFocus();
-        } else {
-            audioReactor.abandonAudioFocus();
-        }
         UIs.call(playerUi -> playerUi.onMuteUnmuteChanged(!wasMuted));
         notifyPlaybackUpdateToListeners();
     }
@@ -1757,10 +1757,6 @@ public final class Player implements PlaybackListener, Listener {
             return;
         }
 
-        if (!isMuted()) {
-            audioReactor.requestAudioFocus();
-        }
-
         if (currentState == STATE_COMPLETED) {
             if (playQueue.getIndex() == 0) {
                 seekToDefault();
@@ -1781,7 +1777,6 @@ public final class Player implements PlaybackListener, Listener {
             return;
         }
 
-        audioReactor.abandonAudioFocus();
         simpleExoPlayer.pause();
         saveStreamProgressState();
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/helper/AudioReactor.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/helper/AudioReactor.java
index 084336d54..2ec33dc0f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/helper/AudioReactor.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/helper/AudioReactor.java
@@ -1,54 +1,36 @@
 package org.schabi.newpipe.player.helper;
 
-import android.animation.Animator;
-import android.animation.AnimatorListenerAdapter;
-import android.animation.ValueAnimator;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.media.AudioManager;
 import android.media.audiofx.AudioEffect;
-import android.util.Log;
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;
-import androidx.media.AudioFocusRequestCompat;
 import androidx.media.AudioManagerCompat;
 
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.ExoPlayer;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.analytics.AnalyticsListener;
 
-public class AudioReactor implements AudioManager.OnAudioFocusChangeListener, AnalyticsListener {
+public class AudioReactor implements AnalyticsListener {
 
     private static final String TAG = "AudioFocusReactor";
 
-    private static final int DUCK_DURATION = 1500;
-    private static final float DUCK_AUDIO_TO = .2f;
-
-    private static final int FOCUS_GAIN_TYPE = AudioManagerCompat.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN;
     private static final int STREAM_TYPE = AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC;
 
     private final ExoPlayer player;
     private final Context context;
     private final AudioManager audioManager;
 
-    private final AudioFocusRequestCompat request;
-
     public AudioReactor(@NonNull final Context context,
                         @NonNull final ExoPlayer player) {
         this.player = player;
         this.context = context;
         this.audioManager = ContextCompat.getSystemService(context, AudioManager.class);
         player.addAnalyticsListener(this);
-
-        request = new AudioFocusRequestCompat.Builder(FOCUS_GAIN_TYPE)
-                //.setAcceptsDelayedFocusGain(true)
-                .setWillPauseWhenDucked(true)
-                .setOnAudioFocusChangeListener(this)
-                .build();
     }
 
     public void dispose() {
-        abandonAudioFocus();
         player.removeAnalyticsListener(this);
         notifyAudioSessionUpdate(false, player.getAudioSessionId());
     }
@@ -57,14 +39,6 @@ public class AudioReactor implements AudioManager.OnAudioFocusChangeListener, An
     // Audio Manager
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
 
-    public void requestAudioFocus() {
-        AudioManagerCompat.requestAudioFocus(audioManager, request);
-    }
-
-    public void abandonAudioFocus() {
-        AudioManagerCompat.abandonAudioFocusRequest(audioManager, request);
-    }
-
     public int getVolume() {
         return audioManager.getStreamVolume(STREAM_TYPE);
     }
@@ -77,73 +51,6 @@ public class AudioReactor implements AudioManager.OnAudioFocusChangeListener, An
         return AudioManagerCompat.getStreamMaxVolume(audioManager, STREAM_TYPE);
     }
 
-    /*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    // AudioFocus
-    //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
-
-    @Override
-    public void onAudioFocusChange(final int focusChange) {
-        Log.d(TAG, "onAudioFocusChange() called with: focusChange = [" + focusChange + "]");
-        switch (focusChange) {
-            case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN:
-                onAudioFocusGain();
-                break;
-            case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK:
-                onAudioFocusLossCanDuck();
-                break;
-            case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS:
-            case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT:
-                onAudioFocusLoss();
-                break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    private void onAudioFocusGain() {
-        Log.d(TAG, "onAudioFocusGain() called");
-        player.setVolume(DUCK_AUDIO_TO);
-        animateAudio(DUCK_AUDIO_TO, 1.0f);
-
-        if (PlayerHelper.isResumeAfterAudioFocusGain(context)) {
-            player.play();
-        }
-    }
-
-    private void onAudioFocusLoss() {
-        Log.d(TAG, "onAudioFocusLoss() called");
-        player.pause();
-    }
-
-    private void onAudioFocusLossCanDuck() {
-        Log.d(TAG, "onAudioFocusLossCanDuck() called");
-        // Set the volume to 1/10 on ducking
-        player.setVolume(DUCK_AUDIO_TO);
-    }
-
-    private void animateAudio(final float from, final float to) {
-        final ValueAnimator valueAnimator = new ValueAnimator();
-        valueAnimator.setFloatValues(from, to);
-        valueAnimator.setDuration(AudioReactor.DUCK_DURATION);
-        valueAnimator.addListener(new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
-            @Override
-            public void onAnimationStart(final Animator animation) {
-                player.setVolume(from);
-            }
-
-            @Override
-            public void onAnimationCancel(final Animator animation) {
-                player.setVolume(to);
-            }
-
-            @Override
-            public void onAnimationEnd(final Animator animation) {
-                player.setVolume(to);
-            }
-        });
-        valueAnimator.addUpdateListener(animation ->
-                player.setVolume(((float) animation.getAnimatedValue())));
-        valueAnimator.start();
-    }
-
     /*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // Audio Processing
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/