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 e46818e41..58c75a4e3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/Player.java
@@ -5620,7 +5620,7 @@ private void setupVideoSurface() {
         cleanupVideoSurface();
 
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) { // >=API23
-            surfaceHolderCallback = new SurfaceHolderCallback(context, simpleExoPlayer);
+            surfaceHolderCallback = new SurfaceHolderCallback(simpleExoPlayer);
             binding.surfaceView.getHolder().addCallback(surfaceHolderCallback);
             final Surface surface = binding.surfaceView.getHolder().getSurface();
             // ensure player is using an unreleased surface, which the surfaceView might not be
@@ -5641,7 +5641,6 @@ private void cleanupVideoSurface() {
             if (binding != null) {
                 binding.surfaceView.getHolder().removeCallback(surfaceHolderCallback);
             }
-            surfaceHolderCallback.release();
             surfaceHolderCallback = null;
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/playback/SurfaceHolderCallback.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/playback/SurfaceHolderCallback.java
index b02a9240d..bbc3a4636 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/playback/SurfaceHolderCallback.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/playback/SurfaceHolderCallback.java
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 package org.schabi.newpipe.player.playback;
 
-import android.content.Context;
 import android.view.SurfaceHolder;
 
 import androidx.media3.common.Player;
-import androidx.media3.exoplayer.video.PlaceholderSurface;
 
 /**
  * Prevent error message: 'Unrecoverable player error occurred'
@@ -12,7 +10,7 @@
  * having a Callback that handles the lifecycle of the surface.
  * <p>
  * How?: In case we are no longer able to write to the surface eg. through rotation/putting in
- * background we set set a DummySurface. Although it it works on API >= 23 only.
+ * background we clear the surface, and the player swaps in a placeholder one of its own.
  * Result: we get a little video interruption (audio is still fine) but we won't get the
  * 'Unrecoverable player error occurred' error message.
  * <p>
@@ -24,12 +22,9 @@
  */
 public final class SurfaceHolderCallback implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
 
-    private final Context context;
     private final Player player;
-    private PlaceholderSurface placeholderSurface;
 
-    public SurfaceHolderCallback(final Context context, final Player player) {
-        this.context = context;
+    public SurfaceHolderCallback(final Player player) {
         this.player = player;
     }
 
@@ -47,16 +42,6 @@ public void surfaceChanged(final SurfaceHolder holder,
 
     @Override
     public void surfaceDestroyed(final SurfaceHolder holder) {
-        if (placeholderSurface == null) {
-            placeholderSurface = PlaceholderSurface.newInstanceV17(context, false);
-        }
-        player.setVideoSurface(placeholderSurface);
-    }
-
-    public void release() {
-        if (placeholderSurface != null) {
-            placeholderSurface.release();
-            placeholderSurface = null;
-        }
+        player.setVideoSurface(null);
     }
 }