How to Keep YouTube Playing in the Background: Tricks for Android, iPhone

When Need to Keep YouTube Background Playback

There are numerous scenarios where keeping YouTube playing in the background is beneficial. Perhaps you're multitasking, like cooking or cleaning, and want to listen to a podcast or music video. Or maybe you're working out and need some motivation from a workout video. Or you might be commuting and want to watch a video essay or a lecture while on the bus or train. Whatever the reason, having the ability to keep YouTube playing in the background can significantly enhance your multitasking experience.

How to Keep YouTube Playing in the Background on iPhone

Unfortunately, Apple's stringent app restrictions prevent YouTube from playing in the background without a premium subscription. However, there are a few workarounds you can try. For example, you can use the Chrome's desktop site mode.

Step 1. Open your browser, Opera or Chrome, on your iPhone.

Step 2. Input the youtube.com in the search box and go to YouTube site.

Step 3. Tap on the three dots menu from the bottom right. On the pop-out menu, click on Request Desktop site.

Step 4. Now, find the video you want to play and tap on it to start playing.

Step 5. Once the video is playing, double tap the video to watch it in full-screen mode.

Step 6. Now, tap on the Picture in Picture button on the top right corner of the screen. 

Then the video will shrink to a small window that you can move around the screen. Or you can minimize the window by dragging it to the bottom of the screen. The video will continue to play even if you switch to another app on your phone.

How to Keep YouTube Playing in the Background on Android

Android offers more flexibility when it comes to background playback. You can make use of the  Picture-in-Picture (PiP), which is designed to help you multitaskon Android smartphones (running Android 8.0 Oreo and later). PiP mode for videos that contain music content is only available for YouTube Premium members.

Step 1. Open Settings on your smartphone or tablet.

Step 2. Tap Apps.

Step 3. Scroll down to find the YouTube app, and tap YouTube. At the bottom, select Allowed under Picture-in-picture.

How to Keep YouTube Playing in the Background While Using Other Apps

The methods discussed above, such as Desktop site mode and PiP, are excellent for keeping YouTube playing in the background while using other apps. However, it's important to note that these features might not work with all Android devices or YouTube versions. Additionally, the specific steps to enable these features might vary depending on your device's manufacturer and Android version.

Tips for Keeping YouTube Playing in the Background on iPad

Unfortunately, iPad users face similar restrictions as iPhone users. YouTube Premium remains the most reliable solution for background playback on iPad. However, you can try these tips to optimize your experience:

1. Use a Keyboard: Connecting a keyboard to your iPad can help you switch between apps more efficiently, making it easier to multitask while keeping YouTube playing in the background.

2. Third-Party Apps: While not officially supported, some third-party apps might offer limited background playback capabilities. However, proceed with caution and be aware of potential risks. These apps might not be as stable or feature-rich as YouTube's official app, and they could also compromise your device's security.

3. Screen Recording: As mentioned earlier, screen recording can be used as a workaround, but it's not ideal for long-term use due to battery drain and potential performance issues.

Bonus Tip: How to Download YouTube Video

This article explains "how to keep YouTube playing in the background". If you’re considering downloading videos from YouTube to your local or cloud drive, MultCloud can be extremely useful. Trusted by over 3 million users,the process is quite simple, you just copy and paste the video URL into MultCloud's input field, and it will be downloaded in high quality.

For instance, you can save YouTube video to your computer or cloud drives, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. MultCloud also enables you to transfer files between two different cloud services, like Dropbox to Google Drive. it supports more than 30 different cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Google Photos, iCloud Photos, FTP, WebDav, and more.

📣📣📣：This feature is currently under development and will be released soon. Stay tuned!