How to listen to YouTube with the screen off
Want to listen to YouTube with the screen off? Well, it is a tricky thing to achieve because as soon as your screen switches off, YouTube automatically pauses whatever is playing. The result? You can't just listen to videos while on the go. But what if I tell you that there are still a couple of ways you can play YouTube in the background with the screen off?
We've outlined the best methods below.
There's no setting to solve this issue in the default YouTube app but do note that YouTube does offer the option to listen to videos with the screen off if you subscribe to YouTube premium. But then, why pay for something when we can achieve the same results for free?
Jump to:
- Use a web browser
- Using NewPipe: open source app
- Using Float Tube, a Play Store app
- The advantage of YouTube Premium
- How to play YouTube in the background on iOS
Use a web browser
To watch YouTube with the screen off without paying any money, or without installing any app, you can just use a free web browser app like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. This method should work on all devices.
- Download and install Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser on your phone (your device probably already has Chrome, but the Firefox link can be found below).
- Go to the YouTube website within the browser, tap the settings (three dots) button at the top right of the page and tick desktop site.
- Once you have completed the steps above, tap on a video to play it, and it will continue to play even after you lock your phone.
- Note that the first time you lock the screen, the music playback will stop. However, you will now be able to see playback control buttons on your lock screen.
- All you need to do now is hit the 'Play' button and start listening to YouTube with the screen off.
- In case you have fingerprint lock enabled, you may not be able to access the playback control. In such a scenario, unlock your phone and then you can control playback from swiping down the quick settings menu.
If playing YouTube videos off a browser doesn't appeal to you, there are few more methods to go about it.
Install NewPipe: an open-source app for background playback
The second way in which you can listen to YouTube with your screen off is to install an app called NewPipe. Now, downloading this app is not a straightforward procedure as it is not available via the Google Play Store. To install NewPipe, you'll need to go to NewPipe's website and download the APK directly from there. Choose the version that says Android 4.4+.
Do note that your browser might block you from installing Newpipe since it wasn't downloaded via the Play Store and most probably, you will get a message that reads: "For your security, your phone is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source." If you see this message, go to the "Settings" option just beneath this message and toggle the "Allow from this source" option to on and continue with the installation.
Once installed, open NewPipe and search for your song using the search bar at the top. Play the song and then tap on the option that says 'Background'. That's it!
Use FloatTube
One option that doesn't involve straying from the Play Store is FloatTube. However, you will need to be prepared for annoying adds that pop up occasionally. You can go to the Google Play Store, search for Float Tube and install the app. Once installed, just search for a video that you want to play with the screen off and then hit Play. You will need to give permission to the app to draw over other apps. Like New Pipe, Float Tube also lets you control playback from the lock screen.
Get a YouTube Premium subscription
If you do not mind paying a small fee and would like to avoid these hindrances, you can subscribe to the new YouTube Premium (formerly Red) subscription service. It provides offline and background access to content along with an ad-free YouTube experience.
How to play YouTube in the background on iOS
If you are using an Apple iPhone running iOS, the process is a little bit different. Basically, iOS does not make it easy for you, but there is a workaround. You will have to abandon your default Safari browser first and download an alternative. Simply follow the steps below.
- Download an alternative browser for your iPhone, such as Opera or Dolphin.
- Once you are into your new browser, open the mobile version of YouTube.
- Now search for the video you want to play in the browser. It's important to stay in the mobile version of YouTube here.
- Once the video is playing, opening another app or locking your screen will cause the video to stop. That's when the trickery comes in. Swipe to the music player and press play on the audio controls.
- Now, the video will continue to play even if you switch apps and lock the screen.
You can trick a third-party browser into playing YouTube in the background via the control center on iOS/ © NextPit
Let us know in the comments if you know of any other ways to listen to YouTube with the screen off.
This article was last updated in August 2021 with new information. Older comments have been retained.
Amazing, thanks.
Listening with screen off to Recorded live performances doesnt work with the desktop mode option. Hate youtube.
FloatTube works until the screen turns off..
This is amazing! Thank you so much!
I am really thankful to you for sharing such a information.
What about streaming video that is not YouTube? I'd like to continue hearing the audio of streaming lectures, etc. with the screen off or when switching to other apps.
On Firefox for Android, install an addon called "Video Background Play Fix". It works really good on youtube or any other video you play.
Nice one...!!!
NewPipe does not play with the screen locked. There is no setting mentioned and if you read the FAQ is states that it does not have that feature
This comment is now outdated... NewPipe works amazingly on my Android screen locked and all. It must have come a long way because its by far the best solution on this list.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing this useful information and I noticed that my battery is running much more then past.
I am using YouTube Premium 😎. All niche features available to me including background play.
Thanks for letting us know about NewPipe. It works great for wanting to play youtube in the background while the screen is off
I don't know if i can post this but what the hell, you can use Youtube Vance is a modified version of Youtube (and yes modified means H..K), no root needed is totally safe. downside you need root to login (i'm not totally sure about this haven't tried it yet).
Good advice!
Knowledgeable read. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, what a useful tip you have shared with us
Thanks alot
Thanks a lot :-D
I use TVlc. It does a decent job with only a few ads.
No Pause Lock on google play. lock your phone without pausing active app
www.nopauselock.eu
Thanks the newpipe worked for me i think i might get malwares of it but worth it :)
You're not going to get malware from F-Droid apps - it's a pretty respectable software repository.
I realize this is an old comment, but I have NewPipe and it works great. The other solutions on this list are not great.
Great trick, Now I can listen the top songs on youtube while driving... :D Thanks for the tips.
Firefox works for me. Thanks
Great Thanks , mozilla tips work perfectly on S8
Galaxy s7 edge android 7.0 is working. Thank you!
shit, the guy maintaining the youtube background playback xposed module has stopped. he says something about force closing youtube and then it would work but not for me.
see, this is a true loss for the community.
Yeah, but Xposed has been losing relevance with the advent of Magisk - it has a YT client in it's repository that allows background playback.
Google Chrome has got "desktop version" option -_-
Try No Pause Lock on google play. Great app that simply allows you to lock your phone without pausing active app
www.nopauselock.eu
good one, thanks
Easiest way...
1. Uninstall your youtube app (or disable and remove all updates)
2. Uninstall your firefox (if you already have it)
3. Google Firefox Android version 45 .apk and install.
4. Play all your youtube clips minimized :D
Step 1 might be all you need to do, I didnt test it. I just did all 3 steps and it works
Just installing Google Firefox Android version 45 .apk was enough for me to get youtube videos running on the background. I have Samsung S7
Not works. I did all the steps, and it's still stops playing.
Odd. I have a HTC desire eye running 6.0.1 mm. And everytime I lock the screen with YouTube app on. After a few seconds it plays it in the background. I have the latest version of YouTube installed.
Desktop Firefox works on my xperia z3 phone! Thank you so so much!
I use AudioPocket.
Thanks
Media Viewer Small app Not really works on Sony devices 😤
It's not working on my Z5 compact...
About the app from Google play store:
NOTICE:
v2.4.0 onwards, Youtube Background Playing is not allowed due to Youtube API requirement.
That means no more screen off / minimized playback.
For Dailymotion and Twitch, background playback is still available.
There is an app that handles that really well, and it REALLY turns off screen while keeping YouTube playing. It still requires YouTube to be in the foreground when you turn the screen off with proximity sensor.
This app is pretty new but has over 10 K users already.
Just search for Pocket Lock in Google Play - the icon is a blue chameleon.
It really really works, so no need to open Firefox or use paid YouTube features.
I find that app quite interesting - seems to be working well on my Nexus 6 .
Turns the screen Off but keeps YouTube playing.
Keep in mind that's only in pocket, I assume with the help of proximity sensor.
This worked! I just reflashed my tablet and Im trying the no root/xposed way of life for a time. Your recommendation was very helpful, thank you!
Gr8 job but not necessary
Thank you, but is this solutions work also with radio via mobile?
Oh, Scott, you have possibly increased my GPA by .5 points! Firefox works like a charm. YouTube wants us to pay $10.50 per month for the privilege of keeping videos active during screen locks, EVEN when streaming. To make matters worse, the purchase process is buggy beyond belief and the actual download feature is even buggier. Yes, I initially watch all my online class lectures, but I also fill mundane time during driving and housework with an audio review of material my professor obviously considers important. Also, I am often able to grasp complex concepts the second or third time I hear it. THANKS!!!
Didnt work for me. Did it on my iPhone 6. Installed firefox. opened up Youbtube--> Request desktop site --> Turned of screen but it stops playing then.
Help please :(
Great ! Now I can listen to meditation music, to operate in my frame of Zen, without random buttons being pushed as it rests in my shirt pocket.
My God, the firefox method works. My device is the Galaxy S6 Edge+, so can only confirm for this phone. Open firefox, click the top right button, choose request desktop site. Then go to youtube.com, search for your vid, play, then turn off the screen. Audio will continue to play. Great option for streaming albums.
Didnt work for me. Did it on my iPhone 6. Installed firefox. opened up Youbtube--> Request desktop site --> Turned of screen but it stops playing then.
Help please :(
search for Screen Off Keep Playing, its free and works very well on Amoled Screen
I found this to be the best app for the job and works with youtube app.
It must say ok for the first two things, and you must enable turn off screen by notification bar.
When its black, now you can put your phone down.
All other mentioned apps failed; this one works.
I went with the firefox method but requires a lot of tweaking to reduce the number of clicks (so I can turn off my screen as quickly as possible).
1. Install app 'Open Link With'.
2. Install app 'Firefox'.
3. Install firefox addons: uBlock Origin (to block ads), Desktop by Default (so videos play automatically), and Youtube's Autoplay No More (disable playing of up-next videos).
4. In Youtube, click the Share icon for a video, choose 'Open Link With', choose Firefox, and set to always open.
So now you just need to share a video from youtube and it will automatically play in firefox without ads. ONLY issue I can't figure out is how to stop firefox from opening links a new tab. So if you have firefox playing a video and you share another link from youtube, firefox will play the new video in another tab and now you have two videos playing at the same time. I've tried some tweaks in about:config but maybe they don't work in the android version.
You can leave out the addon 'Youtube's Autoplay No More' if you want enjoy continuous playback.
I actually may have found a better way:
When using the web-version of youtube within chrome, play a video, pause it, pull down the notification bar, find the video title with a play button, and press play button. The audio from the video will play and will continue to play even when you turn off the screen / lock the phone.
To quickly send a video from the youtube app to chrome, install 'Open Link With', share the link from youtube to the app, and set it to always open with Chrome.
I cant get the to work on my Note 3. Tried on Crome with m.youtube as well as on just youtube.com the only time it appears in the notification bar is when playing in m.youtube. If I pause it it goes away. If I pause and play from notification bar it still pauses when seen turns off. Sad p2
Hi, I have a problem I have done the Mozilla Desktop Version of YT on my samsung tab A, but even on playlists it will still only play 1 music video at a time when I close my Tablet case to listen on my headphones so please help me
This is what I did: While in the Mozilla Firefox app..I clicked on the option tab on the upper right..then clicked "Request Desktop Site". This should solve the problem..as the videos will play even when you turn off the screen. I would also recommend you click the upper right tab again and click Tools and then Add On's and then download AdBlock for YouTube..as it will stop ads from interrupting your music. But..after doing this..make sure the check is still on "Request Desktop Site" or it won't work. Good luck!
Desktop site doesn't work on my Note 3. I mean it loads the desktop site but videos still pause as soon as the screen times out.
I think you should go with this Poke Lock app - just search for Poke Lock in Google Play. This app turns screen off when you put phone in your pocket - no matter what app is opened, and it keeps it running . So ti will keep YouTube running while screen is Off. Try it - it works!
For your favorite videos and offline viewing or listening copy/paste YouTube URL to offliberty.com. also I'm using an HTC 1 m8, it glitches if I pause the video and lock the screen I can restart the video from the pull down menu. Useful in the car as I can then use my Bluetooth voice commands to start navigation and continue listening while the map is shown
Just force the desktop version on a browser. Make complaints to the YouTube app until they get it right.
Viral lite app! Play youtube when screen is off
VIRAL LITE app! you have not mentioned this one
I could not find VIRAL LITE on the google play store.
We have in the Philippines is YOUTUBE RED, is that the same as MUSIC KEY?
"Youtube Red is currently not available in Philippines." Or is it available to you?
And yes, YT Red is the, err, fuller version of YT Music Key. With GP Music All Access included in the monthly bill.
2 weeks ago it was available not it wasnt anymore
I would, but I really hate all that adds they push on me, so I prefer to listen to the music via other means.
Cool, thanks for the tips, great article ;)
You can also use a little app called "Black Screen of Life" in order to turn off the screen while YouTube stock app keeps playing.
In my humble opinion, it is easier and more practical than the methods you presented, as it works with the stock app.
Not working on Sony SGP611. It will not work with devices without proximity sensor.
This did not work with my LG G4 and YouTube app. When you try to leave the YouTube app to click the black screen icon..YouTube simply stops playing. If anyone knows of a YouTube player app that plays when the phone is off please let me know.
very helpful tips,thanks.keep up the good work.
Excellent Tips! Thank You!
Nice trick thanks
OgYouTube
YouTube background playback via Xposed
Thanks for sharing this Guide