How to listen to YouTube in the background on Android without complications

If you use YouTube on your mobile, you've probably wanted to... more than once listen to a video with the screen off or while doing other things With your phone. Podcasts, interviews, music compilations, or live streams that you just need to hear, not see. The problem is that, on Android, the official app cuts off the audio as soon as you minimize it or lock the screen unless you pay for YouTube Premium.

Fortunately, there are several tricks and alternatives that allow Play YouTube in the background on Android without paying a feeAnd we'll also cover official payment options for those who prefer to go the legal route and avoid any underhanded methods. We'll review all the methods currently in use, with their advantages, drawbacks, and other details you should know to avoid surprises.

Why YouTube doesn't let you listen to videos in the background for free

Before we get into the details, it's helpful to understand why the app cuts the sound when you exit it. YouTube blocks this feature because Background playback is one of the main draws of YouTube PremiumIt's their paid subscription. In other words, it's not a technical limitation of the mobile phone; it's a business decision.

The consequence is that, on Android, if you use the official free YouTube app, The audio stops as soon as you open another application or turn off the screen.It doesn't matter if you just want to listen, playback will automatically pause to push you towards the paid plan.

However, you can do it from your computer. lock the screen (laptops) or switch tabs and continue listening without problems. The same applies to certain browser combinations and special settings on your mobile device, which is precisely what we're going to take advantage of with some of the tricks you'll see later.

YouTube Premium: the official (and paid) way to listen to YouTube in the background

Google's proposed solution involves subscribing to YouTube PremiumThe paid service unlocks several extra features not available in the free version. Among them, the most interesting for our purposes is precisely the background playback with screen off.

With YouTube Premium, you can exit the app, open other applications, or lock your phone And the audio in the videos will continue to play without interruption. In addition, ads are removed and video downloads for offline viewing are enabled.

YouTube offers different subscription types with prices that vary by country, but as a guideline, in Europe you can usually find Individual plan, Family plan and Student planwith different monthly fees. There is also a cheaper "Lite" plan in some regions, which does not include background playbackIt only removes ads, so be careful with that.

An important detail is that many mobile operators have agreements with YouTube to include Premium within some ratesIt's worth asking your company because you may already have it or be able to add it at a lower price than the standard plan.

In addition, a free trial month For new accounts. During those 30 days you have access to all features: no ads, background playback, offline mode, and access to YouTube Music. Some people use multiple accounts for the trial, although that means sacrificing their viewing history and personalized subscriptions.

Brave: The easiest trick to listen to YouTube in the background on Android

One of the most convenient and effective methods for Android is to use Brave, a free browser available on Google Play (and also on iOS). Unlike Chrome or other mobile browsers, Brave includes the option to continue playing YouTube audio in the background.

The trick is that Instead of using the YouTube app, you open the website from Brave.When you enable background playback in your browser settings, you can turn off the screen or switch to another app and the sound will continue to work as if you had YouTube Premium.

To configure it, simply go into Brave to Settings → Multimedia → Background Playback and enable the option. From there, you open youtube.com, choose the video you want, and play it normally from the browser itself.

While the video is playing, you can lock the phone or switch to WhatsApp, Instagram, the browser, etc.And the audio won't cut out. Plus, the Android notification bar provides the typical playback controls: pause, resume, skip, etc., making it very convenient to use.

A very practical use of this method is to create music playlists on your YouTube account and then open them from Brave. This way, you have something very similar to a music streaming service, but taking advantage of YouTube's enormous music catalog without having to pay for an additional subscription. And if you have connection problems, check Tips and tricks to improve your mobile connections.

Other browsers and a trick for desktop mode on Android

Brave isn't the only way. Some browsers, like Firefox or Chrome itself, allow you to play YouTube audio in the background. forcing the desktop version of the websitealthough it tends to be less direct and doesn't always work as smoothly as Brave.

On Android, the usual trick with Chrome is to Open youtube.com in your browser and enable the "View as desktop" option. or “Desktop Site” in the three-dot menu in the top corner. This loads the full version of the website, as if you were on a PC.

Once you have the desktop site active, choose the video you want and start it. When you exit Chrome, the audio will likely stop, but you'll see that in the Playback controls appear in the notification barSimply press the Play button from there to restart the sound and keep it playing even if you have another app open or the screen is off.

Behavior may vary slightly depending on the Android and Chrome versions you use; if this concerns you, see how prevent Android from disabling appsSometimes it's a little unstable. That's why, although The desktop mode trick usually works on both Android and iOSIt is neither as convenient nor as immediate as the Brave method.

Firefox can also take advantage of this in this way, and furthermore, allows you to install extensions which further improve the experience with YouTube in the background, as we will see later with certain specific add-ons.

Screen split: YouTube visible while using other apps

Another native possibility in Android is to take advantage of split screen modeIt's not exactly "hidden" playback or screen-off playback, because the video continues to play, but it allows you to work with another application at the same time without it stopping.

Most recent Android phones offer a gesture or button to show recent appsThis is usually accessed from the bottom of the screen, either with a dedicated button or by swiping up. Once in this menu, you'll see all the apps running in the background.

In that view, locate YouTube, press and hold its icon or app card, and select the option to split screen (usually represented by two stacked rectangles)Next, choose the second application you want to use at the same time: a browser, social networks, email, etc.

From that moment on, you will have the screen split in two halvesYouTube plays in one area and the other app in the remaining space. You can adjust the relative size of each area, depending on whether you want to give more prominence to the video or the other application.

This mode doesn't allow you to turn off the screen while keeping the audio on, but it's very useful if you want Continue watching the video while browsing, chatting, or looking up other information without playback stopping when switching apps.

PiP mode and VPN: floating mini-window and country restrictions

The function of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) It reduces the video to a small floating player that you can move around the screen while using other apps. Android has included Picture-in-Picture support since versions like Oreo, and YouTube leverages it as one of the benefits of Premium.

Under normal conditions, you need A YouTube Premium membership to use PiP with all types of videos in the mobile app. The mechanics are simple: you're watching a video, you exit the app and, instead of stopping completely, it minimizes to a small window that you can drag and reposition over other applications.

However, there is a geographical peculiarity: In the United States, YouTube allows free Picture-in-Picture mode for certain content. even if you don't have Premium (with significant limitations, for example, it does not apply to music videos and there may be other restricted cases).

From countries like Spain, some users resort to a VPN that gives them a US IP address (for example, services like NordVPN and similar) to trick the app and activate free Picture-in-Picture (PiP). This practice works in many cases, although it has drawbacks: possible content restrictions (videos only available in your country will no longer be playable), slower connection speeds, and latency issues, so it's advisable to check the Importance of latency in the internet before attempting it, and the fact that YouTube could change this policy at any time.

It's worth remembering that, even when PiP is activated, not all videos support it: Musicals are usually excluded, as are certain contents protected by specific agreements.Therefore, although the VPN trick may be tempting, it is not a perfect or guaranteed long-term solution.

Third-party apps to listen to YouTube in the background on Android

In addition to browsers and native system features, there is a whole ecosystem of third-party applications specifically designed to play YouTube in the backgroundSome are no longer maintained, others are frequently updated, and many are downloaded as APKs outside of Google Play, with the risks that this entails.

One of the best known was YouTube AdvancedIt was a modified version of the official YouTube app that added several features: background playback, ad blocking, recovery of the dislike counter, and other advanced settings. Although it was very popular for a time, the project was discontinued and no longer officially updated.

The main problem with these types of modified apps is that, in order to install them, It is often necessary to download APKs from unofficial websites and grant special permissions. This opens the door to potential security problems, such as malware, spyware, or applications that steal personal data. If you prefer to avoid risks, review how Disable background apps before trying unofficial alternatives.

Therefore, although YouTube Vanced and similar alternatives offered an excellent experience, It is not a recommended option for most users due to security reasons and compliance with YouTube's terms of service.Even so, it's important to mention it because many people still find references to this app when searching for how to listen to YouTube in the background.

On iOS, things get more complicated, but tools like X.App, a PiP video extension This allows you to send content from YouTube or Chrome to an environment where a floating window is forced and playback continues. However, it also depends on Apple's limitations, and again, it's wise to be cautious about what you install and from where.

Browsers compatible with PiP and plugins on Android

Returning to the topic of browsers, Android has long supported a native PiP mode which some apps and browsers know how to take advantage of. Firefox for Android is one of them: it allows you to reduce videos to a small floating window thanks to this system function.

When you use YouTube from Firefox, you can activate this mini-window to continue watching content while using other applications. The problem is that if you close the floating player, The video stops and the audio stops playing.which limits its usefulness if you only want to listen to the sound in the background with the screen off.

To remedy this situation, there are extensions like Video Background Play Fixwhich can be installed on Firefox and allows YouTube videos to continue playing in the background with the browser, even if you don't have the floating window on screen.

Another browser mentioned as an alternative is Dolphin BrowserBy downloading it from its official website, you can open YouTube from there and, in certain configurations, Minimize the browser and continue listening to the contentIts behavior depends on the Android version and the browser itself, but it can be another option for those who prefer a dedicated browser.

In any case, compared to these somewhat more technical alternatives, Brave's approach is usually simpler, more stable and more comfortable for most userssince everything comes fairly integrated without the need to install external extensions.

Use VLC and external players to listen to YouTube videos as audio

Another very interesting avenue for Android is to rely on external media players like VLC. The well-known player with the orange cone icon also exists in a mobile version, and it has features designed precisely for what interests us: playing content as background audio.

With VLC installed, you can go to YouTube, choose the video you're interested in, and use the option to Share → Play with VLC (or “Play in VLC”). The video will open within the VLC app, and from the menu at the bottom you can select the playback mode. Play as audio, which only preserves the sound.

Once you've done this, if you exit VLC or turn off the screen, The audio continues playing without interruptionIt's an elegant way to transform YouTube videos into a kind of audio track without needing to download anything or violating the platform's terms as much as other more aggressive solutions.

Besides VLC, there are apps on Google Play specifically designed for minimize the video to a small window or move it to the backgroundFor example, apps that are literally called things like "Minimize background video" or "Advanced Minimizer YouTube Background Player", whose purpose is to display the video in a floating box or convert it to audio while you continue using your phone.

These tools allow you to search for your favorite videos directly from their own interface, play them, and then reduce the player to a floating window at the bottom of the screenThis way, you can continue using other apps normally while the music, interview, or podcast plays without interruption.

As always with third-party apps, this is key Carefully review the reviews, permissions, and privacy policy. Before installing anything, prioritize apps with a good reputation and downloaded from official sources like Google Play.

Listen to YouTube in the background on iPhone: free options

Although the focus of this article is Android, many of the questions come from users who also have a iPhone users want to listen to YouTube with the screen off. without using YouTube Premium. On iOS the options are somewhat more limited, but there's a simple trick that usually works.

The key is Use Safari instead of the official YouTube appYou have to manually type www.youtube.com into the address bar to prevent the native app from opening. Once on the website, find the video you want and play it.

When it's playing, you can open a New tab in Safari with the tab icon and the + signIf everything goes well, the audio will continue to play even if you don't have the main tab in view, which is already a first step towards keeping the audio playing in the background.

Then, on an iPhone with a physical button, you can press Home; on modern models, you use the gesture of Swipe up to go to the home screenIn many versions of iOS, sound continues playing in the background, and if it stops, you can resume it from the [device/app/etc.]. Control Center with multimedia controls that appear when you swipe from the top right or bottom corner (depending on the model).

From that point on, the iPhone can continue playing YouTube audio in the background while you use other apps, and even with the screen locked, without being logged into YouTube Premium. It's not a guaranteed method for all iOS and Safari combinations, but it's one of the most widespread tricks among Apple users.

YouTube Music: Listen to audio only officially with Premium

If you decide to go the paid route, in addition to the YouTube app itself, you have at your disposal YouTube MusicThe official Google app focused exclusively on music content. It is available for both Android and iOS.

When you sign up for a plan Premium Individual, Family or StudentIt includes access to ad-free YouTube Music with background playback and the ability to download songs. This app isn't suitable for all types of videos (it's limited to music and similar content), but in return it offers a Optimized listening experience without the screen on.

Within YouTube Music, you can search for and play your favorite songs, albums, or playlists. If you wish, you can switch to a audio-only modeso that the video stops playing and only the sound is kept, which helps save battery and mobile data.

Once this mode is activated, by minimizing the app or turning off the screen, The music will continue playing in the backgroundThis is exactly the behavior many users are looking for when trying to force tricks with the main YouTube app, but in an official way and supported by Google.

The downside, obviously, is that You won't be able to use YouTube Music to listen to videos that aren't strictly music videos.This includes content such as interviews, other types of live streams, tutorials, or podcasts uploaded only as video. For that, you would still need the standard YouTube app or one of the alternative methods already mentioned for Android.

In their day-to-day use, many subscribers end up combining both tools: They use YouTube Music as a substitute for the typical Spotify. Use the "normal" YouTube app for listening to music, and the "normal" YouTube app for everything else, with the added benefit of being able to lock the screen without cutting the audio thanks to Premium.

Ultimately, whether you use tricks with browsers, external players, and third-party apps, or opt for the official subscription, the important thing is that You have a good range of options for listening to YouTube in the background on your Android device., adapt the solution to your profile (more or less technical, with or without payment) and get the most out of the world's largest video library even when you only want to use it as if it were a radio or podcast service.