If you’ve ever wanted to listen to your favorite music videos or podcasts on YouTube while multitasking on your phone, you’re in luck! In this guide, we’ll show you how to play YouTube videos in the background without having to keep the app open. With these simple tricks, you can stream your favorite content while working out, shopping, or even just browsing other apps.
Method 1: Play YouTube Videos in the Background via Desktop Mode
Here’s an easy way to run YouTube in the background using Google Chrome:
- Open the Google Chrome web browser on your phone.
- Type “https://m.youtube.com” in the address bar to open the mobile version of YouTube.
- Click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome and select “Desktop” from the dropdown menu.
- Play any video of your choice and then switch to another app.
- To control the playback, swipe down to access the control center of your phone and click “Play”.
- Now you can continue using other apps while the YouTube video plays in the background, with only the audio playing.
Method 2: Use Picture-in-Picture Mode
If you have an Android phone running on Android 8.0 Oreo or later, you can use Picture-in-Picture mode to watch YouTube videos while multitasking:
- Go to Settings and click on “Apps”.
- Select the YouTube app from the list.
- Click on “Picture in Picture” in the advanced settings.
- In the menu, select “Allowed in Picture-in-Picture”.
- With Picture-in-Picture mode enabled, the YouTube video will appear in a small window on top of other apps. You can move the video window around and continue using other apps while watching the video.
- Note: Certain Picture-in-Picture features may be available only to YouTube Premium members.
Method 3: YouTube Vanced APK [Non-Root]
If you’re an Android user and want to access premium YouTube features, such as playing videos in the background, without a YouTube Premium membership, you can try using YouTube Vanced:
- Download and install the YouTube Vanced app on your Android smartphone. The app is not available on the Google Play Store but is safe to use.
- YouTube Vanced offers features like ad-blocking, dark themes, and high-resolution audio playback, along with background play.
- Note: This method is only applicable to Android users, as iOS does not allow the installation of third-party apps.
Conclusion
Now you know how to play YouTube videos in the background on your phone. Whether you use the desktop mode in Google Chrome, enable Picture-in-Picture mode, or try YouTube Vanced, you can enjoy your favorite YouTube content while multitasking. So go ahead and enjoy your favorite music, podcasts, and videos on the go!