YouTube is a treasure trove of content, offering everything from music and podcasts to educational videos and entertaining vlogs. However, one common frustration for many users is the inability to listen to YouTube with the screen off, especially on mobile devices. This can be particularly inconvenient when you want to enjoy audio content while conserving battery life, multitasking, or simply relaxing without staring at a screen. Fortunately, there are several methods and workarounds that allow you to listen to YouTube with your screen off on both Android and iOS devices. This comprehensive guide will explore various techniques, step-by-step instructions, and useful tips to help you overcome this limitation and enhance your YouTube listening experience.
Why YouTube Stops Playing When the Screen is Off
Before diving into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why YouTube typically stops playing audio when you turn off your screen. The primary reason lies in the way YouTube’s mobile app is designed and the operating system’s power-saving features. Here’s a breakdown:
- App Design: The YouTube app is primarily designed for video playback, meaning its core functionality is tied to visual content. When the screen is turned off, the app assumes you no longer need its services and suspends playback to conserve resources.
- Power Management: Mobile operating systems like Android and iOS have built-in power management features that automatically restrict background activity for apps when the screen is off. This is to preserve battery life by preventing apps from continuously running in the background.
- Subscription Model: YouTube offers YouTube Premium, a subscription service that includes background playback as a key feature. By limiting background playback in the free version, YouTube incentivizes users to subscribe to Premium.
Methods to Listen to YouTube with Screen Off
Despite these limitations, several methods allow you to bypass these restrictions and listen to YouTube with your screen off. These methods vary in complexity and effectiveness, so it’s worth exploring a few options to find the one that works best for you.
1. Using YouTube Premium
The most straightforward and official method is to subscribe to YouTube Premium. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that offers several benefits, including ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and, most importantly, background playback. With YouTube Premium, you can listen to YouTube with your screen off without any workarounds.
Steps to Subscribe to YouTube Premium:
- Open the YouTube App: Launch the YouTube app on your Android or iOS device.
- Tap Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “Get YouTube Premium”: In the menu that appears, select the option labeled “Get YouTube Premium.”
- Choose a Plan: You’ll be presented with different subscription plans, such as individual, family, or student plans. Choose the plan that suits your needs.
- Confirm Your Purchase: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your purchase using your Google or Apple account.
Once you’ve subscribed to YouTube Premium, background playback will be automatically enabled. You can start playing any video, turn off your screen, and the audio will continue to play uninterrupted.
2. Using a Web Browser (Android)
Another popular method is to use a web browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, on your Android device. This method leverages the browser’s ability to play audio in the background, even when the screen is off.
Steps to Listen to YouTube with Screen Off Using a Web Browser (Android):
- Open a Web Browser: Launch Google Chrome or another web browser on your Android device.
- Navigate to YouTube: Go to the YouTube website (www.youtube.com) in your browser.
- Request Desktop Site: Tap on the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the browser to open the menu. Select “Desktop site” or “Desktop mode” to request the desktop version of the website. This is crucial because the mobile version of YouTube often redirects to the app.
- Play the Video: Search for the video you want to listen to and start playing it.
- Turn Off the Screen: Once the video is playing, turn off your screen. The audio may stop initially, but don’t worry.
- Use Notification Controls: Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade. You should see playback controls for the video you were playing. Tap the play button to resume audio playback.
Troubleshooting Tips for Web Browser Method:
- Clear Browser Cache: If you’re experiencing issues, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. This can resolve conflicts and ensure the website loads correctly.
- Update Your Browser: Make sure you’re using the latest version of your web browser. Outdated browsers may have compatibility issues.
- Check Website Permissions: Ensure that the YouTube website has permission to play audio in the background. You can usually find these settings in your browser’s privacy or site settings.
- Battery Optimization: Some Android devices have aggressive battery optimization settings that may interfere with background playback. Check your device’s battery settings and make sure your browser is not being restricted.
3. Using Third-Party Apps (Android)
Several third-party apps available on the Google Play Store are designed to enable background playback for YouTube. These apps typically work by modifying the way YouTube videos are played or by providing a separate player that supports background audio.
Examples of Third-Party Apps:
- NewPipe: NewPipe is a popular open-source YouTube client that offers background playback, ad-free viewing, and other advanced features. It doesn’t rely on the official YouTube API, which means it doesn’t require a Google account and is very privacy-friendly.
- YouTube Vanced (Discontinued, but Alternatives Exist): YouTube Vanced was a modified version of the YouTube app that included features like background playback and ad blocking. However, it has been discontinued due to legal issues. Alternatives with similar functionalities may emerge.
- Floating Tube: Floating Tube allows you to play YouTube videos in a floating window, which can be minimized while you use other apps or turn off your screen.
Steps to Use a Third-Party App (Example: NewPipe):
- Download and Install the App: Download NewPipe from its official website or a trusted source (as it’s not available on the Google Play Store). Install the app on your Android device.
- Open the App: Launch the NewPipe app.
- Search for a Video: Use the search bar to find the YouTube video you want to listen to.
- Play in Background: Tap on the video and select the “Background” option to start playing the audio in the background.
- Turn Off the Screen: Turn off your screen, and the audio will continue to play.
Important Considerations for Third-Party Apps:
- Security: When downloading apps from outside the Google Play Store, be cautious and ensure the source is trustworthy. Download apps only from reputable websites to avoid installing malware.
- Updates: Keep your third-party apps updated to ensure they continue to function correctly and have the latest security patches.
- Legality: Be aware of the terms of service of YouTube and the legality of using third-party apps that modify its functionality.
4. Using Shortcuts and Automation (iOS)
For iOS users, the Shortcuts app provides a powerful way to automate tasks and create custom workflows. You can create a shortcut that enables background playback for YouTube videos by using the Safari web browser.
Steps to Create a Shortcut for Background Playback (iOS):
- Open the Shortcuts App: Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Create a New Shortcut: Tap the “+” button in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Add Actions:
- Open URL: Add an “Open URL” action and enter the YouTube URL (www.youtube.com).
- Get Contents of URL: Add a “Get Contents of URL” action to fetch the HTML content of the YouTube page.
- Find All: Add a “Find All” action to extract the video URL from the HTML content. Use a regular expression like
src=\"([^\"]*youtube[^\"]*)\"to find the video source URL. - Play Sound: Add a “Play Sound” action and set the input to the video URL you extracted.
- Configure the Shortcut: Customize the shortcut as needed, such as adding a name and icon.
- Run the Shortcut: Run the shortcut, and it will open YouTube in Safari, extract the video URL, and start playing the audio. You can then turn off your screen, and the audio should continue to play.
Detailed Steps for Creating the Shortcut:
- Open Shortcuts: Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Create New Shortcut: Tap the “+” icon to create a new shortcut.
- Add “Open URL”:
- Tap “Add Action.”
- Search for “Open URL” and select it.
- In the “URL” field, type “https://www.youtube.com”.
- Add “Get Contents of URL”:
- Tap “Add Action.”
- Search for “Get Contents of URL” and select it.
- Make sure it is connected to the “Open URL” action.
- Add “Find All”:
- Tap “Add Action.”
- Search for “Find All” and select it.
- Tap on the text field that says “Text”. A contextual menu will appear at the bottom. Tap the “Select Variable” option. Choose “Get Contents of URL”.
- In the “Find Text” field, enter the following regular expression:
src=\"([^\"]*youtube[^\"]*)\". Make sure “Regular Expression” is toggled on.
- Add “Play Sound”:
- Tap “Add Action.”
- Search for “Play Sound” and select it.
- Tap on the text field that says “File”. A contextual menu will appear at the bottom. Tap the “Select Variable” option. Choose “Find All Text”.
- Name and Customize:
- Tap the three dots icon at the top.
- Give your shortcut a name (e.g., “YouTube Background Playback”).
- Choose an icon and color for your shortcut.
- Tap “Done.”
- Run the Shortcut:
- Find your newly created shortcut.
- Tap on it to run. It will open YouTube in Safari, extract the video URL, and start playing the audio.
Troubleshooting Tips for Shortcuts Method:
- Regular Expression: Ensure that the regular expression is entered correctly. A slight error can prevent the shortcut from extracting the video URL.
- Website Changes: If YouTube changes its website structure, the shortcut may stop working. You may need to update the regular expression to match the new structure.
- Permissions: Make sure the Shortcuts app has the necessary permissions to access the internet and play audio.
5. Using Safari with Request Desktop Website (iOS)
Similar to the web browser method on Android, you can use Safari on iOS to request the desktop version of YouTube and enable background playback.
Steps to Listen to YouTube with Screen Off Using Safari (iOS):
- Open Safari: Launch the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad.
- Navigate to YouTube: Go to the YouTube website (www.youtube.com) in Safari.
- Request Desktop Website:
- Tap the “aA” icon in the top left corner of the address bar (or tap and hold the refresh button at the top-right corner if using a newer iOS version).
- Select “Request Desktop Website.”
- Play the Video: Search for the video you want to listen to and start playing it.
- Turn Off the Screen: Once the video is playing, turn off your screen. The audio may stop initially.
- Use Control Center: Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen (or swipe up from the bottom on older devices) to open Control Center. You should see playback controls for the video you were playing. Tap the play button to resume audio playback.
Tips for Safari Method:
- Persistent Desktop Mode: To avoid having to request the desktop website every time, you can enable persistent desktop mode for YouTube in Safari’s settings. Go to Settings > Safari > Request Desktop Website and enable it for YouTube.
- Clear Website Data: If you encounter issues, clear Safari’s website data for YouTube by going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
6. Using Music Streaming Services with YouTube Content
Many music streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer, host content that is also available on YouTube. If the song or audio content you want to listen to is available on these platforms, you can simply use the streaming service to listen with your screen off.
Steps to Use Music Streaming Services:
- Install a Music Streaming App: Download and install a music streaming app on your device (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer).
- Search for Content: Use the search function to find the song, podcast, or audio content you want to listen to.
- Play the Content: Start playing the content and turn off your screen. The audio will continue to play.
Benefits of Using Music Streaming Services:
- Background Playback: Music streaming services are designed for background playback, so you can listen to content with your screen off without any workarounds.
- Offline Downloads: Many services allow you to download content for offline listening, which can save data and battery life.
- Curated Playlists: Music streaming services offer curated playlists and personalized recommendations, making it easy to discover new content.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with these methods, you may encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- Audio Stops After a Few Minutes:
- Battery Optimization: Check your device’s battery optimization settings and make sure the app you’re using (browser or third-party app) is not being restricted.
- Data Saver: Disable data saver mode, as it may limit background activity.
- App Permissions: Ensure that the app has the necessary permissions to run in the background.
- Playback Controls Not Showing in Notification Shade:
- Notification Settings: Check your device’s notification settings and make sure notifications are enabled for the app you’re using.
- Browser Settings: In your browser settings, ensure that media playback notifications are enabled.
- Third-Party App Not Working:
- Updates: Make sure the app is updated to the latest version.
- Compatibility: Check if the app is compatible with your device’s operating system.
- Permissions: Ensure that the app has the necessary permissions to access the internet and play audio.
- YouTube Website Redirecting to the App:
- Clear Browser Cache: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
- Request Desktop Site: Always request the desktop site before playing a video.
Tips for Conserving Battery Life
Listening to YouTube with the screen off can help conserve battery life, but here are some additional tips to maximize your device’s battery:
- Reduce Screen Brightness: Even when the screen is off, reducing the brightness can save battery life.
- Close Unnecessary Apps: Close any apps running in the background that you’re not using.
- Disable Location Services: Turn off location services for apps that don’t need them.
- Use Headphones: Using headphones instead of the device’s speaker can reduce power consumption.
- Enable Battery Saver Mode: Use your device’s battery saver mode to optimize performance and conserve battery life.
Conclusion
Listening to YouTube with your screen off is a convenient way to enjoy audio content while conserving battery life and multitasking. Whether you choose to subscribe to YouTube Premium, use a web browser, explore third-party apps, or create custom shortcuts, there are several methods available to suit your needs. By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you can overcome the limitations of the YouTube app and enhance your listening experience. Experiment with different methods to find the one that works best for you and enjoy your favorite audio content without being tethered to your screen.