To enjoy YouTube in the background on your iPhone, the most reliable and official method is subscribing to YouTube Premium. This service allows seamless background playback, ad-free videos, and offline downloads. Here’s how you can set it up:
- Subscribe to YouTube Premium
- Launch the YouTube app and play the video you wish to listen to in the background.
- Press the home button or swipe up to go to the Home Screen. The video will pause momentarily.
- Pull down the Control Center from the top right (on newer iPhones) or swipe up from the bottom (on older models).
- You will see the music control panel showing your playing video. Tap the play button if it’s paused, and the audio will continue playing in the background.
Open the YouTube app or visit the website and log into your account. Subscribe to YouTube Premium via the app or browser. Once subscribed:
This method is official, reliable, and the simplest way to listen in the background without interruptions.
Introduction: Why Watch YouTube in Background?
Many iPhone users enjoy listening to YouTube videos, whether it’s music, podcasts, or tutorials. However, playing videos directly in the YouTube app typically pauses when you switch to another app or turn off the screen. Watching YouTube in the background allows you to continue listening without keeping the app open. This feature is especially useful when you want to save battery life or multitask on your device.
Background playback lets you enjoy your favorite content while using other apps, browsing the web, or even when your screen is off. It enhances convenience because you don’t need to keep the YouTube app active constantly. This can be helpful if you’re listening to music playlists, educational talks, or motivational speeches. Many users find it a simple way to get more out of their YouTube experience.
Additionally, some users may wonder about the different methods available to enable background play on an iPhone. While YouTube’s free version restricts this feature, there are workarounds and settings that can help you listen in the background. Understanding these options can save you time and ensure you don’t miss out on your preferred content.
In this guide, we will explore practical ways to enjoy YouTube videos in the background on your iPhone. Whether through built-in features, browser tricks, or subscription benefits, we aim to provide clear solutions. By the end, you’ll know how to listen to your YouTube playlists seamlessly, even when your device’s screen is off or you’re using other apps.
Let’s look into the reasons why background playback is a popular feature and how it can improve your daily YouTube experience. Whether for casual listening or serious multitasking, playing YouTube videos in the background offers significant convenience and flexibility.
Official Methods to Play YouTube in Background on iPhone
If you want to listen to YouTube videos in the background on your iPhone, there are a few official methods approved by YouTube and Apple. These options are reliable, safe, and do not require any third-party apps that might compromise your device’s security. Let’s explore how you can enjoy background playback legally and easily.
- Using YouTube Premium
- Sign up or log into your YouTube account and subscribe to YouTube Premium via the app or website.
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone and play the video you want to listen to in the background.
- Press the home button or swipe up to go to the Home Screen. The video will pause initially.
- Pull down the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner (or swipe up from the bottom on older iPhones). You should see the music control panel with your video playing.
- Tap the play button if it’s paused, and the audio from the video will continue streaming in the background.
- Using Safari with YouTube
- Open Safari on your iPhone and visit m.youtube.com.
- Find and play your desired video.
- Once the video starts playing, tap the ‘AA’ icon in the address bar or tap on the URL bar itself.
- Select Request Desktop Website. The page will reload in desktop mode.
- Start playing the video again if it has paused.
- Press the Home button or swipe up to exit Safari. Then open the Control Center.
- Tap the play button on the music control panel, and the video’s audio will continue in the background.
- Using Picture-in-Picture Mode
- Play a YouTube video in Safari following the steps above.
- Tap the PiP icon (a small rectangle with an arrow) if available, or swipe up from the bottom to trigger PiP mode.
- The video shrinks into a floating window that stays on your screen while you browse other apps.
- You can move the PiP window around or tap to control playback.
The simplest and most straightforward way is subscribing to YouTube Premium. This paid service offers ad-free videos, offline downloads, and, importantly, background playback on iPhone.
This method is seamless and officially supported, making it the best choice for background listening.
If you prefer not to pay for Premium, you can still listen to YouTube in the background using Safari. This method works because Safari allows background audio playback from websites, including YouTube.
This workaround uses browsing mode but is supported by Safari features. Keep in mind, playback may not be as smooth as with YouTube Premium.
Apple’s Picture-in-Picture (PiP) allows videos to float on your screen while you use other apps. This feature also supports YouTube videos in Safari.
Note that PiP works best with Safari in desktop mode, and some restrictions may apply depending on iOS updates.
