While YouTube videos typically pause when you turn off your phone’s screen, several workarounds exist for both Android and iPhone users. By using a specific browser-based method or subscribing to YouTube’s premium service, it is possible to listen to YouTube with your phone’s screen off, which is perfect for enjoying long playlists, podcasts, or music mixes without draining your battery.
Before you start, for the free browser method, you will need Google Chrome on an iPhone. On an Android device, you can use either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
You can achieve this for free using a clever web browser trick, or by subscribing to YouTube’s premium service for a more direct and feature-rich experience.
To use the browser method, open your recommended web browser. For the best results, use Google Chrome if you are on an iPhone or iPad. Navigate to the video you want to listen to by either pasting its URL or by browsing to YouTube and selecting a video. Switch to the desktop version of the site. You can do this by tapping the three-dot menu icon in your browser. If using Chrome, tap the menu in the top-right corner and check the box next to Desktop site. If using Firefox, tap the menu in the lower-right corner and tap the switch to enable desktop mode. If on an iPhone or iPad, in the menu, tap Request desktop site.
Press the Play icon on the video to start it. Allow any advertisements to finish playing or skip them, and then minimize the browser by returning to your home screen. Open your device’s system controls. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. On an Android device, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu. Tap the play icon in the media controls widget. The audio from your YouTube video will resume playing in the background, allowing you to turn off your screen without interruption.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to YouTube Premium. To do this, open the YouTube app on your device and ensure you are signed into the correct Google account. Tap your profile picture, which is located in the top-right corner of the app. Select the Get YouTube Premium option from the menu. You may be presented with an offer for a free trial. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the sign-up process for your subscription. Once your YouTube Premium account is active, any video you play in the app will continue to play in the background or with the screen turned off.
Pro tip: You can also use your phone’s built-in accessibility tools to keep the screen on and locked while watching a long YouTube video, which prevents accidental taps without turning the display completely off.
Enabling background playback for YouTube transforms the platform from a purely visual experience into a versatile audio tool. This is especially useful for listening to long-form content like podcasts, interviews, lectures, or music albums without needing to keep the app open and the screen on, which significantly saves your device’s battery life. Beyond battery conservation, this feature allows for seamless multitasking. You can listen to your favorite content while replying to messages, browsing the web, or using other applications. For those who rely on YouTube for music or educational content, background playback removes a major limitation and makes the service function more like a dedicated music or podcast streaming app.
