Simple Ways to Listen to YouTube with the Screen Off: Android & iPhone

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Keep listening to YouTube videos when you turn the screen off on your phone

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 1, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using a Browser (iOS & Android)
|
• Paying for Premium
|
• Video
|
• Tips

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Are you trying to keep a podcast or playlist on YouTube playing for a long time, but your phone keeps shutting off the screen and the video stops playing? You can use an Android and iPhone workaround involving the Quick Settings menu and Control Panel to keep playing minimized videos. Alternatively, you can pay to upgrade your YouTube subscription to keep your videos playing. This wikiHow article teaches you how to listen to YouTube with your phone's screen off.

Quick Steps

1. Open YouTube in a mobile browser.
2. Request to use the Desktop Site.
3. Go to your video, wait for the ad to finish, and minimize the browser window.
4. Open Control Center or Quick Settings and tap the Play icon.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Browser (iOS & Android)

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1. 1
   Open your browser. If you're using an iPhone, Chrome might be the only web browser that works with Control Panel. If you're using Android, you can use Chrome or Firefox.

   • Use this method if you don't want to pay to upgrade to a Premium plan!
2. 2
   Navigate to the YouTube video you want to watch. You can paste the YouTube video URL if you have it copied, or you can go to https://youtube.com in your web browser and tap a video you want to watch.
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3. 3
   Switch to the desktop site. For Firefox, tap the three-dot menu icon in the lower right corner of the menu; for Chrome, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.

   • The "Desktop site" wording varies between every browser. In Chrome, check the box next to "Desktop site" to switch to the desktop version; in Firefox, tap the switch to toggle it. On an iPhone or iPad, tap Request desktop site instead.
4. 4
   Play the video and minimize the browser. Press the Play icon on the video to start it. Wait for the ad to finish or skip it, then minimize the browser.

   • If the video stops playing, continue to the next step to start it again without re-opening your browser.
   • The video will stop playing if you lock your Android or iPhone with the side key. If you wake the screen and have media controls enabled on your Lock Screen or if you swipe down on the Lock Screen to open Control Center, you'll be able to press the Play button to continue the video while your screen is off.
5. 5
   Open Control Center (iPhone/iPad) or the Quick Settings menu (Android). Swipe down from the right corner to open Control Center on an iPhone and iPad. Swipe down on an Android to open the Quick Settings menu.
6. 6
   Tap

   

   . This play icon will show up as long as you have audio available to play in a supported app, like a web browser. If you don't see it, try closing the current browser tab and opening YouTube (Desktop Mode) in another.

   • The YouTube video will begin playing where it left off with the web browser still in the background.
   • With the browser playing in the background, you can shut off your phone's screen without stopping the YouTube video.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Paying for Premium

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1. 1
   Open YouTube. Tap the app icon that looks like a play button on a white background.

   • Use this method if you want to pay for YouTube Premium, which includes ad-free playback and downloading for offline listening. Signing up is the same on iPhone, iPad, and Android.
   • Sign into the account you want to use with YouTube Premium.
2. 2
   Tap your profile picture. It's in the top right corner of the app's screen.
3. 3
   Tap Get YouTube Premium. You may be offered a trial to see what the subscription is like before paying.

   • Follow the on-screen prompts to sign up.
   • Once you have an active YouTube Premium account, you can play videos from YouTube in the background or when the screen is off.
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Tips

• There are also third-party apps that claim to let you listen to YouTube with the screen off, but they may not work.
  Thanks

  Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3
• You can use the built-in accessibility tools to keep your screen on and locked while watching a longer YouTube video.
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