Watching YouTube in the Background: A Comprehensive Guide
In today's fast-paced world, the ability to multitask is highly advantageous. One of the features that can enhance productivity and efficiency is playing YouTube videos in the background. This guide will help you understand how to watch YouTube videos in the background on both mobile and desktop devices, depending on your subscription status and device capabilities.
YouTube Premium: The Easiest Way
If you have a YouTube Premium subscription, you can easily play videos in the background. To do this, simply start a video, and when you minimize the app, the audio will continue to play. This feature is a game-changer for users who wish to listen to YouTube content without stopping their main activity.
Without a YouTube Premium Subscription
If you do not have a YouTube Premium subscription, there are a few workarounds you can use to achieve background play on your mobile device:
Using a Web Browser
One method is to use a web browser like Chrome or Safari. Open YouTube in the web browser, play a video, and then switch to desktop mode, which can be found in the browser settings. After that, you can minimize the browser and the audio will continue to play. Note that you may need to pull down the notification panel and press play again to resume the audio.
Picture-in-Picture Mode (PiP)
Another method, available on some devices, is using the Picture-in-Picture mode. This feature allows videos to play in a small window while you use other apps, making it more convenient to switch between tasks. However, this feature might not be available for all users, especially if they do not have a YouTube Premium subscription.
Android Mod Apps and Jailbreak (for iOS)
If you are on an Android device, you can use YouTube mods that add background playback to the YouTube app. However, for iOS devices, you might need to jailbreak your device to install apps like Cercube, which offer background playback functionality. Please be cautious with jailbreaking as it might void your warranty and cause compatibility issues with future updates.
Additional Tips
Zac mentioned that for laptops and desktops, you can open a separate window for YouTube, allowing the video to continue playing even when you switch to another application. This is a straightforward method and doesn't require any special subscription or changes to your device settings.
For mobile phones, the best option is to use a YouTube Premium subscription for background play. If you're using a mobile device without a Premium subscription, consider the web browser method or Picture-in-Picture mode. Additionally, you can set your phone's screensaver to not play videos automatically, which might be helpful if you still want to use YouTube.
Remember that the methods and availability of some features can vary depending on your device and operating system. Always check the latest documentation and developer forums to find the most up-to-date solutions.