Dark Mode Viewing: A Guide for Playback of YouTube Videos in Private Mode on Smartphones (iOS & Android)

How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

Posted by Amy Lopez on 7/17/2019 4:57:24 PM.

In this post I am going to show you how to play YouTube videos on both iOS and Android devices with the screen off or in the background. This is great for listening to podcasts since there’s no point in wasting battery on the screen if you’re just going to listen to it. More importantly, this is very helpful in multitasking. Using this trick, you’ll be able to do your task and listen to youtube in the background at the same time.

1. How to Listen to YouTube on Android with Screen OFF

Here’s the detailed steps for playing YouTube video in background or with the screen off below. Following these steps correctly, you can play youtube video in the background or with screen off.

1. You need to download a Firefox or Google Chrome app on your Android phone. This trick works both for Google Chrome/ Firefox browser.

2. View www.youtube.com on Google Chrome browser.

3. Hit the menu button in Chrome and choose Request Desktop Site.

4. Search for your favorite YouTube video that you want to play in the background and play it.

5. Tap the Homescreen button when video is playing in the full screen mode.

6. Swipe the control center up and tap Play button. Then swipe the control center down and continue with your work.

7. The video is playing in the background or with the screen off.

Now you can do task on other browsers or apps while listening to youtube video.

Note: Must Choose Request Desktop Site, Or It’s Not Going To Work.

Download Google Chrome on Google Play Store

Download Firefox on Google Play Store

2. How to Listen to YouTube on iOS Device with Screen OFF

The steps for playing YouTube video on iOS phone or tablet in the background or with the screen off is the same as Android phone. So just repeat the steps above. One cool thing about iOS devices is that you have gotten one more useful browser–Safari .

Conlusion

Yes, you do get this option with YouTube Red , but that comes with a price of $10/month and currently only limited to folks living in the US. But the trick I suggest above is totally free. I mean who doesn’t like freebies. If you find this tip is very useful and helpful, do share it with your friends and loved ones.

Amy Lopez crafts informative articles on eBooks and eReaders, uncovering optimal methods to enhance your eBook reading experience, and eagerly shares her findings with you.

SHARING IS GREAT!

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15 Comments

dab

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

12/6/2017 20:52:34

Why not try FreeMuzic ?
Works fine when screen off.
www.freemuzic.vip

Maple

Re:dab

07/20/2018 07:14:03

These steps didn’t work for me using chrome. I think its because I’m not sure what you meant by control center. In any case, the video just stops playing when you turn off the screen/lock. (Using chrome in desktop mode, with youtube set to full screen etc.)

Re:Maple

01/5/2019 16:52:07

It’s the swipe down panel at the top of your phone screen, where the time, battery ect is.
It shows any music playing in the background - like when Spotify is open. Just press play :)

Ayan

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

11/30/2018 21:38:13

Thanks for the wonderful post. I was able to play youtube videos with screen in off condition.

meow

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

12/3/2018 05:04:39

Worked perfectly on my android chrome app (including playlists), thanks for the tip!

Epubor Iris

Re:meow

12/3/2018 10:25:45

You are welcome. We are glad to helpful!

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

01/26/2019 14:51:08

That worked perfectly,thank you so much!

Joe

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

02/27/2019 01:00:37

Thank you so much. It works for my note 8.

Epubor

Re:Joe

02/27/2019 10:40:03

We are really glad to know that.

karlis

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

06/18/2019 05:16:16

didnt work, im on ios

Iris Yan

Re:karlis

06/18/2019 09:36:49

Is there any error message? Can you please give us more detailed information?

rainbowtron

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

09/11/2019 13:18:43

how lovely! a blessed miracle for listening to sleep music when i’m trying to have no lights on in my bedroom. many thanks for this advice!

btw, “control center” means pull-down settings/notifications menu on Android

BleepBloop

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

09/23/2019 02:21:21

No option to play in control centre.

Marrianne

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

12/24/2019 23:39:21

I’m really sad and frustrated. At first it did work (2 weeks ago) but now it’s not. It keeps on opening on video player and not really helping. I’m using Samsung J7.

Radar

Re:How to Listen to YouTube with Screen OFF (Android & iOS)

01/2/2020 08:58:50

When I swipe down I don’t even see that option. It acts as if you tube isn’t playing.

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Dark Mode Viewing: A Guide for Playback of YouTube Videos in Private Mode on Smartphones (iOS & Android)