How to play YouTube videos in background without paying for Premium subscription on iPhones, Android phones

YouTube

The YouTube app on our smartphones pauses videos when the app is minimised or you move to another app. That’s annoying and makes you want to pay for the YouTube Premium membership that includes the background playback feature.

What this feature does is keep playing YouTube videos in the background even if you navigate to another app.

What if we tell you that there’s a simple way that can allow you to keep playing YouTube videos in the background without paying a single penny? This might be useful as Google has increased the price of the YouTube Premium membership recently. Also, the workaround does not involve any third-party apps.

Sounds interesting right? Here’s how you do it.

Play YouTube videos in background without Premium on iPhone and iPad

Step 1: Open Google Chrome or Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2: Search the video, song or playlist you want to listen in the background

Step 3: Wait until it starts playing. Once it does, switch to full screen

Step 4: Minimise the browser and open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner

Step 5: Hit the “Play” button to resume the playback

Step 6: Tap the Play button to resume the playback

Play YouTube videos in background without Premium on Android

Step 1: Open Google Chrome browser on your phone or tablet

Step 2: Head to YouTube website and switch to Desktop mode from the three dots at the top right corner

Step 3: Find the video you want to listen to in the background

Step 4: Wait for it to start playing

Step 5: Minimise the browser

Step 6: Swipe down the notification panel

Step 7: Hit the Play button from the Playback notification

Once done, the YouTube video will keep playing in the background while you can do other activities on the phone. One thing to keep in mind is that the first time you minimise the browser, the video will get paused. All you must do is hit the Play button from the Notification center on Android or Control Centre on iPhone and iPad to resume the playback.