How to watch YouTube in the background without crashing

When we talk about technology, virtually anything is possible. This could involve creating new hardware (equipment) , developing new software (system/application) , or simply adding new functions or features to existing hardware or software. And in the case of YouTube , the globally used video-watching application, this is no exception. Therefore, for example, learning how to watch YouTube in the background without interruption when using it on a mobile device can be achieved in several ways.

And precisely here we will explore several of them. Possibilities and alternatives that could be useful or effective to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the mobile phone used, the version of Android and YouTube being run, and the availability of installing specific third-party software to achieve this goal.

And as usual, before delving deeper into this post about another topic related to the YouTube app , specifically how to watch YouTube in the background on your mobile device without interruption, we'll provide links to some of our previous posts on this topic for those interested. This way, you can easily access them if you wish to expand or reinforce your knowledge after reading this post.

“YouTube errors are automatic response codes generated by the server. These messages primarily serve to inform us about the server's unavailability at a given time. The 503 code literally means ' Service Temporarily Unavailable .' When the server is unable to process our request, it sends us this response. Why does this error occur? There can be several reasons, and here we'll explore some of the most common ones.” Why do YouTube videos pause on their own?

YouTube is not working for me: what is wrong and how to fix it?

Error 503 on YouTube: what it means and how to fix it

YouTube in the background

official method

Although the method described below should be the first choice for any YouTube user on an Android phone, it's likely the least used, as it requires a YouTube Premium subscription and payment . However, for those who are already subscribers or could become subscribers, the activation procedure for this feature is as follows:

Open the YouTube app.
Press the user icon to display the options menu.
Select the option: Configuration.
Select the option: “Rep. sec flat and unc.” (Playing in the background).

Once we have arrived here, a new menu of options will be displayed , with the following alternatives:

Always activated: Function that allows videos to always play in the background (default setting).
Headphones or external speakers: Videos will only play in the background if the device is connected to headphones, speakers, or an external audio output.
Off: Function that allows videos to never play in the background.

Once you've chosen the first option, or the one you need, it will be activated. Then you just need to test it through the YouTube app . If background playback doesn't work on your Android or iOS (iPhone/iPad) device , we recommend exploring the following official YouTube link for troubleshooting.

Background playback is available on the YouTube mobile apps when you sign in with the account associated with your YouTube Premium membership. By default, videos will always play in the background. Enjoy the benefits of YouTube Premium.

Alternative methods to watch YouTube in the background

Using Google Chrome in computer mode

Since we can run YouTube on mobile devices directly from both its app and website, this is the first recommended alternative method . It is completely effective and safe. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Google Chrome Browser, or any other of your choice.
Go to YouTube website, with or without user login.
Start playing any video of your choice and taste.
Go to the options menu of the Web Browser, and press the playback option in «Computer mode».
Minimize Web Browser. At this point, the video will most likely stop playing.
Go to the mobile notification area, and resume playback from there using the media controls.
From that moment on, we will be able to listen to YouTube videos in the background and with the screen locked or turned off.

Using third party software

As we mentioned at the beginning, when we talk about computer technologies , we often find that existing official applications don't meet our needs or requirements. Therefore, we usually supplement or replace them with specific extensions (add-ons) for certain functions or with much more complete, functional, or versatile third-party applications .

And in the specific case of YouTube , to enable "YouTube in the background," there are some interesting extensions and apps that allow us to do this. However, it's important to keep in mind that many of these apps may be of dubious origin, contain numerous advertisements, request many unnecessary permissions that could put us at risk, and, in the best-case scenario, only work for a short time or require payment.

For these and other reasons, we will only mention one web browser extension and one third-party application , useful for this purpose:

Web Browser Extension: Video Background Play Fix for Firefox.
Third Party Application: New Pipe for Android.

Using VLC

However, if you're someone who likes Free and Open Source Software , both on computers and mobile devices, to avoid computer risks at zero cost, an excellent option will always be the following:

Install the VLC (Media Player) application.
Enter YouTube and choose the video we want to play.
Click on Share and choose the “Play with VLC” option.
Minimize the Browser, and explore the mobile notification area.
Start playing the video in VLC.
Explore the drop-down menu in the lower right corner, and choose the Play as Audio option.
From that moment on, we will be able to listen to YouTube videos in the background and with the screen locked or turned off.

Summary

In short, knowing how to watch YouTube in the background on your mobile device without interruptions is not only very simple, but also incredibly useful when you know how to do it quickly and successfully. Because if there's one thing that characterizes mobile device users , it's precisely the ability to use their devices' multimedia functions as quickly as possible , with the fewest steps and actions , or the appropriate app, whenever and wherever they need it.

Finally, we hope that this publication will be very useful for the entire «Comunidad de nuestra web». And if you liked it, be sure to comment on it here and share it with others on your favorite websites, channels, groups or communities on social networks or messaging systems. Also, remember to visit our HOMEPAGE to explore more news, and join our official group of FACEBOOK.